Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Pontiac
Trash Day
Trash is collected Monday through Friday based on your voting ward and neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Curbside recycling is not available; free drop-off recycling is open daily at the City Hall auxiliary parking lot.
Yard Waste
Weekly on your regular trash collection day from April 1 through November 30.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day (or after 7:00 PM the evening before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash, bulk, and yard waste services are contracted through the city and funded via municipal property taxes, while water and sewer utilities are billed separately by the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Online, Phone, Mail, Drop Box, PayNearMe
Pro Tip / Discount
The Refuse Cart Assistance Program (RCAP) provides curbside cart pull-out assistance for qualifying residents with disabilities; Oakland County WRC also offers hardship utility assistance.
96-Gallon Priority Waste Cart Bin (Trash)
All trash MUST be placed in a plastic bag before being placed inside the 96-gallon cart. The cart must be out at the curb between 7:00 p.m. the night before and 7:00 a.m. on your collection day, with adequate clearance for the automated arm.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers
Priority Waste Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be placed loosely into the cart. Do NOT bag your recyclables. Cardboard boxes must be broken down to fit entirely inside the closed cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard and boxboard
- ✓Mixed paper, newspapers, magazines, and junk mail
- ✓Clean plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and storage containers
- ✓Empty metal and aerosol cans (aluminum and tin)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam and plastic cups
- ✕Food waste and soiled pizza boxes
- ✕Pyrex, ceramics, and bubble wrap
Yard Waste Bin
Place yard waste in standard 30-gallon Kraft paper leaf bags or a personal 33-35 gallon rigid garbage can clearly labeled 'YARD WASTE'. Do not use plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches and twigs
- ✓Organic garden debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your scheduled trash day.
Placement
Set your two permitted bulk items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. Ensure they are spaced adequately away from your automated trash cart.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture (sofas, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Large household appliances
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous household waste
- ✕ Tires and automotive parts
- ✕ Large-scale construction or demolition materials
Standard collection of up to two bulk items is included in your city services. Excess bulk requires a private dumpster or utilizing the Free Landfill Days in April.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled service day falls on or after an observed holiday during the work week, your pickup will be delayed by exactly one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
During the active April-November compost season, yard waste follows the same holiday delay schedule as standard refuse.
If a holiday falls on a weekend (Saturday or Sunday), the Monday-Friday collection schedule generally continues without any delays.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring, Summer, and Fall
April 1 through November 30The dedicated curbside compost and yard waste program runs strictly from April 1st through November 30th each year. During these months, it is picked up weekly on your normal trash day.
Winter Suspension
December, January, February, MarchPriority Waste does NOT pick up yard waste or leaf bags during the winter months. Any remaining yard debris must be held until April.
Post-Holiday Cleanup
First two weeks of JanuaryDespite the winter yard waste suspension, Priority Waste makes a special exception for natural Christmas trees, collecting them at the curb during the first two weeks of January.
Local Tips & Community Info
Reliable Curbside Trash Collection in Pontiac
Keeping our city clean and beautiful relies on a consistent and effective waste management system. In Pontiac, Michigan, residential curbside garbage collection is managed by Priority Waste. Regular household trash is collected once a week, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. To ensure your route is serviced smoothly, residents should place their provided refuse carts at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on their designated collection day. If you are a new resident or unsure of your specific service day, you can check the interactive route map provided on the City of Pontiac's official website.
Convenient Recycling Services
Pontiac strongly encourages residents to participate in the local recycling program to reduce landfill waste. Priority Waste handles curbside recycling on the same day as your standard trash collection. Acceptable items include flattened cardboard, mixed paper, junk mail, aluminum and tin cans, as well as plastic bottles and jugs. It is crucial to ensure that all recyclables are rinsed, clean, and dry before placing them into the recycling cart. Remember that plastic bags, food waste, and styrofoam are considered contaminants and should never be tossed into the recycling bin.
Yard Waste and Seasonal Compost Pickup
Managing seasonal debris is simple with Pontiac's dedicated yard waste program. The compost pickup period generally runs from the beginning of April through the end of November each year. Homeowners can dispose of grass clippings, leaves, and small twigs by placing them in biodegradable Kraft paper bags or clearly labeled containers up to 35 gallons in size. Do not use plastic bags for yard waste, as they will not be collected. Additionally, the city offers a special collection for real Christmas trees during the first two weeks of January.
Disposing of Bulk Items Safely
When you have oversized items that cannot fit inside your regular trash cart, the city provides a convenient solution. Priority Waste allows for a maximum of two bulk items to be picked up per week on your normal collection day. This includes items such as mattresses, furniture, and large appliances (ensure doors are removed for safety). Construction debris and hazardous materials are not considered standard bulk items and require alternative disposal methods. If you have more than two large items, you must contact Priority Waste in advance to arrange a special pickup.
Holiday Schedule and Expected Delays
Like many municipal services, trash collection in Pontiac observes six major holidays throughout the year. These observed holidays include New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If your scheduled service day falls on or after one of these holidays during the work week, your collection will be delayed by one day. For example, if a holiday falls on a Monday, Monday's route will be picked up on Tuesday, and Friday's route will be shifted to Saturday. Regular scheduling resumes the following week.
Best Practices for Cart Placement
Proper bin placement guarantees that automated collection trucks can easily grab and empty your carts without spilling debris onto the street. Carts should be placed at the curb with the handles facing your house and the lid opening facing the street. Maintain a clearance of at least three feet between your trash cart, recycling bin, yard waste containers, and any other obstacles like mailboxes or parked vehicles. For residents who are physically unable to move their carts, the city offers a refuse cart assistance program; simply contact the Pontiac sanitation department to apply.
How to Handle a Missed Pickup
Occasionally, a route may be missed due to severe weather conditions, mechanical issues, or a blocked roadway. If your bins were out by 7:00 a.m. but were not emptied by 7:00 p.m., first verify that there is no holiday delay in effect. If there is no delay, residents are advised to leave their carts at the curb and contact Priority Waste directly to report the service issue. Their customer support team will typically dispatch a driver to resolve the missed collection on the next available business day.
Drop-off Facilities
Pontiac Transfer Station
Located in Pontiac, part of the Priority Waste network
Materials Accepted
Collier Road Landfill (Oakland County)
Collier Road, Pontiac, MI
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the current trash collection provider for Pontiac?
As of mid-2024, curbside trash, yard waste, and bulk pickup services for the City of Pontiac are contracted through Priority Waste.
Is there a limit to how many bulk items I can throw away each week?
Yes, residents are allowed to place up to two bulk items at the curb per week on their regular trash collection day without making prior arrangements.
What months does the yard waste collection run?
Yard waste and compost pickup runs weekly starting around the first of April and continues through the end of November. Materials must be in Kraft paper bags or labeled 35-gallon cans.