Bigbelly program
Waste & recycling
Downtown’s smart Bigbelly bins sort trash from recycling and let the ambassadors know when they’re full. Here’s how they work, and how to use them right.
In shortBigbelly bins have two sides: one for trash and one for recycling. Keep food and liquids out of the recycling side. When you are not sure, use the trash side.
How the bins work
- Two sides. Every unit has one bin for trash and one for recycling.
- Smart sensors. When a bin is full, it sends an alert, and the Downtown Ambassadors empty it.
- Off the sidewalk. Ambassadors take what they collect to a dumpster site on Farmers Alley for pickup.
- Dual units downtown
- 51
- New units added in 2025
- 26
- Old cans replaced
- 58
- Units downtown by December 2021
- 25
Recycle right
Western Michigan University interns from the Industrial-Organizational Behavior Management program audited the downtown bins and found that nearly 44% of what went into the recycling side was contamination, mostly food waste and things that can’t be recycled. A little care makes the whole bin recyclable.
- Put food, napkins and anything wet or greasy on the trash side.
- Empty cups and bottles before you recycle them.
- Follow the labels on the unit for what goes where.
- Not sure? Trash it. One wrong item can spoil a whole bin of recycling.
Who makes it happen
The City of Kalamazoo runs the program with the Downtown Ambassadors. The 2025 expansion was funded by the Downtown Economic Growth Authority (DEGA), and trash and recycling are hauled by the city’s contractor, Best Way Disposal. Audits will continue, and their results guide the signs on the bins.
Sources
Bin full or broken?
Email downtown@kalamazoocity.org or call 311 with the location.
Businesses
Questions about trash and recycling for your business? Email downtown@kalamazoocity.org.