Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Farmington Hills
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.
Priority Waste 95-Gallon Cart Bin (Trash)
Place at curb between 6:00 PM the night before and 7:00 AM on collection day. Personal cans up to 35-gallons/60-lbs and 2-mil plastic bags are also accepted.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Solidified latex paint
- ✓Small bundled items
Priority Waste Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Clean and dry all recyclables. Do not bag recyclables; place them loose in the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard
- ✓Paper
- ✓Plastics
- ✓Metal cans
- ✓Glass bottles
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Needles/Sharps
- ✕Household Hazardous Waste
Yard Waste Bin
Use paper bags, a 35-gallon can with a city sticker, or tie in bundles no longer than 4 feet and weighing under 60 lbs. No plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Shrub clippings
- ✓Twigs
- ✓Plant materials
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly
Placement
Place bulk items at the curb by 7:00 AM on your standard trash collection day. There is no need to call in advance.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction materials
- ✕ Propane tanks
- ✕ Unbundled large limbs
- ✕ Dirt or sod
Standard residential bulk items are collected at no extra charge, but construction material pickup requires calling Priority Waste directly to arrange a special paid pickup.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a designated holiday falls on a weekday, garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is only collected from April to December, but it follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as trash during those active months.
Collections are strictly maintained with no delays on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
State Law Against Plastic Yard Bags
Michigan law strictly prohibits landfilling yard waste. Never use plastic bags for grass clippings or leaves; they will be left at the curb. Always use paper compost bags or labeled 35-gallon cans.
Dry Out Your Latex Paint
Latex paint is not accepted at HHW drop-off events to keep city costs down. Instead, solidify it at home by mixing it with kitty litter. Once it is completely hard, leave the lid off and put the can in your regular trash.
Safe Syringe Disposal
Never place medical sharps or needles in your recycling bin. Clip the needles, place them in a hard plastic bottle, tape the lid securely shut, label it 'SYRINGES', and put it in your standard garbage.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryChristmas trees placed at the curbside are collected with regular trash pickup until the end of January.
Spring to Fall
April - DecemberCurbside yard waste collection typically begins the first week of April and concludes during the mid-December collection week.
Tax Season
WinterWhile solid waste pickup is funded by the General Fund, remember that your recycling and yard waste services are billed annually as a separate item on your winter property tax statement.
About Farmington Hills Waste Management
An Overview of Farmington Hills Solid Waste Program
The City of Farmington Hills maintains a long-term contract with Priority Waste to handle residential refuse, recycling, bulk items, and seasonal yard waste collection. Managed by the Division of Public Works (DPW), this program is uniquely structured in terms of billing: solid waste collection is covered by the city's General Fund, while a separate recycling and yard waste fee is conveniently attached to your annual winter property tax statement.
Strict Curbside Timing Rules You Need to Know
To keep neighborhoods looking their best, Farmington Hills enforces strict timing for bin placement. Bins, bags, and bundles must not be placed at the curb before 6:00 PM on the evening preceding your collection day. More importantly, they need to be out by 7:00 AM on the day of service, as route times fluctuate. After collection, all empty containers must be removed from the curb within 12 hours.
Using the 95-Gallon Carts and Managing Excess Trash
Most single-family homes use the standardized 95-gallon Priority Waste trash carts. However, if your cart is completely full, Farmington Hills allows residents to use their own supplementary personal trash cans, provided they do not exceed 35 gallons in capacity or 60 pounds in weight. Alternatively, plastic bags with a minimum of 2-mil strength and up to 30-gallon capacity can be used for extra waste.
Comprehensive Yard Waste and Mulching Options
Farmington Hills offers curbside yard waste pickup from the first week of April through mid-December. Yard waste must be placed in compostable brown paper bags, bundled with twine (max 6 inches in diameter, 4 feet in length, and 60 pounds), or put in a 35-gallon can labeled with a free city yard waste sticker. The DPW also heavily promotes the 'Go Green' approach, encouraging residents to use a mulching mower to transform clippings into eco-friendly lawn fertilizer rather than bagging them.
Household Hazardous Waste and RRRASOC Partnership
While Priority Waste manages standard trash and recycling, the city partners with the Resource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County (RRRASOC) for specialized disposal. Residents can attend RRRASOC drop-off events for electronics, chemicals, and paper shredding, or visit ERG Environmental Services in Livonia year-round for free residential HHW drop-off.
Drop-off Facilities
ERG Environmental Services (via RRRASOC)
13040 Merriman Rd, Livonia, MI 48150
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my trash out in Farmington Hills?
All garbage cans, bags, and yard waste must be placed at the edge of the street by 7:00 AM on your designated collection day. You may put them out no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before.
Do I need to schedule a bulk pickup for old furniture?
No. In Farmington Hills, bulk items like furniture and standard appliances are picked up on your normal trash day without any prior scheduling required. Just have them at the curb by 7:00 AM.
Why wasn't my yard waste collected?
The most common reasons for missed yard waste are using plastic bags, making bundles heavier than 60 pounds, including branches larger than 6 inches in diameter, or putting it out outside of the April to mid-December collection window.
Where can I drop off hazardous chemicals or old TVs?
Farmington Hills partners with RRRASOC for hazardous waste. Residents can attend periodic HHW drop-off events or take their hazardous materials directly to ERG Environmental Services in Livonia year-round during normal business hours.