Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Southfield
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday based on geographic corridors: Monday (12 to 13 Mile Rd), Tuesday (11 to 12 Mile Rd), Wednesday (10 to 11 Mile Rd), Thursday (9 to 10 Mile Rd), and Friday (8 to 9 Mile Rd).
Recycling
Weekly on the same day as trash collection
Yard Waste
Weekly on your regular trash day from mid-April through mid-December
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Weekly curbside rubbish, recycling, and yard waste collection costs for single-family homes are bundled directly into your annual summer property tax bill.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, In-Person, Phone
Pro Tip / Discount
Low-income utility assistance is available through the Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP); no separate trash discounts apply as service is tax-funded.
Standard City-Issued Cart or Resident-Provided Can Bin (Trash)
Trash must be placed at the curb between 4:00 p.m. the day before your scheduled collection and 7:00 a.m. on the day of collection. Refuse must be limited to a size and weight manageable by a single worker.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging and wrappers
64-Gallon Cart (Free by Request) or Smaller Bins Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables should be placed loosely into the cart or bin. Corrugated cardboard must be broken down to fit entirely inside the container. Larger cardboard pieces can be taken to the Southfield or Novi drop-off sites.
Accepted Items
- ✓Paper, newspapers, and junk mail
- ✓Flattened boxboard and corrugated cardboard
- ✓Empty metal cans, aluminum foil, and aerosol cans
- ✓Clear and colored glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and garden plastics (dirt shaken out)
- ✓Aseptic juice boxes and waxy drink cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Styrofoam (foam containers)
- ✕Plastic shopping bags and film
- ✕Food waste and soiled pizza boxes
- ✕Pyrex or ceramic dishes
- ✕Metal or plastic hangers
- ✕Bubble wrap and packing materials
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste must be contained in approved paper yard waste bags or rigid containers (maximum 32 gallons). Cans must be clearly labeled with a yard waste sticker (available via 248-796-4860) or a prominently painted 'Y'. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs and sticks
- ✓Vines and thorny branches (must be bagged/canned)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular rubbish collection day.
Placement
Place your two permitted bulk items at the curb between 4:00 p.m. the day before your pickup and 7:00 a.m. on your collection day. Contact Priority Waste ahead of time if you have exceptional circumstances like moving out.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture (couches, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ White goods and large home appliances
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals and liquid paint
- ✕ Drywall, 2x4 studs in bulk, and kitchen cabinets
- ✕ Tires and automotive parts
- ✕ Firewood, large tree stumps, and dirt
The two-item weekly limit is included in standard city services. Excess bulk must be disposed of privately or by scheduling a special paid pickup with Priority Waste.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on or before your scheduled pickup day during the work week, your service will be delayed by exactly one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the same one-day delay structure as standard trash and recycling during the active mid-April through mid-December composting season.
If the holiday falls on a weekend, your Monday through Friday collection schedule will remain completely unchanged.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring through Late Fall
Early April to Mid-DecemberCurbside yard waste collection generally starts during the first week of April and concludes by the second week of December. During the winter months, compost is not collected.
Winter Holidays
December and JanuaryNatural Christmas trees are collected as part of the standard refuse agreement. Simply place your unbagged tree at the curb on your normal trash day, ensuring all ornaments, tinsel, and stands are removed.
Spring / Summer Remodeling
Year-RoundIf you are taking on a DIY renovation, be aware that commercial waste, large quantities of drywall, and bulk 2x4 studs are not accepted curbside. You must rent a private dumpster or haul these materials to a transfer station.
Local Tips & Community Info
Navigating Southfield's Curbside Refuse Rules
Residents of Southfield are required to have their municipal waste receptacles positioned at the street edge no later than 7:00 AM on their specific neighborhood collection day. You are permitted to roll the carts out starting at 4:00 PM the afternoon prior to your scheduled pickup. The city mandates that all bins must be removed from the public right-of-way within a 12-hour window after the sanitation trucks have emptied them. To prevent local wildlife disturbances and keep the streets free of litter, ensure that all household garbage is tightly bagged before it is tossed into the refuse cart, and always keep the lid completely closed.
Recycling with the RRRASOC Network
As a proud member of the Resource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County (RRRASOC), Southfield offers comprehensive single-stream recycling. Homeowners utilize heavy-duty wheeled recycling carts to divert valuable materials from landfills. You can safely deposit flattened cardboard, clean paper products, glass containers, and metal food tins directly into the bin. It is incredibly important that you do not place your recyclables inside plastic grocery sacks. Thin film plastics wrap around the gears at the processing center, causing costly shutdowns. Keep everything loose and unbagged.
Getting Rid of Heavy Household Items
Replacing your living room furniture or tossing out an old mattress does not require a special trip to the dump. Southfield allows property owners to set out large, bulky household goods on their normal garbage day without scheduling an appointment. Whether it is a broken dining chair or a washing machine, simply place it near your standard trash cart. However, if you are throwing out a refrigerator, freezer, or window air conditioner, federal law requires that the Freon gas be evacuated by a certified professional, who must then attach an official sticker before the item can be collected.
Yard Waste and Organic Debris Protocol
From the middle of April through the end of November, the city operates a dedicated yard waste collection route. Homeowners must use 30-gallon biodegradable paper compost bags or clearly labeled 35-gallon rigid plastic cans for grass clippings, weeds, and fallen leaves. If you are pruning shrubs or trees, you can dispose of brush by tying the branches into manageable bundles. These bundles must be secured with durable twine, measure no longer than four feet, and weigh under 50 pounds to ensure the crews can safely lift them into the hopper.
How National Holidays Affect Your Pickup
Sanitation services pause for six major federal holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Whenever one of these holidays lands on a standard weekday, the entire pickup schedule is shifted backward by exactly one day for the remainder of that week. For instance, Thursday routes will be serviced on Friday, and Friday routes will be completed on Saturday. Normal operations resume the following Monday without any further interruptions.
Drop-off Facilities
RRRASOC Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Events
Various locations in Southfield, Novi, and Wixom (See RRRASOC schedule)
Materials Accepted
J. Fons Co. Transfer Station
6451 E McNichols Rd, Detroit, MI 48212
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I safely dispose of toxic liquids and old electronics?
Because Southfield is a RRRASOC community, residents can attend scheduled household hazardous waste drop-off events throughout the year to safely discard wet paint, pesticides, motor oil, and outdated electronics.
Who should I call if my garbage cart is skipped during the route?
If you had your bins placed at the curb before 7:00 AM and they were not serviced by the evening, you should contact the Southfield Department of Public Works immediately the next morning to report the missed stop.
Are there special rules for disposing of a mattress or box spring?
To protect sanitation workers from potential bed bug exposure and sanitary hazards, the contracted waste hauler strongly recommends that all mattresses and box springs be securely wrapped and taped in heavy plastic mattress bags before being placed at the curb.