Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Dearborn Heights
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on your designated trash collection day.
Yard Waste
Yard waste (compost) is collected weekly on your regular trash day from early April through the second Friday of December.
Set Out Time
By 6:30 AM on collection day (or after 6:00 PM the evening prior).
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential water and sewer bills are billed bi-monthly. While card transactions through the online portal carry a standard processing fee, signing up for automatic bank draft (Auto-Pay) helps you avoid added payment fees.
Billing Cycle
Bi-Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person (Treasurer's Office or Dearborn Federal Savings Bank), and DivDat Kiosks.
Standard Priority Waste Cart Bin (Trash)
Trash must be bagged inside the cart. The cart's lid must be completely closed for the automated arm to lift it safely. Place the cart on the grass or driveway apron (not in the street) between 6:00 p.m. the night before and 7:00 a.m. on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers
Standard Priority Waste Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables should be placed loosely in the cart without plastic bags. Ensure the cart is spaced adequately from the trash bin and any parked vehicles or mailboxes.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and boxboard
- ✓Clean plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Empty metal food and beverage cans
- ✓Clear and colored glass bottles and jars
- ✓Newspaper, junk mail, and magazines
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam packaging and peanuts
- ✕Food-soiled cardboard (like greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in designated 30-gallon paper yard waste bags or sturdy trash cans marked 'Yard Waste.' Do not use plastic bags. Yard waste is picked up on the same day as your trash from April through mid-December.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Fallen leaves
- ✓Small twigs and light pruning debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your standard collection day.
Placement
Place bulk items on the grass or driveway apron next to your regular carts by 7:00 a.m. Ensure items are not blocking the automated carts from being lifted.
Accepted
- ✓ Extra household trash bags
- ✓ Furniture (couches, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and liquid paints
- ✕ Automotive tires and car batteries
- ✕ Large amounts of construction or remodeling debris
Standard bulk collection is included with your city solid waste service. Evictions or massive house clean-outs may require renting a private dumpster.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday on or before your regular collection day, your trash and recycling pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week, concluding on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
During the active compost season, yard waste trucks observe the same holiday delay schedule as regular trash and recycling.
If a holiday such as Independence Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no delay to the standard Monday-Friday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring, Summer, and Fall
Early April to Mid-DecemberWeekly yard waste collection begins the first week of April and runs continuously through the second week of December. Off-season yard waste is not collected at the curb.
Winter Holidays
Late November through early JanuaryMajor holidays including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day will push your collection day back by one day if the holiday falls on a weekday. Friday routes will be serviced on Saturday.
Winter Snow Operations
December through MarchThe Department of Public Works begins plowing city streets when snow accumulates to 3 inches or more. Ensuring your carts are off the street and up on the apron is critical during these months so plows can clear the roads.
Local Tips & Community Info
Waste Management Operations in Dearborn Heights
The City of Dearborn Heights has partnered with Priority Waste to manage residential refuse collection. Neighborhoods are assigned specific pickup days running from Monday through Friday. Trucks operate from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., so households are advised to stage their containers the night before, starting no earlier than 6:00 p.m. Ensuring timely placement guarantees that your home will not be skipped during the early morning route.
Guidelines for Curbside Bins
When wheeling your containers to the curb, placement is critical for the automated mechanical arms used by Priority Waste. Carts must be positioned on the grass or driveway approach between the sidewalk and the street—never directly in the roadway. Furthermore, the automated trucks require all container lids to be fully closed. Overflowing bins where the lid stands open might not be serviced, so residents should carefully manage their weekly volume.
Bulky Item and Extra Bag Allowances
Dearborn Heights offers generous bulk disposal options without requiring an upfront appointment. On your regular service day, Priority Waste allows you to leave a few extra tied bags on the ground next to your cart. Additionally, you are permitted up to two large bulky pieces of furniture or appliances each week. If you exceed this two-item or eight-bag threshold, you must contact customer service, as extra loads will be assessed and billed separately.
Yard Debris and Compost Season
Seasonal compost removal begins during the first week of April and wraps up around the second week of December. During this period, homeowners can dispose of grass clippings, fallen leaves, and small branches. All yard waste must be placed in labeled 35-gallon cans, standard kraft paper compost bags, or bundled securely. Avoid using standard plastic bags, as they will be rejected by the compost facility.
Single-Stream Recycling Requirements
Environmental sustainability is a major focus, and Priority Waste picks up recycling on the same day as your trash and yard waste. Acceptable items include broken-down boxboard, junk mail, metal food cans, and plastic jugs. Make sure to rinse all containers thoroughly. Items like styrofoam, window glass, and greasy pizza boxes are prohibited from the recycling stream.
Wayne County Hazardous Waste Disposal
Chemicals, motor oil, and wet paint cannot be thrown into standard trash carts. To assist with this, Wayne County hosts several Household Hazardous Waste drop-off events throughout the year. Additionally, Dearborn Heights residents can acquire a free recycling voucher from the county office, which permits safe disposal of toxic household materials at an approved processing center in Livonia.
Adjustments for National Holidays
Priority Waste observes six primary holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. When one of these falls on a weekday, collections for that day and the rest of the week are pushed back by 24 hours, often resulting in Saturday pickups. Normal operations resume the following week.
Drop-off Facilities
ERG Environmental Services (HHW Drop-off)
13040 Merriman Road, Livonia, MI 48150
Materials Accepted
Wayne County Seasonal Drop-Off Events
Various locations (e.g., Henry Ford College, Melvindale High School)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put my trash cart directly on the street in Dearborn Heights?
No, city regulations require bins to be placed on the grass or apron approach between the sidewalk and the street. Placing them in the road is prohibited and carts may be moved back onto the property.
Is there a fee for putting out a broken couch or mattress?
No, as long as you do not exceed the limit of two bulk items or eight extra bags per week, Priority Waste will collect them at no extra charge on your normal service day.
How do I safely get rid of old paint or hazardous chemicals?
Wayne County hosts several Household Hazardous Waste drop-off events. Residents can also pick up a free recycling voucher at the Wayne County facility to dispose of items at the Livonia processing site.