Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Dearborn
Trash Day
Trash collection occurs once weekly, Monday through Friday, based on your neighborhood's designated Public Service Day schedule.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as your regular trash collection.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected weekly on your regular trash day from early March through mid-December.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Standard residential trash and recycling services are provided by the city, while water and sewer utilities are billed bi-monthly and can be managed through the city's BS&A online portal.
Billing Cycle
Bi-monthly
Accepted Methods
Online (BS&A / DivDat), Auto-Pay (ACH Direct Debit), Mail, 24-Hour Drop Box, In Person (Treasury Counter or Kiosk)
Pro Tip / Discount
Financial assistance is available for qualifying low-income residents through the Wayne Metro Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP).
Gray Bin (Trash)
Trash must be securely bagged before being placed inside the gray 96-gallon or 64-gallon cart. Set carts out on the easement, not the street, after 5:00 PM the night before or by 7:00 AM on collection day. Keep lids closed and leave 3 feet of space around the bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household trash
- ✓Styrofoam of any kind
- ✓Wood pieces
- ✓Clothing and fabrics
- ✓Non-recyclable food waste
Green Bin (Recycling)
Place items loosely inside the green cart without bagging them. Keep it 3 feet away from the trash cart with the cart handles facing your house. Ensure the bin is clear of parked cars and fire hydrants.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and box board
- ✓Magazines, newspaper, and junk mail
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and storage containers
- ✓Empty aluminum, tin, and aerosol cans
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic shopping bags or film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Dirty pizza boxes
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Construction debris
Yard Waste Bin
Use biodegradable paper yard bags or a 20-32 gallon reusable container clearly marked with a City of Dearborn compost sticker. Pickups operate seasonally from mid-March through late December.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small branches and twigs
- ✓Standard garden debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on the same day as regular trash collection
Placement
Place bulk items on the easement at the curb by 7:00 AM on your regular trash pickup day. A separate Priority Waste truck collects these items by the end of the day.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture
- ✓ Appliances (doors must be off refrigerators and freezers)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Limited household construction materials (bundled/tied, under 65 lbs)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Whole house move-outs
- ✕ Hazardous materials and chemicals
- ✕ Dirt, sod, and sand
- ✕ Excessive or large construction materials
Excessive pickups beyond the standard limits will incur a minimum charge of $100.00. Contact the city at 311 to coordinate massive cleanouts.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a designated holiday falls on a weekday on or before your regular collection day, all waste services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulk item pickups are also pushed back by one day following an observed holiday during the active compost season.
Normal municipal trash routes automatically resume their regular schedule the following Monday.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring to Fall
March - DecemberDearborn enforces Public Service Days where street sweepers clean residential neighborhoods on trash collection days. Carts must remain on the easement and out of the street to allow heavy equipment to pass.
Autumn
October - NovemberYard waste volume peaks with leaf collection. Ensure your paper compost bags or stickered yard containers are filled only with organic material; heavy dirt, sand, and sod are prohibited and will not be collected.
Winter
January - FebruaryCurbside yard waste collection pauses during peak winter months. During snowstorms, clear a stable path on your easement so bins are accessible to automated trucks without blocking snowplows on the streets.
Local Tips & Community Info
Standard Gray and Green Carts for Public Service Days
In the City of Dearborn, residential sanitation services are aligned with neighborhood 'Public Service Days.' To keep the community clean and ensure street sweepers can operate efficiently, households are provided with a standard gray cart for general household refuse and a green cart for single-stream recycling. When it is time for your weekly scheduled collection, you must place your bins on the property easement (the area between the sidewalk and the curb) rather than directly in the street. Blocking the roadway with waste carts is strictly prohibited. If a single gray cart is not sufficient for your household's normal weekly waste, you can request an additional cart from the Department of Public Works for a one-time fee of $60, with no extra monthly charges attached.
Bulk Items at the Curb vs. the DPW Yard
Upgrading furniture or cleaning out the basement is straightforward under Dearborn's bulk waste policy. Residents are allowed to set out up to five standard bulk items—such as couches, mattresses, or outdated furniture—next to their gray cart each week at no additional cost. A separate municipal truck will follow the regular route to retrieve these oversized items. For excessive quantities, residents must either schedule a paid 'Special Pick-Up' or take advantage of the DPW Yard at 2951 Greenfield Road. On the third Saturday of every month, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., residents can drop off household bulk waste, appliances, and extra garbage at the yard entirely for free.
Proper Disposal of Seasonal Yard Waste
Dearborn provides dedicated curbside compost and yard debris removal running from early March through mid-December. To ensure your grass clippings and leaves are collected, they must be placed in biodegradable paper compost bags or personal 20- to 32-gallon reusable containers. If you choose to use a personal container, it must clearly display an official City of Dearborn yard waste sticker. These essential stickers are available completely free of charge and can be picked up at the Dearborn Administrative Center, any local public library branch, or the Public Works Yard. Never put organic debris into plastic garbage bags.
Household Hazardous Waste and Shred Days
Tossing chemicals, wet paint, and electronics into your gray refuse cart poses a major safety risk. The City of Dearborn collaborates with the Wayne County Department of Public Services to provide safe disposal avenues. Residents can obtain a free recycling voucher to drop off hazardous materials at a specialized Livonia contractor facility. Additionally, the city frequently hosts dedicated Shred Days at the Greenfield DPW Yard in the spring and fall, giving households a secure way to destroy sensitive financial documents.
Holiday Service Adjustments
The sanitation division recognizes several major national holidays, including New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Whenever one of these holidays falls on a standard weekday, all subsequent collections for that week will be delayed by 24 hours. For example, a Thursday Thanksgiving means Thursday routes will be collected on Friday, and Friday routes on Saturday.
Drop-off Facilities
Dearborn DPW Yard
Dearborn, MI (Contact 313-943-2150 for access details)
Materials Accepted
Wayne County Dept of Environment HHW Events
Various locations across Wayne County
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to get an extra garbage cart in Dearborn?
Residents who frequently exceed the capacity of their standard gray bin can order an additional trash cart for a one-time flat fee of $60. There are no ongoing weekly fees for the extra cart.
Where can I get a yard waste sticker for my personal compost bin?
Official yard waste stickers are provided for free by the city. You can grab one at the Dearborn Administrative Center, the Public Works Yard, or any branch of the Dearborn Public Library.
Does Dearborn have a free dump site for residents?
Yes. On the third Saturday of every month (between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.), Dearborn residents can drop off bulky items, mattresses, and extra household refuse for free at the DPW Yard located at 2951 Greenfield Road.