Royal Oak Township, MI Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

The dumping rule sits in Chapter 22, Solid Waste, as § 22-27, and it works as three separate prohibitions. First, no one can deposit, throw or bury garbage, rubbish or other solid waste in or upon a street, alley or other public place unless the waste goes into the garbage or rubbish receptacles that the article describes. Second, it is unlawful to deposit, throw or leave that material on the premises of any other person, so a neighbor's yard or vacant lot is covered along with the public right-of-way. Third, burying garbage anywhere in the township is unlawful unless it is used in connection with farming or the supervisor or his agent gives special permission.

The receptacle rules in the neighboring sections define the lawful alternative. Under § 22-20, residential garbage receptacles must be watertight, carry tightfitting covers and hold not less than five nor more than 20 gallons; for manufacturing and commercial buildings the range is not less than five nor more than 30 gallons. Brush must be cut into lengths not exceeding three feet and tied into bundles, and tree limbs exceeding eight inches in diameter are not collected by the township. Under § 22-24, containers go out at the curbline and cannot be set out before 12:00 noon preceding the day of collection, and they must come off the street the same day they are emptied.

Construction debris has its own owner. Section 22-22 makes the owner, contractor or other person responsible for construction work remove surplus construction material and solid waste building material from the premises within a reasonable time, either outside the township limits or to approved dump locations within the township. Hauling waste through township streets is separately regulated: § 22-25 requires a permit from the township clerk, a vehicle inspection by the superintendent of the department of public works, and a liability bond, and it requires the vehicle to be watertight with a suitable covering.