“Spring Break” for Country Recycling Carts Announced

The Emmet County Road Commission announced seasonal weight restrictions are in effect beginning Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 8:00 AM.

Curbside recycling offered by Emmet County Recycling (ECR) will pause service for green lidded rolling carts containing paper, boxes and bags in Bay Harbor, Bear Creek, Little Traverse and Resort townships until frost laws are lifted. Households and businesses within the city limits of Alanson, Petoskey or Harbor Springs can continue to use their rolling carts.

Weight restrictions limit the use of curbside trucks that tip and empty wheeled carts. During the frost laws time period, ECR utilizes smaller trucks with trailers and lifting heavy, bulky carts is not possible.

Residents in Bay Harbor, Bear Creek, Little Traverse and Resort townships can instead set out their paper, boxes and bags in an ECR dark green tote or another tote up to 18 gallons in size. Cardboard and paper must fit entirely in the tote to be serviced. Self-hauling to one of twelve drop sites in the county is an additional option.

Once weight restrictions are lifted, announcements to resume wheeled cart use will be made in local newspapers, radio stations, ECR social media pages and website.