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
(The Listings on this website do not constitute an endorsement by Thomas Township or Mid Michigan Waste Authority. The information provided is not all-inclusive and is subject to change without notice.)
People’s Landfill 4143 E. Rathbun Rd. Birch Run 989-777-1145 |
Waste Management – Saginaw 1311 N. Niagara Saginaw 866-797-9018 |
Dumpster Vendors – For large home repair or remodeling projects and clean-outs.
Billy’s Contracting 3161 Carrollton Rd 989-753-7719 or 888-9-BILLYS (888-924-5597) www.billyscontracting.com |
Waste Management – Saginaw 1311 N. Niagara Saginaw 866-797-9018 |
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
The Saginaw Valley Nursery and Landscape Association are spearheading a container recycling program to keep all the gardening plastic out of the landfills. Designated nurseries are taking empty trays and containers (anything that has to do with gardening). It is not necessary to clean the containers but please remove any extra dirt.
Where To Go:
Abele Greenhouse & Garden Center 3500 Wadsworth Rd. Saginaw 989-752-5625 www.abelegreenhouse.com |
Bay Landscaping 1630 North S.E. Boutell Rd. Essexville 989-893-0000 www.baylandscaping.net |
Begick Nursery & Garden Center 5993 Westside Saginaw Rd Bay City 989-684-4210 www.begicknursery.com |
Reder Landscaping 3805 Rockwell Dr. Midland 989-835-8260 www.rederlandscaping.com |
Stone Quest Landscape Stone & Supply 6245 State St. Saginaw Township 989-799-2281 www.stonequestinc.com |
For more information on your garbage pick-up service, special refuse programs, recycling, and more please visit the MMWA website.