Weekly curbside compost pick up in Ann Arbor resumes on April 5

ANN ARBOR – The city of Ann Arbor announced it will resume curbside collection of compostable material on Monday, April 5.

Compost pick up will take place on regular collection days through Dec. 10.

Residents can use paper yard bags, compost carts or bundle large branches or brush and place these items at the curb for pick up.

According to the city’s website, acceptable compost material includes:

• Plate scrapings and food waste (including meat and bones - must be placed in a compost cart)
  
• Bamboo dinnerware (must be placed in a compost cart)
  
• Grass clippings (must be placed in a compost cart)
  
• BPI certified compostable bags, containers, silverware, etc.
  
• Leaves and brush
  
• Branches less than 6 inches diameter (must fit in cart with lid closed)
  
• Unpainted, untreated lumber (must fit in cart with lid closed)
  
• Weeds
  
• Undecorated and cut up Christmas trees
  
• Garden pruning, garden surplus, crab apples, etc.
  
• Used, cool wood ashes (must be placed in a compost cart)
  

Single-family residential properties are offered one free 64- or 96-gallon compost cart, and residents can choose free pick up or delivery for $59. If additional carts are needed, they are available for a fee.

To order a cart, contact 734-994-7336 or customerservice@a2gov.org

For size and pricing information, visit www.a2gov.org/compost.

Yard trimmings may be placed in paper yard bags for collection. Tree limbs under four feet can be bundled with natural twine up to 18 inches in diameter and placed curbside. The diameter of the individual tree limbs must not exceed six inches.

The city prefers the use of carts since bags can sometimes be difficult to service and pose a greater health and injury risk to staff.

“If you must use paper yard bags, please don’t overload them,” reads the city’s website. “If you can’t lift it comfortably, neither can city staff.”

Residents who choose to compost must place their items at the curb before 7 a.m. on collection day. When possible, carts should be left on lawn extensions and never in bike lanes.

According to the city, the following items are prohibited from yard waste bags and compost carts:

• Plastic bags or containers
  
• Trash and recyclables
  
• Dirt, rocks, stones or gravel
  
• Sawdu
  
• Branches 6 inches in diameter or over 4 feet in length
  
• Painted or treated wood
  
• Animal waste or cat litter
  
• Tree stumps
  
• Diapers
  

For more information about composting in Ann Arbor and dropping off or receiving free compost from the city’s compost facility, click here.