Recycling in East Lansing, MI

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

• Bulk Item Collection (opens in new tab) · City of East Lansing
  • Bulk items include furniture, appliances, carpet, mattresses and other large rubbish items over 40 pounds or too big for a 32-gallon yellow City trash bag. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Residents purchase a bulk item sticker for $27 ($44.25 for items containing Freon) and schedule a Monday pickup. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • To have the City pick up a bulk item at the curb, residents must purchase a bulk item sticker and schedule a Monday pickup. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Freon items include anything containing a refrigerant, such as a refrigerator or dehumidifier. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Online requests must be made by 7 a.m. on the Monday of collection; phone requests to DPW by 4:30 p.m. the Friday before. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Place bulk items at the curb with the sticker attached by 7:30 a.m. on the Monday of pickup only. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Bulk items put out without a sticker, without a scheduled pickup or on the wrong day violate Ordinance No. 1300. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Carts, Bags & Sticker Purchases (opens in new tab) · City of East Lansing
  • The $27 Bulk Item Special Pickup Sticker covers large items such as couches, chairs and beds. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Hazardous Waste Bulk Item Sticker: $44.25 for items containing Freon. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Curbside Recycling Guide (PDF) (opens in new tab) · City of East Lansing
  • East Lansing's curbside recycling guide lists flattened cardboard among accepted paper items. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Recyclables should be clean, dry and empty and placed loose in the cart; no bagged recyclables. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Drop-Off Recycling Guide (opens in new tab) · City of East Lansing
  • The drop-off recycling site is at 1800 E. State Road and open 24/7, under camera surveillance. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The cardboard compactor takes flattened, dry cardboard and pizza boxes. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The metal roll-off takes only empty, clean cans and foil; appliances, pressurized tanks, electronics and batteries are not accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Individual streams may be temporarily unavailable without notice if compactors are full or being serviced. Checked October 26, 2026.
• EGLE: Electronic Waste Takeback Program (opens in new tab) · Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
  • Manufacturers must run a convenient takeback program so consumers can return covered devices to the manufacturer or its representative at no charge. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Covered electronic devices include desktop and laptop computers, monitors, tablets, televisions and printers. Checked October 26, 2026.
• EGLE FAQ: Michigan electronics takeback program (opens in new tab) · Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
  • EGLE says consumers do not pay a fee to recycle a computer or television covered under the program; it is meant to be a free takeback system paid for by manufacturers. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • All manufacturers offer a free takeback program, and each has a no-cost option for televisions too large to mail back. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Manufacturers' no-cost return options are mainly mail-back programs, linked from the manufacturers' websites and their registration documents. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • EGLE keeps a list of registered manufacturers with links to each manufacturer's page explaining where covered equipment can be recycled. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Computer manufacturers only have to take back their own brands; television manufacturers must take back any brand of television. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • EGLE treats a tablet as a computer in most cases. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A consumer is a person who used the computer or television mainly for personal or small business purposes in Michigan. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A small business under the law has 10 or fewer employees. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A collector that is not directly part of a manufacturer's takeback program may charge a reasonable fee. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Collectors may charge to take electronics the law does not cover, such as keyboards, mice, speakers, cables, cords and wires. Checked October 26, 2026.
• MCL 324.17309 Computer takeback program (opens in new tab) · Michigan Legislature (Michigan Compiled Laws)
  • MCL 324.17309: since April 1, 2010, a consumer does not pay a separate fee when returning a covered computer to its manufacturer or the manufacturer's designee. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Collection methods that can meet the convenience requirement include mail or shipping, a staffed permanent local collection site, periodic local collection events, or drop-off at a retailer. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A manufacturer's computer takeback program does not have to accept more than 7 covered computers from one consumer on one day. Checked October 26, 2026.
• MCL 324.17311 Video display device takeback program (opens in new tab) · Michigan Legislature (Michigan Compiled Laws)
  • A manufacturer's TV takeback program does not have to accept more than 7 covered video display devices from one consumer on one day. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • MCL 324.17311: a consumer does not pay a separate fee when returning a covered TV through any TV manufacturer's takeback program. Checked October 26, 2026.
• MCL 324.17301 Electronics: definitions (opens in new tab) · Michigan Legislature (Michigan Compiled Laws)
  • A "video display device" is a device with a screen of 4 inches or larger and a tuner that can receive and display TV or video programming; it includes CRT, plasma, LCD, LED and projection TVs. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A "computer" under Part 173 is a desktop or laptop computer, a computer monitor, or (since April 1, 2011) a printer; PDAs and mobile phones are not included. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Computer peripherals such as mice and detachable or wireless keyboards are not covered computers. Checked October 26, 2026.
• MCL 324.17101 Battery disposal: definitions (opens in new tab) · Michigan Legislature (Michigan Compiled Laws)
  • A "lead acid battery" under Part 171 is a storage battery used to start an engine or as the main power source for a vehicle. Checked October 26, 2026.
• MCL 324.17103 Retailer of lead acid batteries; duties (opens in new tab) · Michigan Legislature (Michigan Compiled Laws)
  • Retailers of lead acid batteries must accept used ones from customers, in a quantity at least equal to the number of new batteries they sell. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The required store notice says retailers must accept used lead acid batteries when you buy a lead acid battery or within 30 calendar days of the purchase. Checked October 26, 2026.
• EGLE: Safe battery disposal (opens in new tab) · Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
  • EGLE: lead acid batteries (car and boat batteries) may not go in Michigan landfills, and any business that sells them must collect them for recycling. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • EGLE tells residents to take an old lead acid battery back to where they bought the new one. Checked October 26, 2026.
• EGLE: Where can I take my household hazardous waste? (opens in new tab) · Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
  • EGLE: Michigan's Battery Disposal law requires retailers and auto repair shops that sell batteries to offer customers recycling. Checked October 26, 2026.
• EGLE: Landfill Prohibited Materials and Special Wastes (guidance, rev. 3/2021) (opens in new tab) · Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
  • If the seller isn't an option and the battery is from your own household equipment, EGLE points residents to its household hazardous waste page for recycling options. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.