Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Eastpointe
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.
Typically dark-colored 95-gallon cart Bin (Trash)
Must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day or after 7:00 p.m. the night before. Cart and contents must not exceed 50 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household refuse
- ✓Bagged garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
Designated recycling cart (up to 95-gallons) Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables loosely in the cart. Do not bag items. Keep the cart separated from the trash bin by at least three feet.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean plastics #1, #2, #4, #5, and #7
- ✓Clean food and beverage cans
- ✓Flattened cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Clear and colored glass bottles
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam (plastics #3 and #6)
- ✕Food-soiled paper
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Use Kraft paper bags or 32-35 gallon cans with a compost sticker. Containers must weigh under 50 lbs. Brush must be bundled (max 4 feet long, max 18 inches diameter).
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Shrubs and brush trimmings (under 6 inches diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By request only
Placement
Once scheduled, place items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day. All appliance doors must be removed.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches, chairs, and tables
- ✓ Wrapped mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Up to 5 rolls of carpet (cut to 4-foot widths, rolled and tied)
- ✓ Refrigerators (freon removed and tagged)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Large amounts of building refuse or drywall
- ✕ Bricks and concrete blocks
- ✕ Materials resulting from fires or basement flooding
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
A $55 advance fee applies to appliances containing Freon unless they have been officially tagged by a licensed technician verifying removal.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on or before your normal service day during the workweek, collection will be pushed back by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Seasonal yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard solid waste.
If an observed holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no change to the weekday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Check Your Plastic Numbers
Eastpointe's recycling program only accepts plastics numbered 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7. Items like Styrofoam, PVC piping, and unmarked plastics contaminate the recycling stream and must be thrown in the regular trash.
Exclude Soil and Rocks from Compost
Never place dirt, sod, rocks, or large root balls into your yard waste bags or cans. These materials cannot be processed by the commercial composting facility and will result in your yard waste being left at the curb.
Wrap Your Mattresses
If you are disposing of a mattress or box spring as a bulk item, it must be completely wrapped or sealed in a mattress bag. Unwrapped mattresses pose health risks to drivers and will be rejected.
Seasonal Information
Spring
AprilCurbside yard waste collection officially begins on the first full week of April. Ensure you have obtained your free 'Yard Waste Only' decals from the Eastpointe D.P.W. Office if you plan to use standard cans.
Winter
December - JanuaryCompost collection concludes after the second week of December. Following Christmas, Priority Waste provides four weeks of free curbside Christmas tree collection. Any tree taller than 6 feet must be cut in half before placement.
Year-Round
January - DecemberDuring heavy snowfalls, do not place carts behind or on top of snowbanks where the automated truck arms cannot safely reach them. Shovel a flat space at the curb for your bins.
About Eastpointe Waste Management
Streamlined Residential Waste Services Under Priority Waste
In mid-2023, the City of Eastpointe transitioned its residential sanitation services to Priority Waste, bringing a fleet of bright yellow trucks and updated protocols to Macomb County. Under this municipal contract, every single-family home is serviced weekly using standard 95-gallon refuse carts. This automated system ensures quicker route times and less street litter, keeping Eastpointe's neighborhoods clean and safe. Residents are advised to have their carts placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on their designated collection day or as early as 7:00 p.m. the night before.
Strict Weight Limits and Cart Capacity Rules
To maintain worker safety and accommodate the automated mechanical arms on the collection trucks, Eastpointe enforces a strict 50-pound weight limit for all 95-gallon trash and recycling carts. Overloaded or excessively heavy bins will be bypassed. If your household consistently generates more waste than a single 95-gallon cart can hold, the city allows you to purchase an additional authorized cart directly through the Priority Waste website, rather than using non-compliant personal cans.
Mandatory Call-Ahead Scheduling for Oversized Junk
Unlike some neighboring municipalities that allow spontaneous bulk curbside dumping, Eastpointe requires residents to take a proactive step for large items. You must call Priority Waste prior to your service day to schedule a bulk pickup. This applies to furniture, mattresses, and bundled carpet. Furthermore, any disposed mattress or box spring must be fully encased in a plastic bag or wrapped tightly to protect sanitation workers from bedbugs and biohazards.
Specific Guidelines for Freon Appliances
Disposing of an old refrigerator, freezer, or air conditioning unit in Eastpointe involves a specific protocol. Because Freon is a regulated environmental hazard, you have two choices: hire a licensed technician to remove the Freon and apply an official safety tag before placing it at the curb, or pay a $55 advance fee per unit directly to Priority Waste to handle the safe evacuation of the refrigerant. In both cases, all appliance doors must be completely removed to prevent entrapment hazards for local children.
Seasonal Compost and Yard Debris Preparation
Eastpointe's yard waste program is highly regulated to ensure high-quality compost generation. Running from the first full week of April through the second week of December, the program strictly forbids the use of plastic bags. All grass clippings, leaves, and small brush must be placed in biodegradable Kraft paper bags or in 32-35 gallon cans clearly marked with a 'Yard Waste Only' decal. Dirt, sod, root balls, and animal waste are explicitly prohibited from the compost stream.
Drop-off Facilities
J. Fons Co. Transfer Station
Refer to Macomb County local listings (Affiliated with Priority Waste operations)
Materials Accepted
Macomb County Household Hazardous Waste Events
Various mobile locations hosted by Macomb County Health Department
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to schedule a bulk trash pickup in Eastpointe?
Yes. You must contact Priority Waste at (586) 228-1200 or 1 (855) 927-8365 to schedule a bulk collection before placing oversized items at the curb. Unscheduled bulk waste may not be picked up by the standard automated trucks.
How do I throw away a refrigerator or freezer?
You must remove all doors for safety. If the appliance contains Freon, you must either have a licensed technician remove the refrigerant and tag the unit, or pay a $55 advance fee to Priority Waste for proper environmental processing.
When does yard waste season start and end?
Curbside yard waste collection begins the first full week of April and runs weekly until the second week of December. Remember that plastic bags are strictly prohibited for yard waste.
How do I dispose of a Christmas tree?
Priority Waste will collect natural Christmas trees and miscellaneous garland for four weeks following the Christmas holiday. If your tree is taller than 6 feet, you are required to cut it in half before placing it at the curb.