Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Port Huron
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.
Personal containers (Various Colors) Bin (Trash)
Residents must supply their own refuse containers. Bins may not exceed 35 gallons in volume and must weigh no more than 50 lbs when fully loaded. Place at the curb by 7:00 AM.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste and non-recyclable wrappers
- ✓Bagged household refuse
Typically Green or Blue (City-approved Recycling Bin) Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected every other week on your normal trash day. Materials must be loose in the bin, never enclosed in plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Newspaper and mixed paper
- ✓Metal food and beverage cans
- ✓Clear and colored glass
- ✓Plastic jugs and bottles
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and grocery film
- ✕Styrofoam packing materials
- ✕Food-contaminated pizza boxes
- ✕Hazardous chemicals or medical waste
Yard Waste Bin
Must be in 35-gallon cans marked with a large 'X' (at least 12 inches high) or in large brown paper compost bags. Maximum weight is 50 lbs per container or bundle.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves and grass clippings
- ✓Garden debris
- ✓Small shrubbery and tree trimmings (under 4 feet long and 2 inches diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One item per week on your regular trash day
Placement
Place your one permitted bulk item on the boulevard next to your regular refuse bins by 7:00 AM on your assigned collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Stoves, washers, and dryers
- ✓ Refrigerators (Emterra will remove Freon, doors must be off)
- ✓ Couches and household furniture
- ✓ Carpet and small amounts of bundled wood
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste or liquid chemicals
- ✕ Large quantities of loose construction debris
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
- ✕ Wet paint
There is no additional fee for the single weekly bulk item, as it is factored into the municipal waste contract with Emterra.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a major observed holiday falls on a weekday on or before your scheduled collection day, refuse and recycling pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection ceases entirely in the late fall (typically end of November) and does not run during the winter holidays.
Weekend holidays usually do not impact the regular Monday through Thursday Emterra collection routes.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Mark Yard Waste Carts Clearly
If you choose to use a standard 35-gallon plastic trash can for your compost rather than paper bags, you must paint or tape a highly visible 'X' (at least 12 inches tall) on the side. Unmarked cans will be treated as standard trash.
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Recycling
Never bag your recyclables. Emterra's sorting facility cannot process thin plastic grocery bags, and throwing them into your curbside bin will result in the entire load being treated as contaminated garbage.
Remove Refrigerator Doors
When placing a refrigerator or freezer at the curb for your one weekly bulk item allowance, Michigan safety regulations dictate that you must completely remove all doors and hinges to prevent severe child entrapment hazards.
Seasonal Information
Spring
AprilThe curbside yard waste program officially launches during the first full week of April. Have your 'X' marked cans or Kraft compost bags ready at the curb on your normal Monday through Thursday collection day.
Fall
October to NovemberPort Huron's dedicated fall leaf pickup program shifts into high gear to manage seasonal shedding. Ensure your leaves are properly bagged or placed in stickered cans; do not rake loose piles directly into the city streets.
Winter
December to MarchYard waste collection is suspended for the winter season. Ensure your refuse cans are placed on a shoveled portion of the boulevard or driveway apron, completely clear of snowplow paths.
About Port Huron Waste Management
Emterra Environmental Services in Port Huron
Starting in July 2023, the City of Port Huron contracted Emterra Environmental USA to oversee all residential solid waste management. Operating Monday through Thursday, this contract ensures reliable weekly refuse removal, seasonal compost collection, and bi-weekly curbside recycling. Unlike municipalities transitioning to large automated carts, Port Huron currently utilizes a traditional manual collection approach, where residents use standard 35-gallon refuse containers to maintain a neat and easily accessible curb line.
Incredible Weekly Bulk Pickup Perks
Port Huron offers an exceptionally convenient bulk waste solution for its residents. Every household is permitted to set out one large, bulky item—such as an old mattress, broken couch, or washing machine—every single week on their regular trash day. Most remarkably, Emterra will collect old refrigerators and freezers without requiring residents to hire a certified technician to extract the Freon; the hauler handles the Freon removal safely, as long as the appliance doors have been completely removed for safety.
Bi-Weekly Recycling for St. Clair County Residents
To protect the nearby St. Clair River and reduce landfill reliance, Port Huron provides every-other-week curbside recycling. Emterra accepts clean paper, flattened cardboard, glass bottles, and rigid plastics. It is crucial for residents to place these materials directly into their designated recycling bins placed on the boulevard, completely free of any plastic grocery bags or film, which routinely jam the material recovery facility's sorting machinery.
Extensive Fall Leaf and Yard Waste Composting
Maintaining the city's tree-lined streets is a major priority. Port Huron's Department of Public Works operates a robust seasonal yard waste program starting the first full week of April. Homeowners must use brown Kraft paper compost bags or a 35-gallon can prominently marked with a 12-inch painted 'X'. During the autumn months alone, the city’s fall leaf pickup program successfully removes and composts approximately 8,000 cubic yards of fallen leaves, turning organic debris into nutrient-dense soil.
Drop-off Facilities
Emterra Environmental USA Drop-off Facility
4132 Dove Road, Port Huron, MI 48060
Materials Accepted
Port Huron Department of Public Works
100 McMorran Blvd, Port Huron, MI 48060
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What size trash cans can I use in Port Huron, Michigan?
Unlike cities with large automated carts, Port Huron requires residents to use personal refuse containers that do not exceed 35 gallons in size and weigh no more than 50 pounds when fully loaded.
Does Port Huron charge extra for bulk item pickup?
No, the city's contract with Emterra allows every household to throw away one large bulk item (such as a mattress or appliance) per week on their regular trash day for free.
Do I need to remove Freon from my old refrigerator before throwing it away?
Remarkably, no. You do not need to hire a technician to extract the Freon. Emterra will handle the Freon removal upon pickup, but you must completely remove all doors from the refrigerator for safety reasons before placing it at the curb.
How do I mark my trash can for yard waste in Port Huron?
If you are using a standard 35-gallon can instead of brown paper bags for yard waste, you must clearly mark the can with a large 'X' measuring at least 12 inches high on the side using paint, masking tape, or duct tape.