Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Hamburg
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.
Varies by Private Hauler Bin (Trash)
Cart placement, bagging rules, and weight limits vary based on your selected private hauler. Generally, trash must be securely bagged, and carts should be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Cooled and sealed cooking grease
Varies by Private Hauler Bin (Recycling)
Recycling guidelines are dictated by your specific hauler. Materials must typically be placed loosely in the cart. Do not bag your recyclables in plastic.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and boxboard
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Clean glass bottles (if permitted by your specific hauler)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Hazardous waste
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Curbside pickup requires a specific subscription with your chosen private hauler. All yard waste must be placed in brown kraft paper bags or clearly marked rigid containers.
Accepted Items
- ✓Fallen leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small twigs and brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Varies by private hauler (Typically 1 item per week if scheduled)
Placement
Follow the exact placement instructions provided by your private hauler when you schedule the pickup. Do not leave bulk items at the curb indefinitely.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and couches
- ✓ Mattresses (must usually be wrapped)
- ✓ Non-freon appliances
- ✓ Large household junk
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paints
- ✕ Liquid chemicals
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Heavy construction or demolition debris
Out-of-pocket fees for special bulk pickups are determined by your private hauler. For free disposal, hold onto your items until the Township's Annual Community Clean-Up Day in April.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Holiday delays are dependent entirely on your specific private hauler (e.g., WM, The Garbage Man). Typically, if a major holiday falls on a weekday on or before your pickup, service is delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Private haulers suspend seasonal yard waste routes entirely during the winter months, so winter holiday delays only impact standard garbage and recycling routes.
Always refer directly to the annual calendar provided by your specific private hauler to confirm exact holiday collection shifts.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Seal Your Cooking Grease
Hamburg Township strictly prohibits dumping cooking grease down drains due to the damage it causes to the HTSSS grinder pumps. Always let cooking grease cool, seal it in a disposable container, and throw it in your standard trash cart.
Drop Off Your Plastics and Styrofoam
Plastic grocery bags and Styrofoam packaging are universally banned from curbside recycling carts by all private haulers. These materials jam the sorting equipment and must be taken to specialized retail drop-offs or thrown in the trash.
Keep Motor Oil Out of the Trash
Motor oil is extremely hazardous to the local Chain of Lakes watershed. Never throw it in the trash. It must be drained into a clean plastic jug with a tight lid, labeled clearly, and taken to a designated Livingston County collection event.
Seasonal Information
Spring
April - MayThe Township's Annual Community Clean-Up Day takes place in April. Additionally, this is one of the two permitted windows for open leaf burning, provided there are no active drought conditions and you follow fire department rules.
Summer
JulyThe Township hosts the Annual Huron River Clean-Up Day in July. Community members volunteer to clear trash and woody debris from the river, protecting the local watershed and maximizing streamflow.
Autumn
October - NovemberThe second permitted leaf-burning window opens in October. If you prefer not to burn or pay for a hauler subscription, load up your yard waste and take it to the recommended Tuthill Farms composting facility.
About Hamburg Waste Management
Navigating Hamburg Township's Open Market Refuse System
Following the rejection of a single-hauler ballot proposal in November 2022, Hamburg Township remains an open-market community for solid waste management. Homeowners are entirely responsible for setting up their own curbside garbage and recycling services by contracting directly with licensed private haulers. Popular local options include Waste Management (WM), The Garbage Man, GFL Environmental, and Dougie's Disposal. This competitive market allows residents to select service tiers and cart sizes that best suit their household's specific needs and budget.
The Annual Hamburg Community Clean-Up Day
While the township does not provide weekly municipal bulk pickup, it does host a highly anticipated Annual Community Clean-Up Day every April. During this designated Saturday event, residents can safely dispose of large household junk, bulky debris, and utilize professional paper shredding services. Due to high demand, residents must bring proof of Hamburg Township residency, and certain hazardous materials remain strictly prohibited from the dumpsters.
Strict Regulations on Leaf Burning and Yard Waste
Because of the dense tree canopy around the Chain of Lakes, autumn leaf accumulation is significant. The Hamburg Township Fire Department strictly regulates open leaf burning, typically only permitting it during specific weather-dependent windows in April-May and October-November. As a safer, environmentally friendly alternative, the township highly encourages residents to either compost on-site, add a seasonal yard waste subscription to their private hauler account, or haul organic debris directly to Tuthill Farms.
Protecting the Chain of Lakes and Grinder Pumps
Protecting the local watershed and the township's unique low-pressure sanitary sewer system (HTSSS) dictates strict waste disposal rules. Residents must never pour used cooking grease or oil down the drain, as it destroys the residential grinder pumps. Grease must be cooled, sealed in a disposable container, and thrown into your private trash cart. Furthermore, hazardous liquids like motor oil and pesticides must never be dumped, but rather taken to a Livingston County Household Hazardous Waste collection event.
Drop-off Facilities
Tuthill Farms & Composting
10505 Tuthill Rd, South Lyon, MI 48178
Materials Accepted
Recycle Livingston
170 Catrell St, Howell, MI 48843
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hamburg Township provide me with a trash can?
No. Hamburg Township operates on an open-market system. You must independently hire a licensed private hauler, such as Waste Management, The Garbage Man, GFL, or Dougie's Disposal, who will then provide your carts.
Am I allowed to burn my fall leaves in my yard?
Yes, but with strict limitations. The Hamburg Township Fire Department generally permits leaf burning only during specific windows in April-May and October-November, provided there is no drought. You should always contact the fire department at 810-222-1100 before burning.
How do I safely dispose of old paint and household chemicals?
Hazardous materials like wet paint, motor oil, and pesticides are strictly banned from standard garbage routes to protect the local watershed. You must hold these items for a designated Livingston County Household Hazardous Waste collection event.
Where can I throw away an old mattress or couch?
You must either contact your private hauler to schedule and pay for a bulk item pickup, or store the item on your property until the Township's free Annual Community Clean-Up Day held each April.