Cardboard Recycling in East Lansing, MI

Flattened cardboard goes loose in East Lansing's curbside recycling cart or in the cardboard compactor at the city's 24/7 drop-off site, 1800 E. State Road.

See all 3 options

Illustrative item photographKadarius Seegars / Unsplash

Checked October 26, 2026 · Call before you go · How we check

3 ways to get rid of a cardboard in East Lansing

Tap an option to see the address, hours, cost and rules.

CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · East LansingNo haulingWe recycle it for youFrom $80.00
How it works
Book online, set out your cardboard and we’ll pick it up and recycle it for you. You see your price before you book and pay only after pickup.
Book a pickup →
East Lansing curbside recyclingCity service · East LansingEast Lansing residentsCost not listed
How it works
City curbside single-stream recycling carts; flattened cardboard is accepted, loose and not bagged.
Cost & rules
- Before you go: Flatten cardboard and place recyclables loose in the cart.
Official page (opens in new tab)
East Lansing drop-off recycling siteCity service · East LansingCost not listed
How it works
City-run 24/7 drop-off recycling site at the Department of Public Works, 1800 E. State Road (Census geocoder places this address in DeWitt Charter Township, Clinton County, with a Lansing 48906 mailing address). Four streams: commingled, cardboard, metal cans and foil, and rigid foam.
Cost & rules
- Before you go: Flatten cardboard before you arrive. Streams may be closed without notice when compactors are full.
Official page (opens in new tab)

Before you go

Check whether you have corrugated boxes, coated packaging or mixed materials.
Remove foam, plastic and other packing inserts.
Flatten boxes and check quantity limits for your program.

More about cardboard

Michigan rules

EGLE: take leftover household hazardous products to a local collection when one is available; never pour them down a storm drain or household drain. Source: EGLE: Household hazardous waste (opens in new tab)
If there is no local collection, EGLE says to ask your trash hauler for instructions on safe disposal in the regular trash. Source: EGLE: Household hazardous waste (opens in new tab)

More Michigan rules (4)

Household hazardous waste (solvents, cleansers, pesticides) is not banned from Michigan landfills, though EGLE says it is not well suited to them. Source: EGLE: Landfill Prohibited Materials and Special Wastes (guidance, rev. 3/2021) (opens in new tab)
HHW collections are run by local governments or commercial recyclers; many are temporary or seasonal, so call before going. Source: EGLE: Where can I take my household hazardous waste? (opens in new tab)
EGLE keeps a county-by-county list of local collection contacts; if your community is not listed, call your city, township or county. Source: EGLE: Where can I take my household hazardous waste? (opens in new tab)
EGLE suggests looking for retail take-back of electronics, batteries, light bulbs, medications, motor oil and antifreeze when buying replacements. Source: EGLE: Where can I take my household hazardous waste? (opens in new tab)

Where this information comes from (11)

Where this information comes from

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.
- Individual streams may be temporarily unavailable without notice if compactors are full or being serviced. Checked October 26, 2026.
EGLE: Household hazardous waste (opens in new tab) · Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
- EGLE: take leftover household hazardous products to a local collection when one is available; never pour them down a storm drain or household drain. Checked October 26, 2026.
- If there is no local collection, EGLE says to ask your trash hauler for instructions on safe disposal in the regular trash. 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)
- Household hazardous waste (solvents, cleansers, pesticides) is not banned from Michigan landfills, though EGLE says it is not well suited to them. 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)
- HHW collections are run by local governments or commercial recyclers; many are temporary or seasonal, so call before going. Checked October 26, 2026.
- EGLE keeps a county-by-county list of local collection contacts; if your community is not listed, call your city, township or county. Checked October 26, 2026.
- EGLE suggests looking for retail take-back of electronics, batteries, light bulbs, medications, motor oil and antifreeze when buying replacements. Checked October 26, 2026.

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

How we check our information