Refuse

The Refuse Department collects trash, garbage, yard waste, and compost throughout Michigan City. Public and employee safety as well as environmental protection are of paramount importance.

All refuse must be placed in City-issued trash collection containers called toters.

Household Hazardous Waste or “HHW” are not allowed to be put out with the trash.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average household disposes of one pound of hazardous waste each year. HHW are unwanted products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients that require special care upon disposal. Pouring them down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers; burning them; flushing them down the toilet; burying them; dumping them in vacant lots or in ditches; or putting them out with your trash.

Yard waste/compost pickups begin in May and continue through November.

• Yard waste and/or compost must be placed in 32-gallon or less capacity plastic garbage containers, and/or paper bags. Consider safety when loading and placing containers at curbside since Refuse Department loaders manually lift yard waste containers into the compost truck hopper. Our employees manually lift several hundred-yard waste and compost containers each day.
• The Rubbermaid Brute 32-gallon waste container or other similar containers seem to be the best in terms of cost, weight, durability, and ease of handling. They may be purchased at a local hardware or retail store.
• PLASTIC BAGS cannot be used since they do not decompose.
• Please do not use 32-gallon wheeled containers (TOTERS) since they are too heavy when filled and can cause injury to Refuse Department personnel.
• Do not place dirt, road sweepings, rocks, trash, or other debris in the container which makes the container very heavy and/or contaminates your yard waste/compost. Note: The resident will be responsible for removing these materials before we will pick up your yard waste/compost.
• All compost pick-ups must be placed out on the curbside for removal and will not be picked up or removed from alleys.
• The resident will be responsible for getting their compost to the street.
• Bundled branches must be no more than 4 ft. in length and bundled.

The Michigan City Sanitary District is responsible for the construction and maintenance of all sanitary sewers and storm sewers.

The Michigan City Sanitary District is responsible for the construction and maintenance of all sanitary sewers and storm sewers.

The Central Services Division is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of all City owned property.

Leaf collections are made continuously within the city limits throughout the season until all leaves are removed.

Michigan City provides reliable curbside trash collection to ensure a clean and safe community. Residents can find information on pickup schedules, guidelines for proper waste disposal, and bulk item collection.

The La Porte County Solid Waste District will reduce or eliminate dependence on final disposal facilities by advocating source reduction, recycling, and effective, environmentally- sound waste disposal.

Find information on safe disposal methods and collection events for household hazardous waste items in Michigan City.