A Cleaner & Greener Madison Heights

Madison Heights Trash & Recycling Cart Program Coming September 1st, 2025!

September 1^st, 2025: Starting at the end of August, every household in the city will begin receiving new standardized refuse and recycling carts. All carts are expected to be delivered by September 1, 2025.

Cart-Only Service Starts October 6th: Starting Monday, October 6, 2025, the City is upgrading to Cart-Only Collection for trash pickup. All household trash must be placed inside a 95-96 gallon trash cart. Loose bags or items outside the cart will NOT be collected.

Key Cart-Only Service Guidelines:

Bulk Pickup and Overflow:

• Overflow material can be handled through special pickups or by purchasing additional approved carts.
• One bulk item per week will be collected at no charge on the regular collection day.

Additional Carts for Purchase (Available at DPS (801 Ajax Dr):

96 Gallon - Garbage Carts: $75

64 Gallon - Recycling Carts: $65

Questions? Call DPS at (248)589-2294

Yard Waste:

The cart rollout and service change in October do not impact yard compost collection. As usual, yard waste must be in paper bags or in a can up to 32 gallons with compost stickers on the sides. The City will follow the seasonal collection schedule as normal.

Bulk Items:

 Bulk items are too large to fit in a trash cart or bag. Common examples include:

• Furniture & Fixtures: Couches, mattresses, dressers, light fixtures, cabinets, vanities, toilets, and sinks.
• Doors & Windows: Storm doors, door walls, and windows.
• Appliances: Stoves, washers, dryers, hot water tanks, refrigerators, and freezers (Freon must be removed and certified).
• Construction Materials: Carpets (rolled/tied, ≤4 ft & 50 lbs), small amounts of homeowner-generated debris, fencing (≤3' x 8'), and bundled materials (≤4 ft).
• Other Large Items: Items not fitting in standard trash carts that meet weight and size guidelines. 

Physical Disabilities:

Priority Waste offers a service for eligible residents who are permanently disabled and unable to move their trash and recycling carts. Staff will wheel the carts from the top of the driveway to the truck, empty them, and return them.

To qualify, you must:

• Be unable to perform this task due to a permanent disability
• Have no one else in the home who can help (including family, caregivers, or hired help)
• Provide a physician’s certification of need with the application.

Apply Today!

Hazardous Waste: View the Hazardous Waste Page for more information!

Cart-Only Benefits:

The new collection system provides several important benefits:

• An estimated $200,000 in annual savings for the city compared to the previous model.
• A projected $1 million in taxpayer savings over the 5-year agreement.
• Improved curbside appearance and reduced rodent activity due to enclosed carts.
• Safer collection methods using automated trucks that require fewer workers.
• A universal recycling program to help divert more waste from landfills.