Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Novi
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.
95-Gallon Priority Waste Cart (or Resident-Provided Can) Bin (Trash)
Place your garbage in the cart by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day. Keep 3 feet of clearance around the cart. If you use a personal can, it cannot exceed 35 gallons or weigh more than 60 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Small amounts of brick/concrete (under 60 lbs)
- ✓Properly sealed medical sharps
65-Gallon Priority Waste Cart Bin (Recycling)
You must use the city-provided 65-gallon cart for recycling. Keep recyclables loose inside the cart; do not bag them. Rinse all food containers prior to disposal.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and boxboard
- ✓Newspaper, junk mail, and mixed paper
- ✓Empty metal and aluminum cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and storage containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam and bubble wrap
- ✕Hard book covers
- ✕Pyrex, ceramics, and soiled pizza boxes
Yard Waste Bin
Use Kraft paper bags or personal 35-gallon cans marked with a yellow yard waste sticker (available at the Civic Center). Bundled brush must be tied, under 4 feet long, less than 18 inches in diameter, and under 60 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Small twigs and branches (under 6 inches in diameter)
- ✓General woody yard debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regularly scheduled collection day.
Placement
Place approved bulk items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. Ensure a 3-foot clearance from your regular automated carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture (couches, mattresses)
- ✓ Refrigerators and freezers (doors removed)
- ✓ Bathtubs, toilets, and water heaters (water drained)
- ✓ Hot tubs (must be cut into 4 sections)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and chemicals
- ✕ Items that cannot be safely managed by a two-person crew
- ✕ Whole tires (must be cut in half)
Bulk pickup is free for residents, provided you call (586) 228-1200 ahead of time to get placed on the route schedule.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your service day falls on or after an observed holiday during the work week, your collection day will be delayed by exactly one day.
Yard Waste Exception
During the active compost season, yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard refuse and recycling.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, it generally does not impact the Monday-Friday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Remove Hard Covers from Books
If you decide to recycle old books instead of donating them, you must tear off the hard covers first. Hardbound covers cannot be processed with standard mixed paper and will contaminate the recycling stream.
Snag a Yellow Sticker for Yard Waste
If you are using a personal 35-gallon trash can for yard waste instead of Kraft paper bags, you must apply a yellow yard waste sticker. These specific stickers can be picked up for free at the Novi Civic Center.
Keep Carts on Level Ground
Never place your automated Priority Waste carts on slopes or drag them aggressively. Dragging the carts wears holes through the bottom plastic, and placing them on uneven inclines increases the risk of them tipping over before the truck arrives.
Seasonal Information
Spring through Late Fall
Early April to Mid-DecemberThe dedicated yard waste collection season in Novi runs from the first week of April (e.g., April 6) through the week encompassing December 13. Outside of this window, yard waste is not collected curbside.
Winter Post-Holiday Cleanup
Late December through Mid-JanuaryFollowing the holidays, Priority Waste conducts a special Christmas tree pickup sweep. This seasonal service begins on December 26 and generally continues through the week that includes January 15.
All Seasons
Year-RoundNovi observes six major holidays. Collections landing on or after a major holiday will be delayed by one day, with Friday routes pushed to Saturday.
About Novi Waste Management
Transition and Cart Requirements with Priority Waste
The City of Novi partners with Priority Waste for residential refuse collection. Residents are issued a 95-gallon cart for trash and a 65-gallon cart for recycling. Interestingly, while you are required to use the provided 65-gallon cart for recycling, you are not strictly obligated to use the massive 95-gallon trash cart. You may opt to use personal watertight cans (up to 35 gallons) or standard refuse bags for your trash, provided no single container exceeds 60 pounds.
Disposing of Large Appliances and Freon
Novi residents benefit from a highly accommodating bulk waste program. While many cities require homeowners to hire private technicians to extract Freon from old refrigerators and freezers, Priority Waste handles this for you. You must simply remove the appliance doors for safety and call Priority Waste to schedule the pickup. Alternatively, residents can participate in DTE Energy's active rebate program to have working refrigerators hauled away for cash.
Heavy Debris and Construction Materials
For DIY enthusiasts, Novi's refuse guidelines are unusually forgiving regarding heavy materials like asphalt, concrete, bricks, and ceramic tile. Small amounts of these heavy materials can actually be placed in your regular trash. The strict stipulation is that the container must not weigh more than 60 pounds. Ensure you do not overfill your bin, as automated trucks and sanitation workers cannot lift overloaded heavy debris.
Medical Sharps Disposal at Home
Properly disposing of medical needles can be confusing, but Novi provides clear municipal guidelines. Residents should place all medical sharps inside a rigid, puncture-proof plastic container, such as a heavy-duty laundry detergent bottle or a metal coffee can. Once the container is tightly sealed and clearly labeled 'Sharps' with a permanent marker, it can be safely disposed of right in your regular household garbage cart.
Regional Hazardous Waste Support via RRRASOC
The City of Novi is an active member of the Resource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County (RRRASOC). This regional partnership provides residents with access to several rotating household hazardous waste collection events throughout the year. Items like kerosene, propane tanks, oil-based paints, and old medications must be held and taken to these specific RRRASOC events, rather than placed curbside.
Drop-off Facilities
RRRASOC Recycling & HHW Events
Various Southwest Oakland County locations (Visit rrrasoc.org)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use the massive 95-gallon trash cart provided by the city?
No. While you are required to use the 65-gallon cart for your recycling, you do not have to use the large 95-gallon cart for trash. You can opt to use smaller 35-gallon personal cans or regular garbage bags, as long as they don't exceed 60 pounds.
How do I throw away a couch or refrigerator in Novi?
Bulk items like couches, mattresses, and refrigerators are collected for free on your regular trash day, but you must call Priority Waste ahead of time to schedule it. If discarding a fridge, remove the doors first. You do not need to extract the Freon yourself.
Can I throw concrete or bricks in my trash bin?
Yes, Novi allows small amounts of asphalt, concrete, bricks, dirt, and rocks in the regular refuse. However, the golden rule applies: the total weight of the single container must not exceed 60 pounds, or it will be rejected by the haulers.
What should I do with tree branches that are too thick for yard waste?
Branches thicker than 6 inches in diameter or longer than 4 feet are not accepted as yard waste. Instead, the city guidelines mandate that these larger logs and branches be collected as part of your regular refuse collection.