Sterling Heights, MI trash pickup schedule

Sterling Heights trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.

Population 133,931 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked November 1, 2026Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.

Contents10 sections

Quick answer

Who collects	A private hauler under city contract: Priority Waste 10-year contract approved in 2023; carts and universal curbside recycling since May 1, 2024; curbside recycling for all single-family homes; paid through the city refuse millage on property taxes (no separate bill).²⁶
How often	Trash weekly, recycling weekly (same weekly curbside service as refuse), yard waste weekly, on the regular trash day⁶⁷
Set out	not before 1 p.m. the day before; out by 7 a.m. on collection day; nothing in the street; lid opening facing the street; containers removed from curb within 10 hours after collection²⁵
Your pickup day	Address lookup: maps.sterling-heights.net²
Holiday	Thanksgiving Day, Thu, Nov 26, 2026: Delayed one day. Thursday and Friday collection delayed one day²

Bulk items: set-days (on the regular collection day, weekly) (details). Drop-off sites: 2 listed (hours and fees).

Sterling Heights holiday trash schedule 2026

City’s rule	Priority Waste observes New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day; if your service day is on or after the holiday that week, service is delayed one day. The city's Yard Waste page sends residents to Priority Waste's page for the delayed collection schedule, and the city's Refuse Collection page lists the 2026/27 delays.⁵¹¹
Official notice	sterlingheights.gov²
Notices	Collection delay notices by email via the city's Electronic Newsletter⁵

Sterling Heights trash pickup on holidays, 2026
Holiday	Date	Pickup	What the city says
New Year's Day	Thu, Jan 1, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	Mon, Jan 19, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Presidents' Day	Mon, Feb 16, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Memorial Day	Mon, May 25, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Juneteenth	Fri, Jun 19, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Independence Day (Fourth of July)	Fri, Jul 3, 2026 (observed)	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Labor Day	Mon, Sep 7, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day	Mon, Oct 12, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Veterans Day	Wed, Nov 11, 2026	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Thanksgiving Day	Thu, Nov 26, 2026	Delayed one day	Thursday and Friday collection delayed one day²
Christmas Day	Fri, Dec 25, 2026	Delayed one day	Friday collection delayed one day (to Saturday)²

Sterling Heights trash pickup on holidays, 2027
Holiday	Date	Pickup	What the city says
New Year's Day	Fri, Jan 1, 2027	Delayed one day	Friday collection delayed one day (to Saturday)²
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	Mon, Jan 18, 2027	Not on the city’s list	Not on the city’s list for this year
Presidents' Day	Mon, Feb 15, 2027	Not on the city’s list	Not on the city’s list for this year
Memorial Day	Mon, May 31, 2027	Delayed one day	all week delayed one day²
Juneteenth	Fri, Jun 18, 2027 (observed)	Not on the city’s list	Not on the city’s list for this year
Independence Day (Fourth of July)	Mon, Jul 5, 2027 (observed)	Not on the city’s list	Not on the city’s list for this year
Labor Day	Mon, Sep 6, 2027	Delayed one day	all week delayed one day²
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day	Mon, Oct 11, 2027	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Veterans Day	Thu, Nov 11, 2027	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Thanksgiving Day	Thu, Nov 25, 2027	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above
Christmas Day	Fri, Dec 24, 2027 (observed)	No dated list; see the city’s rule	See the city’s rule above

Check your own day for the next three holidays with the holiday delay checker, or download a pickup calendar.

Sources: Refuse Collection, Yard Waste Collection, Sterling Heights, MI - Priority Waste Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Bulk trash pickup in Sterling Heights

How it works	set-days (on the regular collection day, weekly)⁶
How to request	No booking needed for up to 5 items on the regular day; larger cleanouts: order a paid special pickup from Priority Waste (586-228-1200) or rent a dumpster⁶
Limits	5 items per week; each bundle counts as one item; bundles max 4 ft long and 50 lb; refrigerator/freezer doors removed; soiled/infested mattresses must be in a mattress bag⁶
Fees	Free for up to 5 items weekly; special pickup $137.50-$275 depending on size⁶
Accepted	appliances, furniture, rolled/tied carpet, small remodel items (doors, mirrors), drained hot water tanks, mattresses, nail-free wood boards and broken-down boxes in bundles 4 ft or shorter⁶
Not accepted	dirt/soil⁶ brick/block⁶ wet paint cans/oils⁶ wood with nails/screws⁶ fully intact basketball poles and backboards⁶ hot tubs⁶ pool tables⁶ trash bags of any kind⁶ boxes filled with refuse⁶ yard waste in plastic bags⁶ non-approved containers⁶

Sources: We're on a Roll! (Priority Waste cart program FAQ) Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Recycling in Sterling Heights

Pickup	weekly (same weekly curbside service as refuse)⁶
Type	single-stream (loose recyclables in a 65-gallon blue cart)³
Glass	accepted in cart (bottles and jars; colored glass accepted; no ceramics)⁴
Plastics	containers marked #1-#7 (no motor oil containers)⁴
Cartons conflict	The FAQ ('We're on a Roll!') lists 'Empty and clean paper and cartons' but the city Acceptable & Unacceptable Items page says 'No milk or juice cartons or drink boxes' under paperboard; milk/juice cartons are not confirmed as accepted.

Accepted

Empty and clean paper and cartons⁶
Shredded paper in a stapled-shut cardboard box⁶
Flattened cardboard⁶
Empty and dry aluminum cans, steel cans and foil trays⁶
Empty and dry plastic bottles, jars and jugs⁶
Empty and dry glass bottles and jars⁶
Empty aerosol cans⁴

Not accepted

No bagged recyclables. Please place loose recyclables in your blue recycling cart.⁴
No plastic bags or plastic wrap⁴
No styrofoam⁴
No batteries or electronics⁴
No hoses, cords or wires⁴
No wire or plastic hangers⁴
No metal strips⁴
No motor oil containers⁴

Programs

Used motor oil: take to local auto-parts/oil-change businesses (Pep Boys, Auto Zone, O'Reilly, Walmart Tire and Lube Express, Advance Auto Parts, Valvoline)⁴
Former city recycle center closed when curbside recycling started (2024)⁶

Sources: Recycling, Acceptable & Unacceptable Items, We're on a Roll! (Priority Waste cart program FAQ) Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups

Yard waste pickup	Yes⁵
Season	March 30 - December 11, 2026⁵¹¹
How often	weekly, on the regular trash day⁷
Rules	Heavy-duty 30-gallon paper yard waste bags (max 50 lb), a 95-gallon brown Priority Waste yard cart ($110, max 100 lb), or an old dark-green city-logo cart with compost/yard waste stickers on both sides; branches under 4 ft long and 2 in. diameter bundled with twine (max 50 lb); no plastic bags; set several feet from trash. Not accepted: sod, dirt, rocks, root balls, oversized branches, plastics, logs, dead animals, animal feces.⁵
Food scraps	Not published by the city (official page)
Christmas trees	2026-27: trees at the curb by 7 a.m. on the normal trash day from Dec. 26, 2026 to Jan. 15, 2027 are chipped; remove all decorations and bags; trees put out after Jan. 15 go to landfill with regular trash⁷
Leaf collection	Leaves go out with yard waste (paper bags or labeled carts) until yard waste collection ends Dec. 11, 2026⁵
Cleanup events	Excess holiday refuse: week of Dec. 28, 2026 - Jan. 2, 2027, bagged refuse beside the cart is collected (refuse only)⁷ Clean-up Saturdays (2026: May 9 and 16, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.) at the DPW, 7200 18 Mile Road: furniture, lumber, tires, dirt, tree stumps, etc.⁹ Household Hazardous Waste Event (2026: April 18, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.) at the DPW, residents only⁹ Electronics Recycling Event (2026: Oct. 3, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.) at the DPW⁹ Shred Day (2026: April 25, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.), max three paper-size boxes, residents only⁹

Sources: Yard Waste Collection, Refuse disposal tips for odds and ends, DPW Spring Clean-Up Days, Sterling Heights, MI - Priority Waste Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste

Macomb County Household Hazardous Waste collection events (Mt. Clemens Collection Site)

Type	Household hazardous waste
Run by	The county
Address	43525 Elizabeth Road, Mount Clemens (adjacent to the Macomb County Jail; enter via Dunham Road) · Map¹²
Hours	Appointment events on select Fridays in April-June and September-November (2026); hotline 586-466-7923¹²
Fees	Not published by the city (official page)
Who can use it	Macomb County residents; no business waste¹²

Sterling Heights annual HHW Event (DPW)

Type	Household hazardous waste
Run by	The city
Address	DPW, 7200 18 Mile Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48314 · Map⁹
Hours	Once a year; 2026 event was April 18, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.⁹
Fees	Not published by the city (official page)
Who can use it	residents only⁹

Item guides: Mattress · Couch and furniture · Appliances · Paint · Batteries · Electronics · Tires · Motor oil · Christmas tree.

Sources: DPW Spring Clean-Up Days, Household hazardous waste collection - Macomb County Healt… Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Missed pickup and contacts

Missed pickup form	prioritywaste.com²
Phone	Department of Public Works 586-446-2440 (Option 8); Priority Waste 586-228-1200²
311	Not published by the city (official page)
Official website	sterlingheights.gov¹
Hauler phone	Priority Waste customer service (586) 228-1200 or 1 (855) 927-8365¹¹

Sources: Refuse & Recycling, Refuse Collection, Sterling Heights, MI - Priority Waste Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Nearby cities

Other cities served by Priority Waste

All Michigan cities: Michigan trash pickup schedules.

Sterling Heights trash pickup FAQ

What day is trash picked up in Sterling Heights?

Trash is collected weekly. Sterling Heights does not use one citywide day: your day depends on your address. Look it up with the city’s address lookup (maps.sterling-heights.net).

Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving Day 2026 in Sterling Heights?

Thanksgiving Day falls on Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Delayed one day: Thursday and Friday collection delayed one day

Is trash picked up on Christmas Day 2026 in Sterling Heights?

Christmas Day falls on Fri, Dec 25, 2026. Delayed one day: Friday collection delayed one day (to Saturday)

Is trash picked up on New Year's Day 2027 in Sterling Heights?

New Year's Day falls on Fri, Jan 1, 2027. Delayed one day: Friday collection delayed one day (to Saturday)

How do I get rid of bulky items in Sterling Heights?

set-days (on the regular collection day, weekly). No booking needed for up to 5 items on the regular day; larger cleanouts: order a paid special pickup from Priority Waste (586-228-1200) or rent a dumpster Fees: Free for up to 5 items weekly; special pickup $137.50-$275 depending on size.

Does Sterling Heights recycle glass?

Glass: accepted in cart (bottles and jars; colored glass accepted; no ceramics).

How do I report a missed trash pickup in Sterling Heights?

Use the city’s online form (prioritywaste.com) or call Department of Public Works 586-446-2440 (Option 8); Priority Waste 586-228-1200.

Sources

1
Refuse & RecyclingCity · sterlingheights.gov · checked October 30, 2026
2
Refuse CollectionCity · sterlingheights.gov · checked October 30, 2026
3
RecyclingCity · sterlingheights.gov · checked October 30, 2026
4
Acceptable & Unacceptable ItemsCity · sterlingheights.gov · checked October 30, 2026
5
Yard Waste CollectionCity · sterlingheights.gov · checked October 30, 2026
6
We're on a Roll! (Priority Waste cart program FAQ)City · sterlingheights.gov · checked October 30, 2026
7
Refuse disposal tips for odds and endsCity · sterlingheights.gov · checked October 30, 2026
8
MapsCity · sterlingheights.gov · checked October 30, 2026
9
DPW Spring Clean-Up DaysCity · sterlingheights.gov · checked October 30, 2026
10
DPW Spring Clean Up 2026 (HHW acceptable & unacceptable items, PDF)City · sterlingheights.gov · checked October 30, 2026
11
Sterling Heights, MI - Priority WasteContracted hauler · prioritywaste.com · checked October 30, 2026
12
Household hazardous waste collection - Macomb County Health DepartmentCounty · macombgov.org · checked October 30, 2026
13
Official page on sterlingheights.govCity · sterlingheights.gov · checked November 1, 2026

Something changed? Report a change

Second-pass verification against every source: November 1, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.