Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Dearborn Heights
Michigan residential pickups occur weekly. Please check your local township or city map for your exact neighborhood collection day.
State Mandate
Keep yard clippings out of landfills. Return deposit bottles separately.
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
!Contamination Tips
Keep Carts Out of the Road
Unlike some cities, Dearborn Heights ordinance strictly forbids placing your trash carts in the actual street. Carts must sit on the grass parkway or driveway approach. Carts left in the street will be physically moved back onto the property by drivers and may not be emptied.
Don't Overstuff the Cart Lid
Priority Waste automated trucks require the cart lid to be closed. If your cart is overflowing with the lid propped open, materials can spill out during the lifting process. If you have extra bags, place them neatly on the ground for the trailing bulk truck.
Move Your Vehicles
Remember the local street parking ordinance: you cannot park on the street from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on your trash day. Cars blocking the curb prevent the automated trucks from reaching your bins.
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.
About Dearborn Heights Waste Management
Strict Cart Placement Rules in Dearborn Heights
Dearborn Heights has specific local ordinances regarding exactly where your Priority Waste carts should be placed. To prevent traffic hazards and accommodate street sweepers, your trash and recycling carts must never be placed directly in the street. Instead, they should be positioned between the sidewalk and the street—either on the driveway apron or the grass. Additionally, local ordinances prohibit on-street parking between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on your designated rubbish collection day.
The Wayne County HHW Free Voucher Program
Rather than waiting for one of the four annual Wayne County drop-off events, Dearborn Heights residents can take advantage of a unique, year-round Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Voucher Program. By visiting the Wayne County facility on Commerce Court in Wayne (Monday through Friday), residents can pick up a free voucher. This voucher covers the disposal fees at the Environmental Recycling Group (ERG) facility in Livonia, allowing you to drop off old paint, pesticides, and electronics securely on a day that works for you.
Automated Carts and Supplemental Bulk Collection
Priority Waste utilizes modern automated trucks with mechanical arms for standard trash collection in Dearborn Heights. For these trucks to operate smoothly, the lid on your main trash cart must be able to close completely—overflowing carts risk a missed pickup. However, if you have extra household refuse, the city allows a few additional bags or bulk items to be placed neatly on the ground next to the cart, which will be collected by a separate bulk truck following the main route.
Extended Compost and Yard Waste Season
The yard waste collection season in Dearborn Heights offers residents a lengthy window for outdoor cleanup. Starting in early April and running through the second week of December, homeowners can place grass clippings, leaves, and small twigs out on their normal service day. You must use biodegradable Kraft paper bags or rigid cans clearly marked with a 'Yard Waste' decal. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited for organic debris and will not be collected.
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
Where exactly should I place my trash cans in Dearborn Heights?
City ordinance dictates that carts must be placed between the sidewalk and the street—either on the grass or on the driveway apron. Carts must never be placed in the street, as they will obstruct traffic and street sweepers.
Can I park my car on the street on trash day?
No. Dearborn Heights ordinance prohibits on-street parking from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the day your rubbish is scheduled for pick-up. This ensures the large automated Priority Waste trucks can navigate safely and access the bins.
What happens if my trash cart is completely full and the lid won't close?
The main trash cart's lid must be closed for the automated truck arms to lift it safely without spilling. If you have extra trash, Priority Waste allows you to place a few additional securely tied bags on the ground next to the cart, which will be picked up by a separate bulk truck.
How do I get my broken trash or recycling cart fixed?
If your cart has a broken wheel, lid, or body, you should contact Priority Waste directly at (586) 228-1200 or visit their Dearborn Heights municipality webpage to fill out a cart repair or replacement form.