Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Southgate
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday, depending on your assigned neighborhood route.
Recycling
Weekly on the same day as trash collection
Yard Waste
Weekly on your regular collection day from the first full week of April through early December
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential curbside trash and recycling services are contracted through Priority Waste, while city municipal water and sewer utilities are billed quarterly through the Treasurer's Office.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In Person
Grey/Black Cart Bin (Trash)
Place carts at the curb with the serial numbers facing the street, ensuring the lid is completely closed. Keep a 3-foot clearance from mailboxes, vehicles, and other carts.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Alkaline batteries
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be placed loosely into the cart. Do not bag your recycling. Break down and flatten all cardboard to prevent it from getting wedged in the bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and boxboard
- ✓Mixed paper, newspaper, and magazines
- ✓Empty metal and aerosol cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and storage tubs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Window glass and ceramics
- ✕Food liquids or residue
- ✕Electronics and rechargeable batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Use 30-gallon paper compost bags or clearly labeled 32-gallon personal cans. Branches must be tied in bundles no longer than 4 feet and weighing less than 60 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs and branches
- ✓Garden and organic debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly
Placement
Place bulk items 3 feet away from your regular refuse carts on the right side (when facing the house) by 7:00 a.m.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and large household goods
- ✓ Mattresses (must be completely wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Carpet (cut to 4-foot sections, tied, under 50 lbs)
- ✓ Appliances (doors removed)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Concrete, bricks, and dirt
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Liquid paints and hazardous chemicals
Standard bulk pickup is free and requires no limit limits. However, residents are required to pay a special extraction fee directly to Priority Waste for any appliances containing Freon.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, your scheduled service day will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday collections move to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay structure during its active season (April to mid-December).
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekend, your regular weekly collection schedule will not be impacted.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
AprilCurbside compost and yard waste collection officially begins during the first week of April. Prepare your flower beds and ensure your personal yard waste cans have clearly visible stickers facing the street.
Winter
JanuaryFollowing the holidays, Priority Waste will collect discarded Christmas trees and miscellaneous garland alongside your regular trash. Ensure all ornaments, lights, and stands are completely removed.
Fall
DecemberThe annual compost pickup period concludes on the second Friday of December. Make sure to bag up your final batches of autumn leaves before the dedicated seasonal service pauses for the winter.
Local Tips & Community Info
Priority Waste Curbside Collection
In the City of Southgate, residential waste management is contracted through Priority Waste. The provider handles all standard garbage, commingled recycling, and yard waste for single-family homes. To ensure your address is not bypassed, all household refuse, recycling carts, and scheduled bulk items must be placed at the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day. Trucks operate on strict routing schedules, and setting items out late is the most common reason for a missed pickup.
Bin Placement and Spacing Guidelines
Priority Waste utilizes automated lift arms to empty trash and recycling containers, making proper cart placement absolutely critical. Residents must position their bins at the edge of the driveway or curb with the wheels resting against the curb and the lid hinges facing the home. Most importantly, leave a minimum of four feet of clearance between the garbage can and the recycling bin. Additionally, ensure the carts are kept well away from parked vehicles, mailboxes, and low-hanging tree branches.
Yard Waste and Composting Rules
During the warmer Michigan months, managing lawn clippings and fallen leaves is straightforward. Priority Waste highly prefers that organic debris be placed in standard biodegradable brown paper bags. However, residents can also use dedicated rigid trash cans specifically for yard waste, provided the container is clearly marked with an official yellow compost sticker. These free stickers can be picked up at the Department of Public Services (DPS) office or City Hall. Remember that placing yard waste inside plastic garbage bags is strictly prohibited and will result in the materials being left at the curb.
Single-Stream Recycling Program
Southgate promotes an active single-stream recycling program to help reduce the volume of waste heading to regional landfills. Your recycling cart can accept a mixture of flattened corrugated cardboard, paper products, aluminum cans, and rinsed plastic bottles or jugs. Contamination is a major issue in recycling, so it is imperative that residents keep out unacceptable items like plastic shopping bags, styrofoam packaging, batteries, and food-soiled paper products like greasy pizza boxes.
Scheduling Bulk Item Disposal
Priority Waste allows for the disposal of large, bulky household items such as old mattresses, broken furniture, or major appliances. While standard bulk items can be set out alongside your normal carts, it is highly recommended to contact Priority Waste customer service prior to your collection day if you are putting out exceptionally heavy materials. For sanitary reasons, mattresses and box springs must be entirely sealed in protective plastic before they will be loaded into the collection trucks.
Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
Dangerous chemicals, including liquid paint, motor oil, pesticides, and household cleaners, cannot be disposed of in your weekly garbage or recycling carts. Southgate residents must safely dispose of these toxic materials by participating in the Wayne County Household Hazardous Waste Collection events. The city typically advertises these specialized drop-off days throughout the year, such as the annual events in August and October, allowing homeowners to responsibly discard dangerous substances without harming the local environment.
Drop-off Facilities
Wayne County Household Hazardous Waste Events
Various Locations (County-Sponsored)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should I put my garbage out in Southgate?
All items, including trash, recycling, and yard waste, must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.
Who provides trash pickup services for Southgate?
Priority Waste is the official contracted waste hauler for residential neighborhoods within the City of Southgate.
Do I need a special sticker for my yard waste can?
Yes. If you choose to use a rigid container instead of paper bags for yard waste, it must display an official yellow compost sticker, which can be obtained at the DPS office or City Hall.