How Farmington Hills Handles Trash & Recycling: A Practical Guide

Farmington Hills maintains 106 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with trash & recycling. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Farmington Hills falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Pickup Rules & Schedules

Farmington Hills residential garbage, recycling, yard waste, and bulk pickup are provided weekly by Priority Waste under a long-term contract with the City, administered by the Division of Public Works at (248) 871-2850. Standard service is a 95-gallon trash cart (as of October 2023) for weekly curbside collection, with single-stream recycling and yard waste from early April through early December. Five major holidays — Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day — delay collection for the rest of that week. Recycling drop-off and household hazardous waste are coordinated regionally through the Resource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County (RRRASOC).

Key details: Governing Code: FH Code Ch. 17 (Nuisances) + Service Rules. Hauler: Priority Waste (city-wide contract). Cart Size: 95-gallon roll cart (standard since 10/2023). Yard Waste: Early April through early December (paper bags). Set-Out Window: No earlier than 6 PM day before; remove within 12 hr.

Improper set-out, leaving containers at the curb beyond 12 hours after collection, or setting out excluded items for regular collection are enforceable under Chapter 17 (Nuisances) of the Farmington Hills Code as municipal civil infractions under Chapter 1 § 1-15 with civil fines and Code Enforcement action. Priority Waste will not collect excluded items (hazardous waste, electronics, tires, construction debris, refrigerant-containing appliances without certification, infested mattresses without plastic wrap) — the resident must arrange separate disposal through RRRASOC or a licensed hauler. Illegal dumping is enforceable under MCL 324.8905a (NREPA Part 89) as a misdemeanor with fines up to $5,000 and up to 90 days' imprisonment for the first offense, escalating with quantity or repeat offenses; commercial dumping over 1 cubic yard is a felony with fines up to $30,000. Improper handling or release of refrigerant from appliances violates 40 CFR 82.156 and 42 U.S.C. 7671g (Clean Air Act Section 608) with civil penalties up to $44,539 per day per violation. Illegal dumping into Rouge River tributaries adds EGLE Part 31 NPDES enforcement under MCL 324.3115 with civil penalties up to $25,000 per day.

Bin Placement Rules

Farmington Hills requires residents to place trash carts, recycling carts, and yard waste at the curb or at the edge of the street in front of the home NO EARLIER than 6:00 PM on the day before collection, and to REMOVE containers from the curb NO LATER than 12 hours following collection. Containers must be on the resident's property and accessible to the hauler. The rules are administered by the Division of Public Works at (248) 871-2850 under Chapter 17 (Nuisances) of the Farmington Hills Code and the Priority Waste service rules. Improper placement is enforceable as a municipal civil infraction.

Key details: Set-Out Earliest: 6:00 PM day before collection. Remove By: 12 hours after collection. Placement: Curb or edge of street in front of home. Cart Orientation: Handles toward house, front toward street. Clearance: About 3 ft from cars, fences, mailboxes.

Violations of bin placement and set-out rules are enforceable as municipal civil infractions under Chapter 1 § 1-15 of the Farmington Hills Code in conjunction with Chapter 17 (Nuisances), with civil fines and Code Enforcement action. Common violations: containers placed before 6:00 PM the day before collection; containers left at the curb more than 12 hours after collection; containers obstructing the sidewalk, hydrant, mailbox, or driveway apron; carts placed too close to parked cars or other obstructions for the automated arm; and use of unapproved containers or oversized bundles. Containers left out chronically can be cited and the resident assessed civil fines per Chapter 17. Persistent obstruction of the street or sidewalk can be referred to the Police Department under traffic and right-of-way ordinances. Items set out improperly (hazardous waste, electronics, tires, construction debris, oversized bundles) will be left at the curb by Priority Waste and require separate disposal through RRRASOC or a licensed hauler. Damage to the cart caused by improper use, fire, or chemical contamination may result in a replacement charge to the resident under the service agreement.

Bulk Item Disposal

Bulk items in Farmington Hills are collected by Priority Waste on the resident's regularly scheduled collection day with NO advance call required and at NO additional charge (included in the monthly service rate). Eligible bulk items include furniture, mattresses/box springs, refrigerators or freezers with doors removed, stoves, and similar household items incidental to housekeeping in single-family residences. Mattresses/box springs infested with bed bugs MUST be wrapped in plastic. Refrigerators, freezers, and AC units must have refrigerant recovered by an EPA Section 608-certified technician under 40 CFR 82.156. Electronics, hazardous waste, construction debris, and tires are EXCLUDED — use RRRASOC drop-off events. Contact DPW at (248) 871-2850.

Key details: Bulk Pickup Day: Regular collection day (no advance call). Cost: Included in monthly rate. Eligible Items: Furniture, mattresses, large appliances. Bed Bug Rule: Mattresses must be plastic-wrapped. Refrigerant: EPA 608 cert required (40 CFR 82.156).

Setting out excluded items (tires, construction debris, hazardous waste, electronics, refrigerant-containing appliances without certification, oversized commercial loads) for regular bulk collection is enforceable under Chapter 17 (Nuisances) of the Farmington Hills Code as a municipal civil infraction under Chapter 1 § 1-15 with civil fines and Code Enforcement action. Items will not be collected and the resident must arrange separate disposal through RRRASOC or a licensed hauler. Illegal dumping (abandoning bulk items on public property, in vacant lots, or in waterways) is a misdemeanor under MCL 324.8905a (NREPA Part 89) — first offense up to $5,000 and 90 days' imprisonment, with escalation for repeat offenses and a felony category for commercial dumping over 1 cubic yard with fines up to $30,000. Improper venting of refrigerant from a refrigerator, freezer, dehumidifier, or AC unit violates Clean Air Act Section 608 (42 U.S.C. 7671g) and 40 CFR 82.156 with civil penalties up to $44,539 per day per violation. Improperly disposing of electronics in violation of the Michigan Electronic Waste Takeback Act (MCL 324.17301 et seq.) is enforceable by EGLE with civil and administrative penalties. Dumping into Rouge River tributaries adds EGLE Part 31 NPDES enforcement under MCL 324.3115 with civil penalties up to $25,000 per day.

The Bottom Line

Farmington Hills's trash & recycling rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Farmington Hills is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Farmington Hills can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.