Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Sterling Heights
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.
Typically Dark/Issued Cart Bin (Trash)
Trash must be bagged inside the 95-gallon cart. The cart has a strict 60-pound weight limit when full. Carts must be placed at the curb by 7:00 AM on collection day, but no earlier than 1:00 PM the day before. The lid opening must face the street.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste and wrappers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Textiles
Cart with Recycling Logo Bin (Recycling)
Place items loosely in the recycling cart. Ensure containers are rinsed and free of food residue. Keep the recycling cart at least three feet away from your refuse cart to allow the automated truck arms to operate safely.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard (flattened/bundled to 2'x3')
- ✓Plastic containers and bottles (numbers 1-7)
- ✓Metal and tin cans (empty)
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars (discard lids)
- ✓Mixed paper, newspaper, and magazines
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic shopping bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Motor oil containers
- ✕Ceramics of any kind
- ✕Food-soiled materials
Yard Waste Bin
Use 30-gallon heavy-duty paper bags (max 50 lbs), a brown Priority Waste cart, or a repurposed dark green cart labeled with compost stickers. Pickups operate from April 1st through the second week of December.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Shrubs and garden debris
- ✓Brush trimmings (under 6 inches in diameter, bundled in 4-foot lengths)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your scheduled trash collection day
Placement
Place items by the curb no earlier than 1:00 PM the day before your pickup and no later than 7:00 AM on your service day. Do not obstruct sidewalks or fire hydrants.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, mattresses, chairs)
- ✓ White goods and large household appliances
- ✓ Tied and bundled refuse (under 4 feet and 50 lbs)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Large-scale remodel and construction debris
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals and wet paint
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, and heavy auto parts
Cleanouts exceeding the 5-item limit require scheduling a special pick-up, which ranges from $137.50 to $275 depending on size, or renting a private roll-off dumpster.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled service day falls on or after a recognized holiday during the week, collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulk collections follow the same holiday delay schedule as standard refuse pickups.
For Thanksgiving Day (Thursday), only Thursday and Friday collections are delayed by one day. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday routes remain unaffected.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Film Plastics Out of the Cart
Never bag your recyclables or toss plastic shopping bags into the curbside recycling bin. These thin plastics tangle around the gears of the automated sorting machines. Return them to local grocery stores instead.
Remove Lids from Glass Jars
While clean glass bottles and jars are perfectly acceptable in the Sterling Heights recycling program, residents are required to remove and discard all metal and plastic lids before tossing the glass into the cart.
Tape and Bundle Loose Refuse
If you have loose refuse or wood that cannot fit inside a cart, it must be tied with heavy twine or duct-taped into secure bundles. Bundles cannot exceed 4 feet in length or 50 pounds in weight, and all nails must be removed.
Seasonal Information
Spring through Fall
April - DecemberWeekly yard waste collection begins on April 1st and concludes after the second week of December. Remember to switch from regular yard carts back to standard trash disposal methods for organic waste during the winter.
Winter
December - JanuaryLive Christmas trees are picked up during Christmas week and the four weeks immediately following the holiday. Ensure all tinsel, ornaments, and stands are completely removed before placing the tree at the curb.
Year-Round
January - DecemberDuring heavy snow or high wind events, do not place carts in the street where they interfere with snowplows or traffic. Keep them securely on your driveway easement and retrieve them promptly after they are emptied.
About Sterling Heights Waste Management
The Priority Waste Partnership and Refuse Cart Standards
Operating under a 10-year municipal contract, Sterling Heights has partnered with Priority Waste to deliver comprehensive curbside trash and recycling services. Residents are issued robust 95-gallon refuse carts that feature automated lift technology. To ensure seamless early morning pickups and deter neighborhood rodents, all garbage must be placed inside these carts with the lids completely closed. Remember to point the cart arrows toward the street and keep a minimum three-foot clearance from mailboxes, trees, and parked vehicles.
Navigating the Five-Item Bulk Waste Limit
Tackling a minor home cleanout in Sterling Heights is straightforward thanks to a generous curbside bulk allowance. Households can place up to five large bulk items—such as mattresses, sofas, or appliances—at the curb every week alongside normal refuse. However, if you are handling a massive remodel or whole-house cleanout, you cannot simply pile unlimited debris on the easement. You must either rent a roll-off dumpster or schedule a paid special pickup directly with Priority Waste.
Maximizing Curbside Recycling Efficiency
Sterling Heights encourages robust participation in its single-stream recycling program to keep Macomb County green. Clean cardboard, plastics marked 1 through 7, and empty tin or glass containers are all accepted. However, it is essential to flatten all boxes down to 2-foot by 3-foot bundles and remove all plastic film and shopping bags, as these 'tanglers' cause critical jams at the recycling sorting facility.
Seasonal Yard Waste Protocol and Cart Conversion
During the active growing season, residents have multiple options for managing organic compost. Yard debris can be placed in heavy-duty 30-gallon Kraft paper bags or purchased brown Priority Waste carts. Alternatively, the city allows residents to repurpose their old dark green refuse carts strictly for yard waste, provided they apply official 'Compost' stickers to both sides and the lid. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited for leaves and grass clippings.
Safety Protocols for Sharps and Hazardous Debris
Protecting sanitation workers is a community effort. In Sterling Heights, medical syringes and sharp needles must never be thrown loosely into the trash. They must be safely sealed in a heavy-duty container, like an empty liquid laundry detergent bottle or metal coffee can, and tightly secured with duct tape. Additionally, if you bundle loose wood or construction scraps, all protruding nails and screws must be removed or hammered flat.
Drop-off Facilities
Priority Waste Transfer Station & Corporate Offices
6200 Elmridge Dr, Sterling Heights, MI 48313
Materials Accepted
Macomb County Household Hazardous Waste Program
43525 Elizabeth Road, Mount Clemens, MI 48043 (Health Department)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time must my garbage be at the curb in Sterling Heights?
All refuse, recycling, and yard waste must be placed at the curb by 7:00 AM on your scheduled collection day. However, city ordinance dictates that no carts or bulk items can be placed at the curbside earlier than 1:00 PM the day before collection.
Is there a limit to how many large items I can throw away at once?
Yes. Sterling Heights enforces a strict five-item limit for weekly bulk refuse pickup. If you have a large house cleanout or remodeling project that exceeds five items, you must schedule a paid special pickup with Priority Waste or rent a dumpster.
Are there any special trash pickup services available for senior citizens?
Yes. Qualified Sterling Heights residents who are over the age of 67, or individuals with a doctor-verified permanent disability, are eligible for backdoor service. You can obtain an application for this service from the City or directly from Priority Waste.
How do I properly dispose of my old grass clippings and leaves?
From April 1st through mid-December, yard waste must be placed in 30-gallon heavy-duty paper bags, a brown Priority Waste cart, or a dark green refuse cart that has official 'Compost' stickers applied to both sides and the top of the lid. Plastic bags will not be collected.