Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Plymouth
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.
Brown or Blue with a Blue/Brown Lid (65 or 95-gallon cart) Bin (Trash)
Place carts at the curb by 6:00 AM on your collection day. All items must fit completely inside the cart with the lid closed to allow the automated arm to lift it.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste and non-recyclable wrappers
- ✓Bagged household debris
- ✓Standard plastics not marked for recycling
Blue with a Gray Lid (65 or 95-gallon cart) Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be placed loosely in the designated recycling cart. Never use plastic bags. Carts must be out by 6:00 AM on your service day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and boxboard
- ✓Newspaper, junk mail, and magazines
- ✓Empty metal and aluminum cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or film
- ✕Styrofoam packing materials
- ✕Food-soiled paper and pizza boxes
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Dirt, sod, or compost
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in brown Kraft yard refuse bags or a rigid can marked with a large 'X' or an official 'compost' sticker. Do not use automated trash carts for yard waste.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Fallen leaves
- ✓Small twigs and garden vegetation
- ✓Plant debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on Tuesdays (Sticker Required)
Placement
Place stickered bulk items at the curb prior to the scheduled Tuesday collection route. Bulk items do not follow the traditional Monday-Wednesday trash routes.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and household furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Appliances (refrigerators, stoves, washers)
- ✓ Rolled carpet (per bundle)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous materials or liquid paint
- ✕ Construction debris and concrete
- ✕ Dirt, sod, or compost
- ✕ Tires
Fees are volume-based. Example costs include $5 for a twin mattress, $15 for a couch, and $12 for appliances. Payment at the office must be cash or check only.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a recognized holiday falls on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, there will be no collection on the holiday, and all pickups for the remainder of the week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Standard curbside compost collection is suspended during the winter months (mid-December through March), but brush chipping continues year-round.
If an observed holiday falls on a weekend, your regular weekday collection schedule will not be affected or delayed.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Carts Free of Overhang
Because Plymouth utilizes automated mechanical arms for trash collection, placing extra bags on top of your cart or leaving the lid wide open will prevent the truck from safely emptying it. Always ensure your trash fits completely inside the bin.
Prep Your Brush Properly
When utilizing the free Monday brush chipping service, never include root balls containing dirt, thorny branches, or vine-like weeds. These materials jam the city's woodchippers. Place vines and small twigs in your compost bags instead.
Stack Limbs with Ends Facing Traffic
To ensure municipal crews can efficiently chip your curbside brush, always stack branches neatly in one direction with the cut ends facing toward oncoming traffic. Do not cut branches into small pieces; keeping them long makes the chipping process safer and faster.
Seasonal Information
Spring
AprilCurbside compost and yard waste pickup officially resumes during the first week of April. Ensure you have your Kraft bags ready or have visited the Municipal Services office to pick up a 'compost' sticker for your personal yard waste can.
Fall
October to DecemberDuring autumn leaf cleanup, ensure you keep your bulk leaf piles completely separated from your branch and brush piles. Mixed piles cannot be chipped and will be left behind by the city crews.
Winter
JanuaryChristmas trees are collected as part of the city's brush chipping program. Simply place your tree at the curb with all lights, ornaments, stands, and tinsel removed. Do not place the tree inside a plastic disposal bag.
About Plymouth Waste Management
Automated Cart Collection with Priority Waste
The City of Plymouth utilizes a fully automated trash and recycling collection program managed by Priority Waste. Designed to increase efficiency and neighborhood cleanliness, the system relies on standardized 95-gallon or 65-gallon rolling carts. Because collection trucks use an automated articulating arm to empty the containers, all household waste and recycling must be placed entirely within the confines of your cart. Bags or loose items left on top of or next to the bins will not be collected by the automated trucks.
The Orange Sticker Bulk Collection Program
Disposing of large, bulky items like old furniture or mattresses in Plymouth requires a bit of planning. The city operates a fee-based bulk collection system that runs independently of regular trash routes. Residents must purchase an orange 'special refuse sticker' in person (via cash or check) at the Municipal Services office at 1231 Goldsmith. Once stickered, bulk items are collected on Tuesdays. Fees vary by item size, ranging from affordable rates for a small chair to slightly higher costs for large couches and appliances.
Year-Round Municipal Brush Chipping
Unlike many municipalities that restrict brush pickup to certain seasons, Plymouth offers a highly convenient year-round curbside brush chipping service. There are no bags, tags, or phone calls required. Residents simply stack branches (at least 3 feet long and up to 6 inches in diameter) neatly at the curb before 7:00 AM on the Monday of their designated pickup week. City crews process the brush directly on the street, helping residents manage storm damage and landscaping projects effortlessly.
Municipal Drop-Off Dumpster Access
For Plymouth residents or business owners looking to quickly clear out large amounts of household junk without waiting for a Tuesday bulk pickup, the city provides an open-top drop-off dumpster. Located at the Municipal Services office, this facility is accessible year-round during regular weekday business hours. Users must check in with staff to verify their address and pay a volume-based fee, offering a flexible solution for significant home cleanouts.
Drop-off Facilities
Plymouth Municipal Services Drop-Off Dumpster
1231 Goldsmith, Plymouth, MI 48170
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I throw away a mattress or couch in the City of Plymouth?
To dispose of large bulk items, you must purchase an orange 'special refuse sticker' from the Municipal Services office at 1231 Goldsmith using cash or check. Stickered items are then collected at the curb on Tuesdays.
When does yard waste pickup start in Plymouth, MI?
Curbside compost and yard waste collection runs from the first week of April through early December. Materials must be placed in brown Kraft bags or cans clearly marked with a 'compost' sticker or a large 'X'.
What should I do with large branches from my yard?
The city provides a free, year-round brush chipping service on Mondays of your designated week. Stack branches (at least 3 feet long and up to 6 inches in diameter) with the cut ends facing traffic. No bags or stickers are required.
Does Priority Waste collect extra bags outside of the trash cart?
No, Plymouth utilizes an automated collection system. Because the trucks use mechanical arms to lift the carts, all trash and recycling must fit entirely inside your 65 or 95-gallon cart with the lid closed.