Recycling & Waste
Solid Waste Collection Bid Proposals
VBT SOLID WASTE COLLECTION FAQ
VIEW THE VBT RECYCLING GUIDE BY CLICKING HERE
HOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE EVENT FLYER HERE
Trash Pickup
Van Buren Township has a five-day trash pickup system Monday through Friday. Please see the map below for a breakdown of what areas in the township receive trash pickup on which day of the week.
Recycling Facts & Information
Please call 734-699-8926, leave a detailed message including your name, address, and phone number. A yard waste sticker will be mailed to you or you can pick it up the next day at Township Hall.
YARD WASTE STICKER GUIDELINES
Yard Waste pickup BEGINS the first full week of April and ENDS the last full week of November.
If you are using a can, it must have a yard waste sticker. Face the sticker toward the street and place the container 10 feet from your garbage. It should not be any larger than a 32 gallon can. 50 lb. limit. (Limit of 30 cans per week)
Please be sure that all yard waste is set out at the curb tied and bundled, in the appropriate container, and properly labeled.
BRUSH
Bundle all brush whose branches are less than 6” in diameter. Bundles must not weigh more than 50 lbs. Bundles must be no longer than 4 feet in length and 18” around. Brush larger than 6” in diameter must still be bundled, however, it is considered trash and will be picked up as such.
If your trash, yard waste, or recycling is not picked up by 4:00 p.m. on your regularly scheduled day, please call (734) 699-8926.
Compost season ends the last full week in November - no compost will be taken at the curbside after that date.
YARD WASTE STICKER GUIDELINES
Yard Waste pickup BEGINS the first full week of April and ENDS the last full week of November.
LEAVES AND GRASS CLIPPINGS
Leaves and grass clippings may either be placed in paper compost bags purchased at your local grocery store or placed in a trash can with a compost sticker. Compost sticker must face the road. Do not use plastic bags!!
If you are using a can, it must have a yard waste sticker. Face the sticker toward the street and place the container 10 feet from your garbage. It should not be any larger than a 32 gallon can. 50 lb. limit. (Limit of 30 cans per week)
Please be sure that all yard waste is set out at the curb tied and bundled, in the appropriate container, and properly labeled.
BRUSH
Bundle all brush whose branches are less than 6” in diameter. Bundles must not weigh more than 50 lbs. Bundles must be no longer than 4 feet in length and 18” around. Brush larger than 6” in diameter must still be bundled, however, it is considered trash and will be picked up as such.
If your trash, yard waste, or recycling is not picked up by 4:00 p.m. on your regularly scheduled day, please call (734) 699-8926.
Compost season ends the last full week in November - no compost will be taken at the curbside after that date.
LANDFILL PASS GUIDELINES
Large quantities of trash or remodeling materials will NOT be picked up at the curbside. As a Van Buren Township resident, you have the option to utilize the Woodland Meadows Landfill located on the south side of Van Born Road, just west of Hannan Road (see map below). The citizen drop-off area is located on the south side or back of the site. All vehicles entering the site must check-in at the gatehouse. Landfill ll hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Guidelines for utilizing the Woodland Meadows Landfill under the Van Buren resident agreement with Waste Management are listed below:
If you have any questions, please contact the Community Services Department at (734) 699-8926.
Large quantities of trash or remodeling materials will NOT be picked up at the curbside. As a Van Buren Township resident, you have the option to utilize the Woodland Meadows Landfill located on the south side of Van Born Road, just west of Hannan Road (see map below). The citizen drop-off area is located on the south side or back of the site. All vehicles entering the site must check-in at the gatehouse. Landfill ll hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Guidelines for utilizing the Woodland Meadows Landfill under the Van Buren resident agreement with Waste Management are listed below:
- You MUST obtain a free landfill punch card from the Community Services Office, located at 46425 Tyler Road in order to utilize the landfill as a Van Buren Township resident. To obtain a landfill punch card you must provide proof of residency (i.e. current driver’s license). The punch card entitles you to twenty-four (24) free trips per year. Only one card per address per year will be issued by the Township.
- A valid photo ID with a matching address must be presented with the punch card at the time of disposal.
- This free dumping privilege cannot be extended to contractors or commercial vendors. Commercial vehicles will be refused entry or must pay for disposal of waste.
- Each punch on the Landfill Pass is worth up to 4 cubic yards, if over 4 cubic yards per trip the card will receive an additional punch(es) based on the size of the load. To calculate cubic yards you can use the following formula: Length (ft.) x Width (ft.) x Height (ft.) divided by 27 = cubic yards.
- Yard waste (compost, leaves, etc.) must be separated from household waste.
- White goods will not be accepted at the Landfill. White goods are any appliance that does or once did contain Freon (A/C units, Refrigerators, and Dehumidifiers).
- Scrap tire disposal is limited to eight (8) tires annually.
- Recycling is also available at the citizen drop-off area
If you have any questions, please contact the Community Services Department at (734) 699-8926.
Yes, but mattresses and box springs must be wrapped entirely in a tarp or plastic and then placed at the curb for pick up. This is to prevent bedbugs and the transmission of diseases. If they are not wrapped they will not be picked up.
We recommend residents purchase any bin that is 32 gallons, or less. The bin can NOT weigh more than 50 pounds and MUST have a recycle sticker on it. Recycle stickers can be picked up at the Community Services desk in Township Hall.
We recommend purchasing a square-shaped bin as round bins tend to roll into the road during inclement weather. And we suggest residents add their address numbers to the outside of their bin. For more information call 734-699-8926.
We recommend purchasing a square-shaped bin as round bins tend to roll into the road during inclement weather. And we suggest residents add their address numbers to the outside of their bin. For more information call 734-699-8926.
Recycling is a series of activities that includes collecting recyclable materials that would otherwise be considered waste, sorting and processing recyclables into raw materials such as fibers, and manufacturing raw materials into new products (EPA website).
Recycling is vital for several reasons. First, it helps conserve our planet's precious natural resources. By recycling materials like paper, plastic, glass, and metal, we reduce the need for raw material extraction, thereby preserving forests, minerals, and water sources.
Second, recycling plays a crucial role in reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. It requires less energy to process recycled materials compared to producing goods from scratch. This energy conservation contributes to mitigating climate change and protecting the environment.
Third, recycling aids in waste reduction and landfill space preservation. By diverting recyclable materials from landfills, we minimize the strain on these disposal sites, extend their lifespan, and minimize the need for establishing new ones. This helps address the growing issue of limited landfill capacity.
Recycling has economic benefits. It supports industries involved in collecting, processing, and manufacturing recycled materials, creating employment opportunities and fostering economic growth. It also reduces costs associated with waste management, making recycling a financially viable and sustainable solution.
Recycling has economic benefits. It supports industries involved in collecting, processing, and manufacturing recycled materials, creating employment opportunities and fostering economic growth. It also reduces costs associated with waste management, making recycling a financially viable and sustainable solution.
Recycling is essential for conserving resources, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing waste, preserving landfill space, and promoting economic prosperity. By participating in recycling efforts, we can all contribute to a healthier planet and a more sustainable future.
In 2018, U.S. residents, businesses, and institutions produced more than 292.4 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), which is approximately 4.9 pounds of waste per person per day.
One of the ways to manage MSW is by recycling. Recycling diverts items such as paper, glass, plastic, and metals from the waste stream. Another way is by composting.
Simply, materials that are not reused, recycled, or composted—in other words, things you throw away in the dumpster—will go to the landfill and combustion facilities.
EPA has ranked the most environmentally sound strategies for MSW. Source reduction (reuse) is the most preferred method, followed by recycling and composting, and lastly, disposal in combustion facilities and landfills.
According to EPA, the United States currently recovers, recycles, and composts 30 percent of waste, burns 14 percent at combustion facilities and disposes of 56 percent in landfills.
Next time when you throw away garbage, think about the time needed for the materials to ‘biodegrade’ (Biodegradation is the decomposition of organic material by microorganisms). Some materials are biodegradable, and some don’t. Look at the table below:
| Product | Time to biodegrade |
| Cotton rags | 1-5 months |
| Paper | 2-5 months |
| Rope | 3-14 months |
| Orange peels | 6 months |
| Wool socks | 1 to 5 years |
| Cigarette filters | 1 to 12 years |
| Plastic coated paper milk cartons | 5 years |
| Leather shoes | 25 to 40 years |
| Nylon fabric | 30 to 40 years |
| Tin cans | 50 to 100 years |
| Aluminum cans | 80 to 100 years |
| Plastic bags | 450 years |
| Plastic 6-pack holder rings | 450 years |
| Glass bottles | 1 million years |
| Plastic bottles | Forever |
Recycling is one of the simplest thing we can do that would benefit the greater community, environment and economy so my team is reaching out to share this resource to as many people as possible. I believe we share this same purpose and that our guide fits right in line with your mission as an organization/agency. Check out this solid waste recycling and disposal guide by clicking here.
Composting – Yard Waste to Yard Riches- Through the natural process of decomposition, leaves and grass clippings from your yard can be transformed into a soil-enriching substance called compost. When mixed with sandy soil, compost helps to retain and hold water. When mixed with clay soils, compost loosens the soil particles and improves drainage. Compost is known as gardener’s gold because it improves soil structure, retains water, encourages root growth, aerates the soil, releases nutrients slowly, supports beneficial microorganisms and earthworms, and suppresses some soil-borne diseases.
To build the pile, follow these steps:
Turning the pile
Turning and mixing the compost pile with a pitchfork or compost turner adds oxygen, prevents odors, and accelerates the rate of decomposition. The pile may be turned once a week, once a month, several times a year, or not at all. If the pile is turned over and mixed from time-to-time and kept moist, finished compost is usually available in six to nine months.
(Source: Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project)
For more information:
Compost Resource Page.
To build the pile, follow these steps:
- Start with a layer of organic materials such as shredded leaves, grass, or other garden debris. For an ideal composting mix-use twice as much carbon material (leaves)as nitrogen material (grass clippings)
- Water the layer until it is as moist as a wrung-out sponge.
- Add 2″-3″ of soil or compost — to provide microorganisms.
- If possible, mix all materials together as you build the pile.
- Continue the process of adding organic materials, soil, and water until the bin is filled. Add grass clippings in small amounts and mix in thoroughly.
- Water each layer…and check moisture periodically. Build the pile to a size of 3 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet or slightly larger — or fill the compost bin.
Turning the pile
Turning and mixing the compost pile with a pitchfork or compost turner adds oxygen, prevents odors, and accelerates the rate of decomposition. The pile may be turned once a week, once a month, several times a year, or not at all. If the pile is turned over and mixed from time-to-time and kept moist, finished compost is usually available in six to nine months.
(Source: Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project)
For more information:
Compost Resource Page.
- Michigan residents generate enough garbage each day to fill the Pontiac Silverdome.
- The average American throws 3 – 5 pounds of trash away daily. That is one billion pounds of waste each day in the U.S.
- Americans make up 5% of the world's population and create 50% of the world's garbage.
- The nation's overall recycling rate has grown from 11% to 27% over the past 10 years.
- Americans throw away enough office and writing paper annually to build a wall twelve feet high stretching from Los Angeles to New York City.
- Every Sunday in a major city, more than 500,000 trees are used to produce the Sunday newspaper
- A ton of paper recycled saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 24 gallons of gasoline, 464 gallons of oil, and conserves 3.5 cubic yards of landfill space. Some of the end products created from plastic bottles include piping, garbage bags, park benches, t-shirts, carpet, and filling for sleeping bags and ski jackets.
- Every glass bottle recycled saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours.
- In Michigan, 90% of aluminum deposit cans are currently recycled.
- Aluminum recycling is so successful the industry estimated that each can sold at an average store will be back on a store shelf within six weeks.
- Each year, steel recycling saves enough energy to meet the electrical power needs of the City of Los Angeles for more than eight years.
- We throw away enough iron and steel to continuously supply all the nation’s automakers.
The short answer is NO, you can not recycle plastic bags in curbside bins. However, you can take them to big box stores like Walmart or Meijer and dispose of them in the "film plastic" recycle bins. And do NOT bad your recyclables. Film plastics wrap around the sorting machines, so if you can poke your finger through the plastic, it can not be recycled via curbside.
Appliances that are safe for curbside pick up would be defined as hot water heaters, washers dryers, fridges (anything with freon), freezers, stoves and/or dishwashers.
Waste Management requests that all residents who want an appliance picked up from their curbside should contact that township at 734.699.8926 the day before their normal trash day. The township will then notify Waste Management.
Have you ever noticed a strong odor, a large amount of smoke, or other air quality concerns but didn’t know who to call? Van Buren Township staff will help direct your concerns to the appropriate agency.
While the Township does not have direct regulatory authority over most air quality issues, our staff has been trained to collect complaint information and transmit these concerns to the appropriate agency. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) handles most air quality concerns in the State of Michigan. The MDEQ regulates the emissions from industrial facilities, monitors odors from waste disposal facilities, and has specific guidelines for open burning.
If you notice an air quality concern, such as a strong odor emanating from a facility in the Township, or a large amount of smoke, don't hesitate to get in touch with the Township Department of Community Services at (734) 699-8926 during normal business hours (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM), or the Department of Public Safety at (734) 699-8930 outside of normal business hours. Township staff will then forward that information to the MDEQ or the appropriate agency for follow-up.
While the Township does not have direct regulatory authority over most air quality issues, our staff has been trained to collect complaint information and transmit these concerns to the appropriate agency. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) handles most air quality concerns in the State of Michigan. The MDEQ regulates the emissions from industrial facilities, monitors odors from waste disposal facilities, and has specific guidelines for open burning.
If you notice an air quality concern, such as a strong odor emanating from a facility in the Township, or a large amount of smoke, don't hesitate to get in touch with the Township Department of Community Services at (734) 699-8926 during normal business hours (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM), or the Department of Public Safety at (734) 699-8930 outside of normal business hours. Township staff will then forward that information to the MDEQ or the appropriate agency for follow-up.
