Rubbish Collection

Rubbish Collection Guidelines

Through a combined effort with the City of Southfield and Priority Waste, arrangements have been made to expand the types of items that may be placed at the curb for disposal during the normal rubbish collection process. In an effort to keep the cost of refuse collection at a minimum, many refuse trucks are one-person operations. Therefore, all of the trash placed at the curb must be limited to a size and weight that a single person can manage.

Rubbish Collection Map

Rules for curbside collection:

  • Place trash at the curb after 4 p.m. on the afternoon before scheduled pick-up and no later than 7 a.m. the day of your scheduled pick-up.

  • Yard waste must be in approved paper yard waste bags or containers (32-gallon max) clearly marked with a yard waste sticker that may be obtained by calling (248) 796-4860. Yard waste in plastic bags will not be collected.

  • The collection of "white goods" which includes all appliances and furniture remains unchanged.

  • Mattresses must be wrapped in a mattress disposal bag or mattress storage bag for pick-up.

  • All items should be placed at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on your regular collection day.

  • No more than two bulk items can be placed at the curb each week. Residents can contact Priority Waste at (586) 228-1200 if they need to schedule a special pick-up when moving or remodeling. 

Items Not Accepted:

  • Cleaning fluids, paint thinner, turpentine, etc. These items are considered Hazardous Waste and should be dropped off at the Household Hazardous Waste Days.

Hazardous Waste Items

RRRASOC Household Hazardous Waste

  • Commercial waste, drywall and 2x4 studs in bulk, firewood, kitchen cabinets.

Special Pick-Up Requirements:
Large volume items such as kitchen cabinets, fences, dog houses, etc., or large quantities of materials like broken concrete, dirt, piles of stone, etc., or commercial refuse, i.e. display shelving, cold drink displays, commercial coolers, showcases and vending equipment, etc., will have to be attended to under contract with the rubbish collection contractor or by an independent contractor hired by the resident.

Questions regarding rubbish collection may be directed to the Public Works Department at (248) 796-4860.

Yard Waste Collection Guidelines

Yard waste and brush are collected from mid-April through mid-December (weather permitting).

Yard Waste is collected curbside on your regularly scheduled rubbish collection day. Yard waste must be placed in approved paper bags or containers marked with a yard waste sticker that may be obtained by calling (248) 796-4860; or the container may be marked with a “Y.” YARD WASTE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED IN PLASTIC BAGS.

Brush Collection Guidelines

The following ae the guidelines to help you follow the regulations for the curbside pick-up of brush:

  • Branches must be stacked at the curb with the cut ends facing the street; and branches less than 2” in diameter and 4’ in length should be put in compost bag or can. Smaller sticks and twigs should be placed out for compost collection in a yard bag or can. 
  • Brush piles should be no longer than 8’ in length, and 36” in height (approximately 2 full strides in length and slightly about knee in height). 
  • No limbs over 6” in diameter.
  • Vines and all branches with thorns must be put in compost bags, and not left for the chipper.
  • No logs, roots, stumps, dirt, timber, railroad ties, building material, rocks, or other rubbish. 
  • Residents may have to rake up small branches after the large piles are removed.
  • The collection of large amounts of brush resulting from tree removal or lot clearing requires the use of a private tree removal service. DPW will not chip tree removals done by a contractor or resident. 
  • Whole trees or parts of entire trees will not be taken at any time. 
  • Once area is cleared, crews will not return to that area.

Residents are advised that hired contractors are responsible for collecting and disposing of their own brush collection. The city is not responsible for disposing of any brush produced by contractors who have been hired by residents.

Questions regarding yard waste collection may be directed to the Public Works Department at (248) 796-4860.