Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Detroit
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone (serviced weekly by Waste Management on the west side and Priority Waste on the east and southwest sides).
Recycling
Weekly on your scheduled collection day (in blue recycling carts).
Yard Waste
Weekly on your scheduled collection day (seasonal service running from late March/April through mid-December).
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash collection is funded via the annual Solid Waste Fee assessed on your City of Detroit property tax bill rather than your monthly water bill. You can also text your address to 313-800-7905 to get free pickup reminders.
Billing Cycle
Annual (Included on Property Tax Bill)
Accepted Methods
Online, Mobile App, DivDat Kiosks, Phone, Mail, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Senior citizens aged 65 and older with a gross household income under $40,000 can apply for a Senior Citizen Solid Waste Discount (50% reduction). Disabled veterans may also qualify for exemptions.
City-Issued Cart (Colors vary by hauler) Bin (Trash)
All trash must be bagged before being placed in the refuse cart to prevent litter. Carts should be placed at the curb between 6:00 PM the night before collection and 7:00 AM on service day. Keep the cart at least three feet away from parked cars and other obstacles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers and non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Textiles and heavily soiled clothing
- ✓Styrofoam and chip bags
City-Issued Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be placed loosely in the recycling cart; do not bag your recycling. Carts must be removed from the curb by 9:00 PM on the day of collection. Never store your refuse or recycling cans in the front yard.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and boxboard
- ✓Mixed paper, newspaper, and junk mail
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and storage containers
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and empty aerosol cans
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Household hazardous waste (paint, oil, cleaners)
- ✕Medical or electronic waste
- ✕Auto parts or tires
Yard Waste Bin
Use biodegradable paper yard bags or a 32-gallon reusable container clearly marked 'Yard Waste Only' (max 60 lbs). Brush exceeding 2 inches in diameter must be tied into bundles under 4 feet long, under 18 inches in diameter, and weighing less than 50 lbs. No plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Shrubs and garden trimmings
- ✓Twigs and branches under 2 inches in diameter and under 4 feet in length
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your scheduled collection day
Placement
Place bulk items at the curb away from your refuse, yard waste, and recycling containers between 6:00 PM the evening before and 7:00 AM on your pickup day. Items must be placed strictly in front of your own household.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Appliances (stoves, hot water tanks)
- ✓ Carpeting (cut, rolled, and tied into 4-foot bundles)
- ✓ Large toys
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Tires and automotive parts
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Dirt, sand, or concrete
If you have more than the 2-cubic-yard limit, you must call DPW at 313-876-0004 for a paid bulk pickup estimate, rent a roll-off dumpster, or haul the excess to a municipal drop-off yard.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, all collections for that day and the remainder of the week will be delayed by one day. For example, Thursday service moves to Friday, and Friday moves to Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
During the active yard waste season, yard waste and bulk collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular trash and recycling.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no delay and all residential collection schedules proceed as normal.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring through Fall
Late March - Mid-DecemberWeekly curbside yard waste collection typically begins the first full week of April and runs through the second week of December. Ensure you separate your yard waste from regular trash, as it is collected by a completely different truck.
Winter
December - JanuaryLive Christmas tree pickup runs for the four weeks immediately following the holiday. All decorations and lights must be removed. Any tree taller than 6 feet must be cut in half by the resident before being placed at the curb.
Year-Round
January - DecemberTo stay ahead of weather delays, schedule shifts, or holiday changes, Detroit residents can sign up for weekly SMS reminders by simply texting their street address to 313-800-7905.
Local Tips & Community Info
Detroit Trash & Recycling Pickup Schedule 2026
Keeping our neighborhoods clean and safe requires every resident to understand the Detroit trash pickup schedule. The Department of Public Works (DPW) has recently streamlined sanitation services so that standard household garbage, recycling, bulk waste, and yard debris are all collected weekly on the exact same day. This unified schedule completely eliminates the confusion of alternating weeks. To verify your specific property's collection day, residents can utilize the official DPW online lookup tool. Because collection routes are divided geographically across the city, pickup operations are handled by designated contractors—Waste Management covers the Westside, while Priority Waste services the East and Southwest sectors.
Rules for Bulk Waste and Yard Debris Limits
You no longer have to wait weeks to clear out heavy items. In Detroit, bulk waste is now retrieved on your normal weekly pickup day. However, strict volume limits apply to keep the trucks on schedule. Households are permitted to place up to two cubic yards of bulk material at the curb, which is roughly the size of a standard sofa or a large refrigerator. Furthermore, the maximum weight cannot exceed 1,000 pounds. Exceeding these limits can result in municipal fines up to $1,500. For large-scale cleanouts or construction debris, DPW provides a Paid Pickup bulk service starting at $40 per cubic yard. Yard waste is collected seasonally and must be placed in approved biodegradable paper bags or clearly marked personal cans.
Proper Bin Placement and Curbside Guidelines
Correct cart positioning guarantees that automated sanitation trucks can service your street without delays. Place your City-issued garbage and recycling bins at the curb no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before your designated collection day, and no later than 7:00 AM on the day of service. Ensure that your containers are not blocking pedestrian sidewalks, driveways, or street storm drains. Always keep your standard waste carts adequately separated from your loose bulk items or yard waste bags to prevent the mechanical arms from knocking things over.
Holiday Delays for Sanitation Services
Sanitation operations observe major national holidays, which will push back your pickup by one day for the remainder of that week. The City of Detroit generally suspends curbside collection on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If a recognized holiday lands on a Monday, all scheduled routes from Monday through Friday shift forward by 24 hours, meaning Friday routes are effectively collected on Saturday.
Setting Up Text Reminders and Reporting Missed Pickups
Never miss a collection day again by signing up for the city's automated alert system. Detroiters can simply text their street address to (313) 800-7905 to receive a convenient reminder text the night before their scheduled pickup. If you followed all placement rules and your bins were skipped, you should report the missed pickup immediately. Westside residents must call Waste Management at (844) 233-8764, while those on the East and Southwest sides should contact Priority Waste at (855) 927-8365 to request a recovery vehicle.
Drop-off Facilities
Davison Yard
8221 West Davison, Detroit, MI
Materials Accepted
Southfield Yard
12255 Southfield Rd, Detroit, MI
Materials Accepted
J. Fons Transfer Station
6451 E McNichols Rd, Detroit, MI 48212
Materials Accepted
Household Hazardous Recycling Facility
2000 E Ferry St, Detroit, MI
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does Detroit pick up bulk trash?
Bulk waste is picked up weekly on the very same day as your regular trash and recycling collection. The strict limit is two cubic yards and a maximum of 1,000 pounds per household per week.
What time should I put my trash bins out in Detroit?
You should place all refuse carts and bulk items at the curb by 7:00 AM on your scheduled service day. You may place them out no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before.
How do I dispose of remodeling or construction debris in Detroit?
Standard curbside bulk collection does not accept construction or renovation debris. You must schedule a Paid Pickup through the DPW (starting at $40 per cubic yard) or rent a private roll-off dumpster.