Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Hamtramck
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 green or dark colored Bin (Trash)
All waste must be placed at the curb by 7:00 AM on collection day. Carts must be placed 3 to 4 feet apart from other bins, mailboxes, and vehicles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Bagged trash
Varies (often blue or yellow-lidded) Bin (Recycling)
Items must be clean, dry, and placed loosely in the cart. Do not bag recyclables. Keep the cart lid closed to prevent litter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and boxboard
- ✓Newspaper, magazines, and mixed paper
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Glass windows
- ✕Food-soiled paper
- ✕Hazardous waste
Yard Waste Bin
Place in brown Kraft paper yard bags or standard containers 35-gallons or smaller. There is no limit to the number of bags or cans. No plastic bags allowed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches and twigs
- ✓Garden vegetation
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular trash day
Placement
Place bulk items next to your trash cart on the right side (when facing the house) by 7:00 AM on your normal Thursday or Friday pickup day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be wrapped)
- ✓ Appliances (doors removed, freon evacuated)
- ✓ Cut and tied carpet (up to 10 rolls)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction materials (drywall, concrete)
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Hazardous waste or liquid paints
- ✕ Propane tanks
There are no extra fees for up to 3 bulk items or 8 extra bags per week. Larger cleanouts require renting a private dumpster.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled service day (Thursday or Friday) falls on or after a major holiday, your collection will be delayed by exactly one day for that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is suspended entirely between early December and the end of March, regardless of holiday schedules.
Priority Waste's holiday delays only apply when the actual holiday falls on a weekday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Mattress Wrapping Requirement
If you are utilizing the weekly bulk pickup for an old mattress or box spring, Hamtramck health regulations require that the item must be completely encased in a mattress bag or heavily wrapped in plastic to protect workers from potential biohazards and bedbugs.
Prepping Appliances and Carpets
When discarding refrigerators or freezers, you must completely remove the doors. For carpet disposal, it must be rolled, tied securely, cut into sections no longer than 4 feet, and weigh under 50 pounds (up to 10 rolls allowed at one time).
Keep Freon and Hazardous Materials Out
Priority Waste will not collect appliances that still contain Freon. It must be properly extracted and tagged by a certified professional. Similarly, never put wet latex paint, motor oil, or lithium batteries into any of your curbside carts.
Seasonal Information
Spring
AprilThe unlimited curbside compost and yard waste program officially begins the first week of April. Ensure your early spring yard cleanup debris is placed in appropriate paper bags or 35-gallon cans.
Fall
October to Early DecemberAutumn leaf collection runs through the first week of December. Raking leaves into the street is strictly prohibited; all leaves must be bagged in Kraft paper bags or placed in a yard waste container.
Winter
December to MarchYard waste collection is suspended during the winter months. During heavy snow, make sure to clear a spot for your carts at the end of your driveway or walkway. Never place carts on top of snowbanks where automated trucks cannot reach them.
About Hamtramck Waste Management
Hamtramck's Thursday and Friday Collection Routes
The highly dense, urban landscape of Hamtramck requires an efficient waste management system to keep streets clean and passable. The city partners directly with Priority Waste to handle all residential trash, recycling, and compost. To minimize neighborhood disruption, the city's collection routes are split over just two days: Thursdays and Fridays. Residents must have their carts properly spaced at the curb or alleyway no later than 7:00 AM on their designated morning to ensure automated trucks can safely lift the bins.
Generous Weekly Bulk Item Disposal
Unlike many neighboring Wayne County communities that limit large items or charge extra fees, Hamtramck offers an incredibly generous weekly bulk trash program through Priority Waste. Every household is allowed up to three large bulk items or eight extra bags of garbage every single week. Best of all, there is no need to call ahead or schedule a special pickup. Simply place acceptable items like furniture, appliances, or bagged household cleanout debris neatly next to your regular trash carts on your normal Thursday or Friday collection day.
Seasonal Yard Waste and Composting Guidelines
Starting the first week of April and running through early December, Hamtramck residents can easily dispose of organic yard waste. Priority Waste allows an unlimited number of paper compost bags or personal yard waste containers (35 gallons or smaller) each week. Keeping grass clippings and autumn leaves out of the standard household trash helps divert massive amounts of waste from local Michigan landfills, turning it into valuable mulch and compost instead.
Navigating Recycling in a Compact City
Because Hamtramck features tight streets and close-knit housing, properly preparing your recycling is vital to prevent litter from blowing into neighbors' yards. All recyclables—including cardboard, metal cans, and plastic jugs—must be placed loosely into the designated recycling cart with the lid completely closed. Residents should break down all cardboard boxes flat to maximize space inside the cart, and never use plastic grocery bags, which can clog the sorting machinery at the material recovery facility.
Drop-off Facilities
Hamtramck Recycling
3333 Hamtramck Dr, Hamtramck, MI 48211
Materials Accepted
J. Fons Co. Transfer Station
6451 E McNichols Rd, Detroit, MI 48212
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What days are trash collected in Hamtramck, MI?
Trash and recycling in Hamtramck are collected by Priority Waste exclusively on Thursdays and Fridays. Check the city's collection map to determine which of the two days applies to your specific address.
How many bulk items can I throw away each week in Hamtramck?
Hamtramck residents are allowed to place up to 3 large bulk items (like furniture or appliances) or 8 extra bags of trash at the curb each week on their normal service day without scheduling a special pickup.
When does yard waste collection start and end in Hamtramck?
Weekly compost and yard waste pickup begins the first week of April and runs through the first week of December. You can set out an unlimited number of 35-gallon cans or Kraft paper bags each week.
Do I need to wrap my mattress for bulk trash collection?
Yes, Priority Waste requires that all mattresses and box springs be securely wrapped in plastic or placed inside a protective mattress bag before being set at the curb to ensure the safety of the collection workers.