Municipal Refuse in Thomas Township is provided by Mid-Michigan Waste Authority.

Garbage pick-up is every Friday: Please have it to the curb no later than 7 AM!

Trash

Trash Basics

Residents of MMWA member communities may set out an unlimited number of bags or cans of household-generated trash each week.

Trash must be in bags or trash cans no larger than 35 gallons and each bag or trash can should not weigh more than 50 pounds. All trash must be securely contained in bags or trash cans to reduce litter and discourage pests. 

Bulky Items

Any item that exceeds 50 pounds or does not fit into a standard 35-gallon trash can or 55-gallon trash bag is considered a bulky item. Furniture, mattresses, and appliances are examples of bulky items.

Items such as auto parts, intact garage doors, landscape timbers, building materials, assembled swing sets, and picnic tables are NOT included in the regular MMWA curbside collection program. Contact a commercial garbage hauler for removal, listed under “Rubbish” in the yellow pages of your phone directory.

You are allowed to set out two bulky items per week on your regular collection day.

Carpet must be cut into 4-foot wide rolls, tied up or duct-taped, and weigh no more than 50 pounds per roll. Note: Residents may put out carpet rolls equal to the size of a typical household room. One room’s worth of carpet rolls will be considered one bulky item.

Bulky items too big for a trash truck will be tagged for collection by a separate bulky truck within 2 business days of your service day. DO NOT remove tagged bulky items from the curb unless they have been tagged for being over the quantity limit of two (2).

Other Waste Disposal Options

Recycling

The “Recycling – What Can I Do?” information for residents of Mid Michigan Waste Authority (MMWA) member communities is a good reference. These trash, recycling, and yard waste guidelines are in place to provide residents with an efficient, safe, cost-effective service program. By following these guidelines, you will ensure the health and safety of collection workers and experience curbside service without interruption.

Click Here to Download the Recycling – What Can I Do?

Recycling Details – Recycling is a 1-Step Process! No Sorting is Required!

Residents can mix all allowed recyclable materials together in the same recycling container. Plastics #1, and #2 are recyclable. All other plastics, foam, pizza boxes, plastic bags, and glass must be thrown away.

Additionally, there is no longer a requirement to use official recycling bins. To easily hold the recyclables allowed in the program and get them to the curb, residents may use any plastic or metal 45-gallon or smaller container* and label such with a “Recyclables Only” sticker or paint/mark a large letter “R” on the front. “Recyclables Only” stickers can be obtained by contacting your local city, township, village office, or MMWA.

Mix all allowed paper, metal, and plastics #1, and #2 together.  No sorting is needed! Remember to empty and rinse all containers before recycling. Removing labels is not necessary. Place plastic lids on their respective #1 or #2 plastic containers. Recycle metal lids. Flatten containers when possible. Glass is no longer recyclable. No plastic bags, foam, or pizza boxes.

Empty, flatten, and cut down cardboard boxes into pieces no larger than 3′ x 3′ and place them in or under the recycling container.

Acceptable Paper	Unacceptable Paper
• Cereal And Cookie Boxes • Phone Books • Dry Food Boxes • Magazines • Shoe/Gift Boxes • Paper Towel Rolls • Catalogs • Envelopes (Including Windows)	• Product Samples • Laundry Soap Boxes • Metal inserts • Board Inserts • Food Contaminated Boxes (Pizza Boxes, etc.) • Plastic Grocery Bags

Yard Waste

Yard Waste pick-up is every Friday beginning April 1st through November 30th.  Yard waste must be put to the curb by 7:00 AM.

Michigan State law prohibits yard waste from being disposed of in landfills. If a community does not offer curbside yard waste collection service, citizens must self-manage through mulching, composting, or burning.

Yard waste is defined by state law as grass clippings, yard vegetation, sod without dirt, twigs (less than 2″ in diameter), leaves, etc. These items may be placed in a 35-gallon or smaller trash can or paper yard waste bag; all bags/cans must weigh less than 50 pounds. Please close the bags or use lids. Twigs may not extend more than 12 inches above the top of a bag/can. Trash cans need a “Yard Waste” sticker.

Large items, such as root balls and stumps, are not accepted as yard waste or trash. Contact a commercial landscape or tree removal service for disposal.

Brush

One bundle of brush (cut or broken branches) is allowed each week.  Larger branches (two to six inches around)  must be no more than 3 x 4 feet in length bundled with twine and placed at the curb next to trash for collection. Contact a tree removal or landscape service to pick up larger amounts of brush, trees, or limbs.

Christmas Trees

Christmas trees are collected as trash throughout the month of January. Trees that are frozen to the ground or inaccessible due to snow or ice will not be collected until the trash driver can safely remove the tree. Remove all tinsel, ornaments, hooks, lights, ropes, or plastic tree bags before putting the tree at the curbside.

Flower Pots, Trays, And Plant Tags

For more information on your garbage pick-up service, special refuse programs, recycling, and more please visit the MMWA website.