Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Madison Heights
Trash Day
Trash collection runs Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone according to the city's pickup map.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on your regular trash collection day.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected weekly on your regular collection day from mid-March through the first Friday in December.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential water and sewer services are billed quarterly by the Finance Department. Setting up recurring auto-pay using a bank account (ACH) has no transaction fee.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, 24-Hour Drop Box, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Low-income assistance is available through the Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP) and 2-1-1 United Way services.
Typically Grey or Black (96-gallon) Bin (Trash)
Cart-only collection is strictly enforced. All waste must fit entirely inside the 96-gallon cart with the lid closed. Loose garbage bags placed on the ground will not be serviced.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Food waste (if not using compost program)
- ✓Bagged trash (placed inside the cart)
Typically Blue (64-gallon) Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is mandatory in Madison Heights. All recyclables must be clean, dry, and placed loosely into the 64-gallon recycling cart without being bagged.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and boxboard
- ✓Mixed paper, newspaper, and magazines
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans (including empty aerosol cans)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Pyrex or ceramics
- ✕Wire or plastic hangers
- ✕Soiled pizza boxes
- ✕Batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste must be placed in 30-gallon Kraft paper bags or in explicitly labeled rigid containers. Yard waste mixed with regular household trash will not be collected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs and brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly
Placement
Set your single bulk item at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated service day. Ensure it does not block the automated truck's access to your trash cart.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and mattresses
- ✓ Dressers and vanities
- ✓ Stoves, washers, and dryers
- ✓ Rolled and tied carpet (max 4 feet, under 50 lbs)
- ✓ Small quantities of tied building debris (max 4 feet)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Concrete, bricks, and heavy construction materials
- ✕ Refrigerators or freezers containing Freon
- ✕ Hazardous waste or liquid paints
- ✕ Tree stumps
The single weekly bulk item is included in standard services. However, if you have multiple items, you must call Priority Waste at 586-228-1200 to schedule and pay for a special pickup.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, Priority Waste will delay your collection by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday pickups move to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as trash and recycling during its active season (mid-March to early December).
If the holiday falls on a weekend, your standard collection schedule will remain unaffected.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Batteries Are a Fire Hazard
Never toss batteries—especially lithium-ion—into your trash or recycling carts. They can easily spark and ignite massive fires inside collection trucks or at the sorting facility. Always take them to ERG Environmental for safe disposal.
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Bin
Plastic grocery bags, bubble wrap, and plastic films are infamous for tangling the gears at the recycling plant. Take these back to local grocery store drop-offs instead of tossing them in your municipal cart.
Grease Ruins Good Paper
While clean cardboard is highly recyclable, a greasy pizza box is not. The oils contaminate the paper fibers, ruining the entire batch. Tear off the clean top to recycle and throw the greasy bottom in the trash.
Seasonal Information
Spring
MarchCurbside yard waste collection officially resumes on the third Monday of March. It's time to prep your garden beds and set out your Kraft paper bags or labeled compost containers.
Summer
June to AugustDuring hot Michigan summers, offensive cart odors can become a nuisance. Be sure to securely double-bag smelly refuse, particularly food waste, before placing it into your 96-gallon cart to deter pests.
Winter
December to FebruaryYard waste pickup officially ends on the first Friday in December. Additionally, keep your trash carts completely clear of snowbanks; drivers need clear access to safely use their automated arm lifts.
About Madison Heights Waste Management
Transitioning to Cart-Only Trash Collection in Madison Heights
In an effort to modernize solid waste disposal and keep neighborhoods cleaner, the City of Madison Heights has transitioned to a strict cart-only collection system. Residents must place all household garbage inside their designated 96-gallon trash carts. Loose bags, extra boxes, or random debris left on the ground outside the cart will be left behind by Priority Waste drivers. If your household consistently generates excess waste, you can purchase an additional cart directly through the Department of Public Services (DPS).
Weekly Bulk Waste Allowance and Guidelines
Managing large household cleanouts is simplified in Madison Heights thanks to a generous weekly bulk waste policy. Every household is permitted to set out exactly one bulk item per week alongside their normal refuse cart at no extra charge. This includes furniture, mattresses, or even rolled and tied carpet (provided it is cut to 4 feet in length and under 50 pounds). If you have multiple heavy items to discard, you must call Priority Waste in advance to arrange a special pickup or rent a temporary dumpster.
Safe and Free Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
Throwing dangerous chemicals or batteries into your curbside bins is strictly prohibited and can cause dangerous fires in collection trucks. To combat this, Madison Heights offers its residents a fantastic perk: free disposal of up to 100 pounds of household hazardous waste. By visiting ERG Environmental Services in Livonia, you can safely offload old oil-based paints, liquid latex, gasoline, and automotive fluids.
Inclusive Cart Assistance Program
Recognizing that heavy 96-gallon and 64-gallon carts can be difficult to maneuver, Priority Waste and the City of Madison Heights provide a specialized Cart Assistance Program. Eligible residents who are permanently disabled and physically unable to move their bins can receive door-to-truck service. Sanitation workers will retrieve the carts from the top of the driveway, empty them, and return them securely, ensuring everyone has reliable access to municipal waste services.
Innovative Food Scrap Composting Initiatives
In a forward-thinking push toward sustainability, Madison Heights has partnered with MyGreenMichigan to introduce dedicated food scrap composting for residents. This specialized service allows you to divert organic kitchen waste away from local landfills, turning it into nutrient-rich soil instead. This perfectly complements the city's robust yard waste program, making eco-friendly living highly accessible.
Drop-off Facilities
ERG Environmental Services (HHW Drop-off)
13040 Merriman Road, Livonia, MI 48150
Materials Accepted
Madison Heights Department of Public Services (DPS)
801 Ajax Drive, Madison Heights, MI 48071
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave extra trash bags next to my cart in Madison Heights?
No. Madison Heights uses a strict Cart-Only Collection method. All household trash must fit inside your 96-gallon cart with the lid shut. Priority Waste will not collect loose bags or items placed on the ground.
How do I get rid of an old couch or mattress?
You can place exactly one bulk item, such as a couch or mattress, at the curb each week on your regular trash day for free. If you have multiple items to throw away at once, you must call Priority Waste to schedule a special pickup.
When does yard waste collection start and end in Madison Heights?
Yard waste and compost collection begins annually on the third Monday of March and concludes on the first Friday in December. Remember to use Kraft paper bags or properly labeled containers.
What happens to my trash pickup if there is a holiday?
Priority Waste observes six major holidays. If a holiday falls on a Monday through Friday, your pickup (and all subsequent pickups that week) will be delayed by one day. Weekend holidays do not impact the schedule.