Regular Trash Pickup

Trash Pickup Guidelines:

• Trash Must be out by 7:00 AM on service day and within two feet of the alley or curb. If no alley exists, then use the curb/street line.
• Trash must be placed in City-issued container called a Toter. 
• All trash must fit within the City-issued container.
• All items placed in your City-issued container should be bagged.
• If you have more trash than what fits in the City-issued container, please make sure it is neatly bagged and placed next to the City-issued container just prior to pick up.    
• Any recyclable materials should be placed in your recycling container and will not be taken with regular trash. 
• For winter months, City-issued containers must be free and clear of any snow. Toter cannot be emptied if it is frozen to the ground or other hard surface. 
• City-issued containers must be accessible and not blocked by any vehicles.

Residences should keep garbage and recycling cans sealed. Putting lids on your garbage and recycling cans will prevent them from attracting bees, wasps, and hornets. It’s also a good idea to rinse them out periodically to keep them from building up the sweet sticky substances that attract stinging insects. 

In spring and early summer, wasps are attracted to protein foods. Any food left outdoors, such as pet food, picnic scraps, open garbage containers, or uncovered compost piles should be removed or covered. Wasps imprint food sources and will continue to search an area for some time after the food has been removed. 

In late summer and early fall, wasps turn their attention to sweet foods. Their behavior is also more aggressive. Open cans of pop, fruit juice, fallen apples beneath fruit trees, and other sweet food sources will attract wasps. Be sure to cover drinks and open food containers, keep a lid on the compost, and avoid walking barefoot near fruit trees. Remove any fallen fruit rotting on the ground. https://learn.eartheasy.com/guides/natural-wasp-control/

• Do not place the following items inside the City-issued trash collection containers:
  • yard waste
  • dirt
  • tree limbs
  • leaves
  • paint
  • solvents
  • fluorescent bulbs, LED bulbs, compact fluorescent lap, and fluorescent light ballast
  • batteries (household & vehicle)
  • electronics
  • appliances
  • used motor oil
  • construction and building debris
  • recycled material
  • sharps(needles)
  • prescription medications (only non-controlled substances)
    • Household hazardous waste collection does not accept controlled substances. If you do not know if your medications fall into that category, contact your pharmacist or the Michigan City Police Department. Many pharmacies and the Police Department have a drop box where residents can drop off medications, and they accept controlled substances.
  • other hazardous material

For new residents in need of a City-issued container, or to request an additional container, please Contact Us.