What can’t I recycle? The short list of what’s left.
Irregular Items - Large items such as sofas, mattresses and household furniture are picked up as trash. Carpeting, Padding and treated or painted Wood must be folded or cut to no more than 4 ft in length and tied or taped in bundles not to exceed 60 pounds. Remove or pound down nails. Untreated wood clear of nails can be added to yard waste bags or containers during the season.
Broken glass/mirrors - break large items up and wrap in heavy paper or cloth and put out with regular trash. Mark as GLASS. It is best if it will fit in a container.
Food waste: meat and dairy waste, cooked vegetable and fruit scraps - you may want to freeze these items before putting in your trash to discourage critters. Fresh vegetable and fruit scraps, however, can go out with yard waste during the season. If you do not have yard waste and want to set these at the curb for collection, a curbside container is now available on sale at DPW at our cost. This can be used during yard waste season only.
Bulk items can go to the curb along with trash Monday night for Tuesday collection. Remember that it is against the law to remove recyclable materials, e.g. metal, from the curb. Please separate recyclables from trash. To recycle these, you can take scrap metal to SOCRRA's facility on Coolidge in Troy.
If you do have something usable, try to give it away first to one of the local charities before discarding it. Remember reuse is better than recycling and much better than landfilling!
2023 Recycling and Trash Collection Dates To Remember
Unless noted below, trash and recycling collection is not delayed for holidays in 2023, and all items should be at the curb by 7:00 am on Tuesdays
Memorial Day – Collection is delayed one day, to Wednesday May 31
4th of July – Collection delayed one day to Wednesday July 5th
Labor Day – Collection delayed one day to Wednesday September 6th
Christmas – Collection delayed one day to Wednesday, December 27th
Here is a sampling of organizations which will take your donations. Some of these will pick up large items.
Additional Information | ||
Furniture Bank of Southeast Michigan | 248.332.1300 | furniture-bank.org/ |
Grace Centers of Hope | 855.435.7424 | gracecentersofhope.org |
Humble Design, Inc | 248.243.7144 | humbledesign.org |
Council Thrift Store | councilresale.net | |
Vietnam Vets | 1.800.775.8387 | vva.org |
For durable medical items: | ||
World Medical Relief | 313.866.5333 | worldmedicalrelief.org |
For tools/wood/building materials/cabinets/fixtures, etc. | ||
Habitat for Humanity | 313.653.4890 | habitatoakland.org |
