Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Royal Oak
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.
Blue 64-Gallon Cart (or personal 20-32 gallon can) Bin (Trash)
All trash placed in the blue 64-gallon cart must be bagged. Personal trash cans cannot exceed 60 pounds. Trash bags alone cannot exceed 40 pounds. Place at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household refuse
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging and wrappers
- ✓Small woody material 2 to 5 inches in diameter (properly bundled)
Green 64-Gallon Cart (or legacy 18-gallon green bin) Bin (Recycling)
All recycling must be placed loosely into the green cart. Never bag recyclables. Clean all food residue from containers before disposal to prevent contaminating the SOCRRA sorting facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and boxboard
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Metal cans and empty aerosol cans
- ✓Plastic containers (#1, #2, #4, #5, #7)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam and bubble wrap
- ✕Hard book covers
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Pyrex or ceramics
Yard Waste Bin
Must be in a 30-gallon Kraft paper bag or a rigid 32-gallon can with a free SOCRRA compost sticker facing the street. Maximum weight is 50 pounds per container. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Fallen leaves
- ✓Vines and garden plants
- ✓Twigs and branches under 2 inches in diameter
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular refuse collection day.
Placement
Place bulk items 2 to 3 feet away from your regular refuse carts by 7:00 a.m. Ensure refrigerator doors are completely removed. If you live on a cul-de-sac or dead-end, call DPS the day prior.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture (couches, mattresses)
- ✓ Rolled and tied carpet (cut into 4-foot lengths)
- ✓ Appliances and hot water tanks
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and liquids
- ✕ Whole tires
- ✕ Concrete, bricks, and heavy masonry
- ✕ Branches thicker than 5 inches
Standard bulk pickup is included in municipal taxes. Very large cleanouts or excluded construction materials require renting a private dumpster or self-hauling to SOCRRA.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collection for the holiday and all remaining days of that week will be delayed by one day. Friday routes will be serviced on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular trash and recycling during the active April through December compost season.
Collections are not impacted if a major holiday falls on a weekend.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring to Early Winter
Early April to mid-DecemberCurbside yard waste collection actively runs from the first Monday in April through the third Friday in December. Once this season ends, residents can take a limited amount of yard waste directly to the SOCRRA facility through March.
Autumn Leaf Program
October and NovemberDuring heavy fall foliage, the city may offer specialized curbside leaf collection. Always check the official WROK or Insight Newsletter for specific leaf vacuuming dates and avoid putting anything other than leaves in the street.
Winter Holiday Delays
Late November through JanuaryIf a major holiday (like Thanksgiving or Christmas Day) falls on a weekday, trash and recycling collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week, pushing Friday routes to Saturday.
Local Tips & Community Info
SOCRRA Partnership and Refuse Guidelines
Residential waste management in Royal Oak is coordinated through a robust partnership with the Southeastern Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority (SOCRRA). To ensure neighborhoods remain tidy and collections run smoothly, residents are required to have their garbage securely bagged and placed inside approved municipal carts by 7:00 a.m. on their designated service day. For aesthetic and safety reasons, local ordinances dictate that carts cannot be moved to the curb prior to 5:00 p.m. the day before collection, and they must be pulled back to your property line within 12 hours after the sanitation trucks have passed.
Maximizing Your Curbside Recycling
Royal Oak is highly committed to sustainability, offering comprehensive single-stream curbside recycling. Homeowners are provided with specific recycling carts designed to hold clean cardboard, mixed household paper, glass bottles, metal cans, and rigid plastics. It is vital to leave these materials loose inside the bin. Never bag your recyclables in plastic grocery sacks, as these cause severe jams in SOCRRA's sorting facility. For unique items like electronics or scrap metal, residents should not use curbside bins but instead utilize the specialized drop-off services.
Specialized Drop-Off Center via Appointment
One of the standout benefits for Royal Oak residents is direct access to the SOCRRA drop-off facility located on Coolidge Highway in Troy. Because curbside trucks cannot handle toxic liquids, lithium batteries, or wet paint, residents must take Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) directly to this center. To manage traffic flow and ensure efficient service, the facility operates strictly on an advanced appointment system. Residents can easily book a time slot through the SOCRRA website to safely dispose of chemicals, old televisions, and secure document shredding at no additional out-of-pocket cost.
Dealing with Oversized Waste and Appliances
Moving out or replacing old furniture? The city accommodates the disposal of large household items directly at the curb. Bulk refuse—such as mattresses, dining tables, and non-freon appliances—can be set out next to your standard carts on your normal trash day. If you are discarding a refrigerator, freezer, or dehumidifier, you must first contact the Department of Public Works to schedule a specialized pickup, as federal law requires the safe extraction of refrigerants before the item can be crushed or landfilled.
Yard Debris and Curbside Branch Chipping
From the first week of April until mid-December, Royal Oak offers dedicated weekly collection for compostable yard materials. Grass clippings, pulled weeds, and fallen leaves must be stored in traditional 30-gallon Kraft paper bags or dedicated rigid containers displaying a city-approved yard waste decal. Additionally, the city operates a highly popular curbside branch chipping program. Large tree limbs that cannot fit into standard compost bags can be stacked neatly at the street edge, provided the cut ends all face the same direction to allow the chipping crew to work safely.
How National Holidays Impact Your Service
When a major federal holiday rolls around, your standard garbage schedule may be temporarily altered. Royal Oak observes six primary holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Whenever one of these dates lands on a weekday, all subsequent collections for that week will be delayed by one full day. Normal scheduling logic resets the following Monday morning.
Drop-off Facilities
SOCRRA Recycling Drop-Off Center
995 Coolidge Hwy, Troy, MI 48084
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I safely dispose of old paint and household chemicals in Royal Oak?
Residents must take Household Hazardous Waste to the SOCRRA drop-off center located in Troy. You must schedule an appointment in advance through the official SOCRRA website before arriving.
What is the rule for setting out trash bins before pickup day?
According to city ordinance, you may push your carts to the street no earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the evening before your scheduled pickup, and they must be brought back within 12 hours of collection.
Are there specific requirements for branch and brush collection?
Yes, branches must be placed neatly at the curb with all cut ends facing the same direction toward the street. They should not be tangled, to allow the city's chipping crew to safely feed them into the machinery.