Recycling is easy. Weekly recycling collection is available to every home, apartment, non-profit and business located in Ann Arbor for no additional charge.
Cart recycling guide
Recycle Ann Arbor also has an interactive recycling guide with a keyword search ability.
Yes
- Mixed paper – newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, cardboard, frozen food and cereal-type boxes
- Metal cans
- Glass bottles and jars, remove tops
- Cleaned plastic bottles, containers and tubs (screw on caps: keep on, flat plastic lids: throw away)
- "Aseptic" and "Tetrapak" cartons. These are typically used for milk, juice, soymilk, chicken broth, almond milk, etc.
*Keep caps on plastic, remove from glass
No
- Plastic bags or film
- Styrofoam*
- #3/PVC plastic
- Biodegradable plastics (marked “PLA” or “BPI”)
- Batteries & Electronics
- Light bulbs
- Toxic materials such as motor oil
- Medical waste, syringes
- Hardcover books
- Ceramics or pyrex dishes
- Textiles*
- Wood or construction debris
- Paper cups
- Yard trimmings or plate scrappings
- Shredded paper
*These items can be taken to Recycle Ann Arbor's
Drop-Off Station. See their website for restrictions and additional recycling details.
Carts must not exceed 112 pounds for the 32-gallon, 224 pounds for the 64-gallon or 336 pounds for the 96-gallon size. Carts over the limit will not be serviced.
CartsRecycling carts are required unless location is using an approved recycling dumpster for materials. Recycling carts are managed by Recycle Ann Arbor. DDA carts are managed by the City.
Single family home/duplex:
- Each household will be issued one 64-gallon recycling cart. A 32 or 96-gallon recycling cart can be provided upon request.
- First cart delivery is free.
- Additional recycling carts are $50 each.
- $25 delivery fee or free if picked up. Carts must be empty and clean before being traded in.
Single family/duplex:
- Each household will be issued one 64-gallon recycling cart. A 32 or 96-gallon recycling cart can be provided upon request.
- Free first cart delivery to new construction or annexation address.
- Additional recycling carts $50 each, one-time cost, payable to Recycle Ann Arbor.
Multi-family:
- No charge for delivery of initial recycling carts, based on need.
*Carts exceeding 112 pounds for the 32-gallon, 224 pounds for the 64-gallon, or 336 pounds for the 96-gallon size will not be serviced.
Business
The city can assist your businesses recycling program by,
- Performing a recycling analysis to determine how to set up a recycling program
- Providing posters, decals and signs
- Setting up a recycling program, including placement of bins and signage
- Presentations to staff on how and what can be recycled
For more information on this service, please contact Jennifer Petoskey, solid waste compliance and outreach specialist, at jpetoskey@a2gov.org or 734.794.6350 x 43317.
Sign up
For most homeowners, residents or businesses, please contact
Recycle Ann Arbor to find out how you can start recycling today. Call 734.662.6288 for more information or to report a missed pickup.
If your business, however, is located within the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) region, or if your business has a recycling dumpster only (no carts), please contact the Customer Service Center by email at customerservice@a2gov.org or phone at 734.994.2807
Recycling events
**In person events are currently cancelled due to COVID-19.
In lieu of in person events, the Ecology Center has put together Craft & Chat videos that can be found on their YouTube channel. These include:
Episode 1: Composting
Episode 2: Paper Remanufacturing
Episode 3: Home Waste Audit
Episode 4: Healthy Summer Parties
Reuse and bulky item disposal
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! The biggest savings to the environment in terms of resource use, energy savings, and pollution reduction come from reduced purchasing, thrifty purchasing (avoiding consumer waste) and reusing/repairing items before recycling.
