Curbside Recycling for Single-family Residences

Recycle Ann Arbor is contracted by the City of Ann Arbor to collect recyclables weekly at the curb from City of Ann Arbor residents, in a single-stream collection system.

Single-stream recycling is easy and convenient, which encourages residents to recycle the most materials possible. Single-stream recycling allows all recyclables to be placed into one recycling bin without separating papers from containers.

The City of Ann Arbor’s single-stream recycling system allows a wide variety of materials to be collected and recycled.

Acceptable materials include:

• Plastic bottles and tubs
  • plastic caps acceptable if screwed tight onto bottle
• Glass bottles and jars (any color)
  • labels may be left on
• Metal cans and foil
  • ball up aluminum foil
• Mixed paper
• Boxboard & cardboard
  • please empty and flatten
• Cartons (i.e. broth & milk cartons)
  • Visit the Carton Council's website to learn more!

Download our one-page recycling guide.

Tips for Single-Stream Recycling

• Review our Guide to Better Recycling to avoid the top 12 contaminants we see in the recycling carts.
• Carts must be out before 7 AM for pickup.
• Place cart with metal lift bar facing the street.
• All items must be empty, clean, and dry.
• Everything, including cardboard, must fit loosely inside the cart with the lid closed, and the lid may not be secured shut.
• All additional recycling materials that do not fit inside the cart with the lid shut must be stored elsewhere until the carts are emptied for the following week's service day.
• Collection service is only provided once per week. If you want to recycle abundant materials before the following week, you are welcome to use either the Drop-Off Station or the Recovery Yard.

Recycling cart options

Recyclables are collected in 64-gallon wheeled carts. Recycling carts are also available in 32-gallon and 96-gallon sizes.

A2 Residents Contact the City of Ann Arbor for: 

• Picking up new resident carts, or having a cart delivered to a new residence (delivery fee applies);
• Replacing a lost or stolen cart; or
• Increasing or decreasing the size of your current recycling cart.
• More info visit https://www.a2gov.org/departments/trash-recycling/Pages/Recycling.aspx