Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Waterford
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day as regular trash collection.
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on your regular collection day in-season, from the first full week of April through the second full week of December.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash, universal recycling, and seasonal yard waste collection fees are bundled directly into your annual Waterford Township Winter property tax bill.
Billing Cycle
Annually on Winter Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, In-Person, Drop Box, Mortgage Escrow
Pro Tip / Discount
Under the township-wide waste contract, all residents receive a uniform contracted annual rate billed on property taxes, replacing individual senior/veteran discounts.
Varies (Priority Waste Cart) Bin (Trash)
Place at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled day. Ensure materials are bagged before placing them into the cart to prevent litter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household refuse
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓General trash
Varies (Priority Waste Recycling Cart) Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be loose in the cart, never placed in plastic grocery bags. Cart must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and box board
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and mixed paper
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and storage containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste or soiled pizza boxes
- ✕Pyrex or ceramic
- ✕Bubble wrap or plastic silverware
Yard Waste Bin
Must use paper compost bags or heavily labeled 35-gallon containers. Maximum of 10 tied bundles allowed per pickup. Active April to December.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs and garden trimmings
- ✓Brush bundles (under 50 lbs and 4 ft long)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One free item per month on regular collection day
Placement
Place items directly at the curb. Even if you subscribe to doorside collection, bulk items must be placed curbside by 7:00 a.m.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be plastic wrapped)
- ✓ Sofas, loveseats, and dressers
- ✓ Washers, dryers, and stoves
- ✓ Refrigerators and freezers (doors and racks removed)
- ✓ Carpet (rolled/tied, max 4 ft long and 50 lbs, up to 10 bundles)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Concrete, bricks, and drywall
- ✕ Hot water tanks that are not completely emptied
- ✕ Hazardous waste or liquid paints
- ✕ Tires and automotive parts
The first item each month is free. Additional bulk items cost $10 each and must be scheduled directly with Priority Waste at 248-861-2987 prior to collection day.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection falls on or after a recognized holiday during the work week, your pickup will be delayed by one business day.
Yard Waste Exception
During its active season from April to December, yard waste collection adheres to the exact same one-day holiday delay as trash and recycling.
Schedules return to their normal cadence on the Monday of the following week. Weekend holidays generally do not impact residential routes.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
April - MayThe dedicated yard waste collection trucks resume service the first week of April. Ensure heavy spring clean-up brush is cut to 4-foot lengths and tied securely into bundles weighing 50 pounds or less.
Fall
September - DecemberCompost collection accommodates heavy autumn leaf drops through mid-December (e.g., ending December 18 in 2026). Only use approved kraft paper bags or labeled rigid containers.
Winter
January - MarchYard waste service is suspended for the winter. During heavy snowfall, please shovel a flat space for your refuse and recycling carts rather than placing them on top of unstable snowbanks.
Local Tips & Community Info
Waterford Residential Trash Collection Overview
Keeping the streets of Waterford, Michigan clean is a shared community effort. Priority Waste serves as the dedicated residential waste hauler for the township, providing reliable weekly garbage and recycling services. Whether you are a long-time resident or just moved into the area, understanding the local waste guidelines is essential. Starting in 2026, the cost for standard residential curbside collection is conveniently rolled into your annual winter tax bill, eliminating the need to pay a separate monthly invoice for standard service.
Proper Bin Placement and Collection Times
Your trash and recycling containers must be placed at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. It is important to remember that while you have an assigned service day, your exact pickup time can vary depending on driver routes and weather conditions. Make sure your bins are placed on a flat surface near the street edge with the lid opening facing the road. Keep containers a few feet away from mailboxes, parked vehicles, and utility poles so the automated trucks can safely lift them.
Monthly Bulk Waste Disposal Rules
Do you have a heavy piece of furniture or an old appliance taking up space? The Waterford Township waste contract includes the pickup of one free bulk item per month. You do not even have to call ahead to schedule this service. Simply place your eligible large item, such as a sofa, desk, or washer, at the curb alongside your regular trash by 7:00 a.m. Please note that mattresses and box springs must be completely wrapped in plastic before they are placed outside. If you have refrigerators or freezers, take off the doors and racks for safety reasons.
Seasonal Yard Waste and Compost Pickup
Yard waste collection is a seasonal service that runs from the first week of April through mid-December. During these months, Priority Waste will pick up grass clippings, leaves, and small twigs on your regular service day. Residents must place all compost materials into biodegradable paper yard waste bags or rigid containers clearly labeled for compost. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited for yard debris and will be left at the curb.
Holiday Schedule and Service Delays
No one wants their garbage sitting out longer than necessary. Priority Waste observes six major holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If one of these holidays falls on a weekday, your scheduled collection will be pushed back by one day for the remainder of that week, which means Friday customers will have their bins emptied on Saturday. Regular scheduling resumes the following Monday.
Reporting a Missed Pickup
Sometimes a house gets skipped due to unforeseen circumstances. If it is past 7:00 p.m. on your designated day and your bins are still full, you might have missed the truck or experienced a service error. To report a missed pickup, you can easily contact Priority Waste customer service directly by phone or submit a service request form through their official website.
Drop-off Facilities
Second Saturday Township Recycling Drop-Off
5200 Civic Center Drive, Waterford, MI 48329 (Front of Township Hall)
Materials Accepted
NoHaz Household Hazardous Waste Events
Various locations across Oakland County (Check www.nohaz.com)
Materials Accepted
ERG Environmental Services
13040 Merriman Road, Livonia, MI 48150
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should I put my trash and recycling bins out?
Residents should place all waste, recycling, and yard debris at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on their scheduled collection day to ensure it is not missed.
How do I dispose of large items like couches or refrigerators in Waterford?
You are allowed to put out one large bulk item per month on your normal trash day at no extra charge. Items like mattresses must be wrapped in plastic, and appliances need their doors removed.
Which holidays delay my trash pickup in Waterford?
Service is delayed by one day if your pickup falls on or after New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day.