Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Dearborn
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.
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
!Contamination Tips
Skip the Plastic Bags for Recycling
Do not bag your recyclables. Tanglers like plastic grocery bags and film clog the processing machinery at the recycling facility. Bagged items placed in the green recycling cart may be rejected or result in a ticket under City ordinances.
Secure Trash in Bags Before Tossing
While recyclables should be loose, all regular garbage must be bagged before going into the gray trash cart. This prevents litter from blowing across your neighborhood and helps maintain hygiene in the bins, mitigating vermin issues.
No Construction or Hazardous Materials
Standard carts cannot handle hazardous household waste, dirt, rocks, bricks, or large construction debris. Residents should utilize special Wayne County HHW drop-off days for chemicals or haul heavy concrete to the DPW Yard.
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.
About Dearborn Waste Management
Evolving Waste Services in Dearborn
Effective July 2024, the City of Dearborn partnered with Priority Waste to handle all residential trash, recycling, and yard waste collections. Through this transition, the city remains dedicated to providing efficient weekday services for its residents. To ensure operations run smoothly and street sweepers can pass, residents must remember to place their bins on the easement rather than in the street.
Maximizing the Dearborn Green Recycling Cart
Dearborn provides residents with green recycling carts designed to handle single-stream household recyclables. The city accepts flattened cardboard, clean paper, plastic jugs, glass bottles, and metal cans. It is vital to leave at least three feet of clearance around the green bin and ensure it isn't blocked by vehicles or utility poles, allowing the automated truck arms to collect items without incident.
Navigating Bulk Waste Allowances and the DPW Yard
Dearborn offers generous curbside bulk waste allowances, permitting up to five large items per week (and twenty per year) alongside regular refuse. Items like furniture and tied carpet rolls are collected by a separate truck on your normal service day. For excess non-hazardous debris, including old TVs and brick or concrete, residents can utilize the local DPW yard for disposal.
Public Service Days and Street Sweeping Synergies
A unique feature of Dearborn's residential maintenance is the synergy between trash pickup and Public Service Days, which operate from early March through December. Neighborhood street sweeping happens concurrently with waste collection. Because of this dual-service approach, it is absolutely crucial to store all waste carts securely on your easement so street sweepers can clean the curbs effectively.
Yard Waste Best Practices for Wayne County
From mid-March until late December, organic yard trimmings can be set out in brown kraft paper bags or reusable 20-32 gallon containers marked with a free Dearborn compost sticker. Since Priority Waste strictly forbids dirt, sod, and rocks in yard waste bins, inspecting your clippings before collection day ensures your compost is picked up on time.
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
What should I do if my garbage or recycling pickup is missed in Dearborn?
You can report a missed waste pickup by calling the Dearborn Call Center directly at 313-943-2150 (or dial 311), or by filling out the online missed waste form. Priority Waste operates the routes and trucks will be deployed to recover missed collections.
How do I correctly handle yard waste during the active season?
From mid-March to late December, yard waste like grass clippings and leaves must be placed in paper kraft bags or reusable 20-32 gallon containers bearing a free Dearborn compost sticker. Free stickers are available at all Dearborn libraries, the Public Works Yard, and the Dearborn Admin Center.
Where exactly should I place my trash and recycling carts?
Carts must be placed on the easement (the grassy area between your sidewalk and the street) and never in the street itself. Leave three feet of clearance between the gray trash cart, green recycling cart, and any other objects, ensuring the handles face your house.
Are there limits to how much bulk trash I can put out at the curb?
Yes. Dearborn limits households to 5 bulk items per week, with a strict maximum of 20 items per year. Carpet and padding must be cut into 4-foot lengths and tied or taped, with a limit of 10 rolls per week. Excessive amounts require a minimum $100 fee.