Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Shelby Township
Trash Day
Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Weekly on your designated trash collection day.
Yard Waste
Weekly on your regular trash day from late March through mid-December.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside trash and recycling are contracted through Priority Waste and billed quarterly or annually, while water and sewer services are billed separately by the township.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
A 10% senior discount is available for residents age 60 and older. An annual prepayment discount is also available granting one month of free service.
Standard City/Priority Waste Cart Bin (Trash)
All household solid waste should be bagged before being placed inside the provided cart. Containers must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day, positioned away from vehicles and mailboxes.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and packaging
95-Gallon Cart (Provided by Township) Bin (Recycling)
Do not use plastic bags inside the 95-gallon recycling carts; items must be left loose. Large corrugated cardboard boxes must be flattened to dimensions of 2 feet by 2 feet or smaller. If you have extra cardboard, flatten and bind it, then place it near the recycling cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean food and beverage cans
- ✓Clear, green, and brown glass bottles/jars
- ✓Cardboard and paper bags
- ✓Plastics labeled #1 through #7
- ✓Newspapers, glossy ads, and junk mail
Do NOT Include
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Plastic bags or plastic film
- ✕Food-soiled pizza boxes
- ✕Car batteries
- ✕Wire hangers or ceramic dishes
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste must be set out in designated paper compost bags or clearly marked 35-gallon rigid containers. It is picked up weekly during the active compost season, which typically runs from late March through mid-December.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches and prunings
- ✓General yard debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your standard collection day.
Placement
Place large bulk items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. Ensure the doors on refrigerators and freezers are completely removed for child safety.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture and lawn furniture
- ✓ Appliances (refrigerators, hot water heaters, air conditioners)
- ✓ Cut and bound carpeting (max 4-foot lengths)
- ✓ Storm doors and windows (glass heavily taped or removed)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paints, oils, chemicals)
- ✕ Large-scale construction debris
- ✕ Automotive parts and car batteries
There is no extra charge for standard household bulk items. For excessively large cleanouts, you are encouraged to contact Priority Waste ahead of time.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, collections for that day and the remainder of the week will be delayed by one day. If the holiday falls on a weekend, the normal schedule applies.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is collected on the same delayed one-day schedule as standard refuse during holiday weeks in the active composting season.
For any weather-related delays, Priority Waste recommends keeping items at the curb if they are not collected by the evening, as crews will return the next day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring through Fall
Late March to Mid-DecemberWeekly yard waste and compost collection begins in late March (e.g., March 30) and operates continuously through mid-December (e.g., December 11) to account for fall leaf cleanup.
Winter Holiday Tree Pickup
Late December into JanuaryStarting December 26, Priority Waste sweeps the township to collect discarded, natural Christmas trees. Trees should be free of all decorations, tinsel, and stands, and placed directly at the curb.
Year-Round
All MonthsThe township occasionally hosts annual Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off events through contractors. Watch the official community calendar for specific shredding, e-waste, and hazardous waste event dates.
Local Tips & Community Info
Weekly Curbside Refuse Guidelines in Shelby Township
Maintaining the cleanliness of Shelby Township neighborhoods requires consistent and cooperative curbside sanitation practices. For standard residential trash collection, all household waste must be placed at the curb no later than 7:00 AM on your regular service day. It is essential to securely bag your refuse before placing it inside the designated waste tote to prevent litter from blowing through the streets. Homeowners should ensure there is adequate spacing between their trash cart, recycling bin, and surrounding obstacles to allow Priority Waste’s automated trucks a clear path for seamless operation.
95-Gallon Cart Recycling Protocols
Shelby Township is dedicated to diverting solid waste from local landfills by providing every household with a heavy-duty 95-gallon wheeled recycling cart. These larger bins eliminate the need for sorting and make rolling materials to the street effortless. Recyclables must be kept loose inside the 95-gallon cart—never pack them in plastic bags. Accepted items include clean household plastics (numbers 1 through 7), glass bottles of any color except green, aluminum cans, mixed office paper, and cardboard boxes that have been flattened to sections measuring 2 feet by 2 feet or smaller. When placing your recycling cart at the curb, keep it on the opposite side of your driveway away from the regular trash tote.
Disposing of Large Household Goods and Bulk Items
When remodeling or upgrading furniture, residents can take advantage of the township's bulk item collection program. Large waste—such as mattresses, sofas, hot water heaters, and lawn furniture—can be placed alongside your regular trash by 7:00 AM on your normal pickup day. If you are disposing of carpeting, the rolls must be cut into lengths of exactly 4 feet, securely bound with strong tape or twine, and limited to a maximum of 12 rolls per collection week. The contracted waste hauler, Priority Waste, even handles the environmentally safe removal of Freon from old air conditioners and humidifiers left at the curb.
Simple Recycling for Clothing and Textiles
Shelby Township partners with the Simple Recycling program to offer an incredibly convenient way to discard unwanted clothing, shoes, small working appliances, and household textiles without sending them to the dump. Unlike traditional curbside pickups, this service operates by appointment. Residents must actively schedule their free pickup online or via phone. Once scheduled, you simply pack your unwanted textiles into any waterproof bag or box, clearly label it 'Simple Recycling,' and leave it directly on your front porch or immediately in front of your garage door by 7:30 AM on the morning of your confirmed appointment.
Holiday Schedule Updates and Delay Protocols
Throughout the calendar year, the township’s standard sanitation routes pause to observe major national holidays, ensuring that collection crews can spend time with their families. Generally, these recognized holidays include New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If one of these specific holidays happens to fall on a weekday, all refuse, recycling, and bulk collections for the remainder of that specific week will be delayed by exactly one day. Normal schedules resume seamlessly the following Monday.
Drop-off Facilities
Priority Waste Drop-Off Transfer Stations (Multiple Locations)
45000 River Ridge Drive, Suite 200, Clinton Township, MI 48038 (Corporate Office)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to dispose of an old refrigerator?
You can leave your old refrigerator at the curb by 7:00 AM on your normal trash day for bulk collection, provided you remove the doors and interior racks first. Alternatively, current DTE Energy residential electric customers can contact DTE to have the fridge hauled away for free, which often includes a small financial rebate.
Can I put plastic grocery bags in my 95-gallon recycling cart?
No, standard plastic grocery bags and thin film plastics are strictly prohibited in the 95-gallon recycling carts because they tangle the sorting machines at the processing facility. Recyclables should be placed loosely in the large cart.
How do I safely dispose of compact fluorescent light bulbs?
Fluorescent tubes and LED bulbs contain sensitive materials and are not accepted in curbside bins. Residents should bring these items to the annual Macomb County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, typically held at River Bends Park in late April.