Rochester Hills, MI Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)

Leaves in Rochester Hills are not a separate seasonal vacuum program. Under Sec. 86-26 they fall inside the definition of yard clippings, and the city's Trash Pickup page says Priority Waste provides all solid waste and yard waste services for single-family homes. That page states that yard waste is collected once per week from March 23 through the second full week of December. Its general rules say yard waste starts March 23 and ends the week of December 14, and the 2026 flyer hosted by the city prints the same season as weekly, March 23 - December 18, 2026. Priority Waste is the contact for missed pickups at 248-906-8982.

The set-out method matters more than the date. The city's Waste Wizard says leaves must be in brown paper lawn bags or in a 32 gallon can labelled "yard waste" or "compost," and that stickers are available in the Building Department at City Hall. The Trash Pickup page says to place yard waste into a paper yard waste bag or reusable container no larger than 35 gallons, and that yard waste placed in plastic bags will be left uncollected. The flyer adds that bundles and containers must weigh less than 50 pounds and that no compost will be accepted in plastic bags. Materials must be at the curb by 7 am on your pickup day.

The code backs this up. Sec. 86-31(4) requires everything other than twigs, brush and branches to go in containers or paper bags clearly marked as yard clippings, and Sec. 86-30(4) requires yard clippings to be kept apart from solid waste and recyclables. Sec. 86-31(6)a bars leaving yard clippings or their containers at the curb for more than 24 hours, so bags and cans should come in promptly after pickup. The city page says carts come in by the evening of collection day. Under Sec. 86-31(7) the hauler may refuse anything not prepared as the article requires, which is how a plastic bag of leaves ends up left behind.

Branches follow a separate standard, and the sources do not agree on every number. The code says twigs, brush and branches not exceeding three inches in diameter are tied in bundles not more than four feet long and 18 inches in diameter. The city page says bundles use string, are not to exceed 4 feet in length, cannot exceed 18 inches around and cannot weigh more than 60 pounds, while the Waste Wizard and flyer say branches no more than two inches in diameter and bundles under 50 pounds. Follow the stricter printed figure.

Thanksgiving Day is an observed holiday. The flyer says that if a holiday falls on or before your scheduled service day, pickup will be one day later than normal, and the city page says regular schedules resume the following week.