Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Detroit
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.
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
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Mix
Never use plastic bags for your yard waste or recycling. Plastic bags tangle up sorting machinery at recycling facilities and ruin organic compost batches. Always leave recyclables loose and use paper Kraft bags for yard debris.
Bag and Box Small Bulk Items
When setting out bulk trash, small loose items like toys, lamps, or clothing must not be scattered on the ground. Place these smaller miscellaneous items into boxes or plastic garbage bags before putting them next to your large bulk furniture.
No Construction Debris in Regular Bulk
Standard weekly bulk collection will not pick up drywall, concrete, bricks, or large auto parts. Mixing these into your bulk pile will result in a rejected pickup. You must take construction debris to a facility like J. Fons Transfer Station and pay the applicable fee.
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.
About Detroit Waste Management
Detroit's Transition to Comprehensive Weekly Collections
In a major upgrade to neighborhood sanitation, the City of Detroit Department of Public Works (DPW) recently transitioned to weekly pickups across all four waste streams: trash, recycling, yard waste, and bulk items. Collection services are divided geographically to ensure efficiency. Priority Waste services neighborhoods on the East Side and Southwest Detroit, while Waste Management (WM) handles routes on the city's West Side. This unified weekly schedule significantly reduces confusion and helps maintain cleaner streets.
Strict Anti-Dumping Rules for Vacant Lots
Blight and illegal dumping are taken very seriously by Detroit code enforcement. A critical rule for all Detroit residents is that bulk waste, yard debris, and regular refuse carts must only be placed directly in front of the home that generated them. Placing any type of waste or bulk debris in front of a vacant lot, an abandoned structure, or a neighbor's property is strictly prohibited and will result in a municipal citation and fine.
Navigating the 2-Cubic Yard Bulk Limit
While Detroit proudly offers weekly bulk trash collection, there is a strict limit of 1,000 pounds or two cubic yards per household per week—roughly the size of two standard kitchen stoves. For large-scale cleanouts that exceed this limit, residents cannot simply leave the massive pile at the curb. Instead, you must contact DPW to request an affordable paid curbside pickup, or take the excess to one of the city's designated free drop-off yards.
Maximizing Detroit's Free Drop-Off Yards
Detroit residents with valid identification have access to several free bulk and yard waste drop-off locations, saving money on heavy disposal fees. The Davison Yard, Southfield Yard, and J. Fons Transfer Station allow residents to drop off up to 1,000 pounds of acceptable waste per person, per day. Note that construction and demolition debris is not accepted at these municipal yards, with the exception of the J. Fons location, which will accept construction material for an additional fee.
Yard Waste Container Policies and Preparation
During the active compost season, Detroiters must prep their organic debris correctly. The city strictly forbids plastic bags for yard waste. All leaves, grass clippings, and small twigs must be placed in biodegradable paper 'Kraft' bags or reusable 32- to 35-gallon metal or plastic containers. These reusable bins must weigh under 60 pounds when full and be clearly labeled with a 'Yard Waste Only' or 'Compost' sticker to ensure the separate yard waste truck spots them.
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
Which company is responsible for my garbage pickup in Detroit?
Detroit's waste collection is split geographically. If you live on the East Side or in Southwest Detroit, your hauler is Priority Waste (855-927-8365). If you live on the West Side, your hauler is Waste Management / WM (844-233-8764).
What happens if I have more bulk trash than the weekly 2-cubic-yard limit?
If you exceed the 1,000-pound or 2-cubic-yard limit, you have a few options: you can haul the extra debris yourself to a free Detroit resident drop-off location (like the Davison or Southfield Yards), call DPW at 313-876-0004 to arrange a paid special pickup, or rent a private roll-off dumpster.
Am I allowed to put my trash or bulk items in front of the vacant house next door?
No. Detroit DPW strict rules dictate that you must place all bulk items, garbage carts, and yard waste directly in front of your own property. Placing debris in front of a vacant lot or another structure is considered illegal dumping and can result in a ticket.
How can I easily get alerts about my Detroit trash and recycling schedule?
You can sign up for weekly SMS text reminders by simply texting your street address to 313-800-7905. You can also use the City of Detroit's online 'Find Your Waste Pickup Schedule' tool to check for holiday delays or report missed pickups.