Residential Garbage & Yard Waste Collection

On October 17, 2023, the City Council approved the first step toward a future single-hauler trash system. The new ordinance required trash companies operating in the city to share their rates with the city once a year and provide 30 days’ notice before changing rates. Additional requirements of the new ordiance asked haulers to clean up any litter they spill during collection, track and respond to customer complaints, and refund customers for missed pickups. The ordinance took effect on November 3, 2023.

On January 21, 2025, the Portage City Council amended the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 58, to authorize the use of an exclusive contractor (single-hauler) for residential garbage, yard waste, bulk items, and curbside recycling. This action aligned with a long-term City Council goal to:

“Optimize Portage’s approach to solid waste disposal by adopting best practices to create a more efficient, reliable, and accountable approach to solid waste disposal services.”

The city’s intent was to provide waste removal services using one provider rather than multiple haulers operating independently across the city. Benefits often associated with the single-hauler approach – used by many communities across Michigan and the U.S. – include:

• Lower, standardized pricing: Rates established through a competitive bidding and contract process result in lower, uniform pricing and more predictable costs for residents compared to individually negotiated services.
• Reduced neighborhood impacts: Fewer collection trucks operating on residential streets, resulting in less truck traffic, noise, and roadway wear.
• Centralized oversight: One contract establishes clear performance standards and provides a single point of accountability for service quality and issue resolution.
• Environmental considerations: Fewer collection trucks and coordinated trash, recycling, and yard waste programs reduce vehicle emissions and support community environmental goals.

On March 6, 2025, the City Administration reviewed sealed competitive proposals from licensed waste haulers. Three companies – Best Way Disposal, Republic Services, and WM (Waste Management) – were interviewed by the City Administration. WM submitted the lowest of the three proposals.

Single-Hauler Waste Collection 5-Year Bids

• Best Way: $38,243,048
• Republic: $34,464,940
• WM: $29,431,900

On July 22, 2025, the City Council voted 6-0 to award a five-year contract to WM to serve as the city’s exclusive residential waste hauler with services beginning on March 1, 2026. WM’s low bid included a cost to residents of $14.04 per month for garbage service, an average savings of 44%. A city study showed that residents currently pay anywhere between $14.50 and over $50 per month for garbage service, depending on their provider and plan. With a single hauler contract, every household will pay the same low rate for the same quality service.

Billing will also be more transparent. Instead of navigating contracts and varying rates from multiple companies, all residents will receive consistent, predictable billing directly from WM. No extra fees or surcharges are permitted without City Council approval.

As part of the WM contract, residents will continue to receive single-stream curbside recycling services every two weeks. This service is paid for through property taxes as part of a voter-approved millage. In addition, residents may place one bulk (large) item at the curb for collection each week, with advanced notice to WM.

In December 2025, a group called “Take Back the Trash” submitted a petition to challenge the city’s single-hauler ordinance. The City Clerk verified that the petition met the legal requirements under the City Charter, which gave the City Council two options:

• Adopt the ordinance language submitted on the petition, or
• Place the issue on the May 5, 2026 Special Election.

On January 13, 2026, Council voted to place the issue on the May ballot. The ballot question will ask whether the city should continue with the single-hauler model for residential trash, recycling, and yard waste services or return to an open market with multiple haulers and varied pricing household to household. View the official ballot language.

On February 9, 2026, WM's contractor Cascade began delivery recycling and trash carts to Portage households.

The city signed a valid five-year contract with WM for residential waste services that begins March 1, 2026 – two months before the Special Election – and runs through February 28, 2031. The city is obligated to abide by the contract provisions and continue with implementation steps already in progress. As part of that rollout, new carts have been manufactured and await delivery to residents in February.

Trash (billed Quarterly)

• Year 1: $14.04 / month
• Year 2: $14.60 / month
• Year 3: $15.18 / month
• Year 4: $15.79 / month
• Year 5: $16.42 / month

Yard Waste (billed annually*)

• Year 1: $10.50 / month
• Year 2: $10.92 / month
• Year 3: $11.36 / month
• Year 4: $11.81 / month
• Year 5: $12.28 / month

*If resident subscribes to the seasonal service that runs April 1 - November 30. Residents who wish to subscribe to yard waste service must sign up with WM between March 1 and March 31, 2026, and prepay for the full season. Call 877-814-2328 to sign up. Residents who miss this window must wait until spring 2027 to enroll; only new residents will be able to sign up after March 31, 2026.

Curbside Recycling

As part of the WM contract, residents will continue to receive single-stream curbside recycling services every two weeks. This service is paid for through property taxes as part of a voter-approved millage. In addition, residents may place one bulk (large) item at the curb for collection each week, with advanced notice to WM.