Isabella Recycling Program
Recycling Center in Mt Pleasant, Michigan
About This Location
The Isabella County Recycling Center / Material Recovery Facility (ICMRF), operated by Isabella County at 4208 E. River Rd in Mt Pleasant, is a full-service public drop-off recycling center open to all county residents and businesses at no charge. The facility accepts a wide range of materials including cardboard, newspaper, office paper, soft-cover books, clear glass jars, plastics #1–7 (bottles and jugs with necks), food-grade tin and aluminum, small non-food-grade metals, and Styrofoam — with Styrofoam accepted only at the MRF itself, not curbside or at county depots. For a fee, the ICMRF also takes automotive motor oil, antifreeze, oil filters, tires, brush and yard waste, and Christmas trees. Out-of-county visitors pay $2.00 per visit but cannot drop off oil, antifreeze, yard waste, brush, or tires. Saturday hours are seasonal: the facility is open Saturday mornings April 1 through November 15, and closed Saturdays from November 16 through March 31.
What Isabella Recycling Program Accepts
Related recycling guides: Tires · Appliances · Yard Waste · Glass · Plastic · Cardboard & Paper · Motor Oil
What they do not accept
Call (989) 773-9631 prior to drop-off for any item not listed on the official acceptable materials page. The MRF gates close promptly at 5:00 PM weekdays and 1:30 PM Saturdays — allow enough time to unload.
Fees
- Isabella County resident — general recycling — Free
- Isabella County business — general recycling — Free drop-off
- Out-of-county resident or business — general recycling — $2.00 per visit (yard waste, brush, oil, oil filters, and antifreeze NOT accepted from out-of-county)
- Curbside recycling bin cover replacement — $2.00
- Motor oil — $1.50 per gallon (less than one gallon charged at $1.50)
- Antifreeze — $1.50 per gallon (less than one gallon charged at $1.50)
- Oil filters — $1.50 per filter
- Car/light truck tires 18" or less — off rim — $7.50
- Car/light truck tires 18" or less — on rim — $8.50
- Semi-truck tires 19" or more — off rim — $14.50
- Semi-truck tires 19" or more — on rim — $15.50
- Yard waste/brush — standard truck bed (4'×6.5') — Starting at $27.00 (level with bed); higher if material exceeds bed level
- Yard waste/brush — long bed (4'×8') — Starting at $36.00 (level with bed); higher if material exceeds bed level
- Grass clippings and leaves — $2.50 per 30-gallon or less container; $4.50 per 50-gallon container
- Christmas trees — 7 feet or less — $3.00
- Christmas trees — over 7 feet — Assessed by staff based on length and girth
Access & restrictions
Public drop-off facility open to all Isabella County residents and businesses at no charge; out-of-county visitors pay $2.00 per visit for general recyclables (oil, antifreeze, yard waste, brush, and tires not accepted from out-of-county). · Walk-in (no appointment) · No appointment needed. Scrap metal must be dropped off at the Recycling Center directly (not at depots). Styrofoam drop-off is at the cream-colored outbuilding with a blue roof on the MRF grounds only. MRF gates close promptly at closing time.
Programs & events
- Curbside Recycling Collection — County-operated bi-weekly or weekly curbside pickup available to residents in participating communities (Union Charter Township, Deerfield Township, Village of Shepherd, Village of Lake Isabella, Saginaw Chippewa Tribe service area, and others). City of Mt Pleasant residents contact the City DPW at (989) 779-5401. Call (989) 773-9631 to enroll in participating areas.
- County Depot Drop-Off Sites — Isabella County operates multiple unstaffed roll-off depot locations throughout the county for residents who cannot visit the main MRF. Eleven depot sites exist across the county.
- Business Recycling Assistance — The ICMRF provides free waste-reduction and recovery assistance to businesses, including site visits, waste audits, customized recycling programs, employee education materials, and special-event planning.
- Community Sharps Collection Program — Isabella County provides free sharps disposal for permanent residents through permanent Community Sharps Collection Bins at drop sites throughout the county. Call (989) 773-9631 for locations.
- Isabella County Conservation District Tire & HHW Collections — The Conservation District of Isabella County holds free tire and household hazardous waste collection events twice a year at the Isabella County Fairgrounds, at no cost to residents, funded in part by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. Visit isabellaconservationdistrict.org for dates.
Materials, fees and hours can change — call ahead to confirm before your visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is drop-off free for Isabella County residents?
Yes. General recycling drop-off is completely free for Isabella County residents and businesses. Out-of-county visitors pay $2.00 per visit for general recyclables.
Do they charge for tires, and can out-of-county residents drop them off?
Yes, tires carry a fee: car/light truck tires (18" or less) are $7.50 off rim / $8.50 on rim; semi-truck tires (19" or more) are $14.50 off rim / $15.50 on rim. Tires are NOT accepted from out-of-county residents or businesses. Pay at the front desk before unloading.
Are Saturday hours available year-round?
No. Saturday hours (8:00 AM – 1:30 PM) run only from April 1 through November 15. The facility is closed on Saturdays from November 16 through March 31. Monday–Friday hours of 8:00 AM–5:00 PM apply year-round.
Can I drop off Styrofoam, and are plastic bags accepted?
Styrofoam (EPS) is accepted at the MRF only — look for the cream-colored outbuilding with a blue roof on the facility grounds. Clean meat trays, egg cartons, takeout containers, and large packing pieces made of tiny beads are accepted; loose packing peanuts are not. Plastic bags and plastic film of any kind are NOT accepted at the MRF or curbside.
Does the ICMRF offer curbside recycling pickup?
Yes, but only in participating communities (including Union Charter Township, Deerfield Township, Village of Shepherd, Village of Lake Isabella, and the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe service area). City of Mt Pleasant residents should contact the City Department of Public Works at (989) 779-5401. To sign up for curbside in a participating community, call (989) 773-9631.
Last verified: November 2026. Sources: source · source · source · source. Spotted something wrong? Suggest a correction.