Collection
Yard waste is collected once per week on the same day as trash and recycling. Place yard waste out to curb by 7:00 am on collection day.
Curbside collection of bagged yard waste is provided from the first Monday in April through Friday, December 13, 2024.
Check with your City for dates for any additional city provided leaf collection.
BERKLEY RESIDENTS - NEW As of October 1, 2024 Berkley residents NO LONGER NEED TO PURCHASE TAGS FOR YARD WASTE
When one of the following holidays falls on a weekday, collection for the holiday and the remaining days of that week will be delayed by one day. The holidays are: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Explore our infographic on yard waste guidelines, which includes helpful information on acceptable materials and collection reminders.
Preparation
Yard waste must be separate from trash and recyclables.
Acceptable containers: Trash cans with “yard waste” decals (decals available at city offices) or 30-gallon paper yard waste bags.
Yard waste containers must weigh less than 50 pounds and yard waste must be small enough (under 4 feet in length) to fit in designated container.
Brush (less than 2 inches in diameter and under 4 feet in length) can also be bundled with twine for collection.
Larger Branches and Chipping Service
Tree debris that should be chipped includes branches and sticks that are greater than 4 feet long and 2 inches in diameter. Remember, if your tree debris is smaller than this, it can be put with your other Yard Waste and collected for composting.
For tree debris that is too large for Yard Waste collection, each SOCRRA community has its own rules and guidelines. The following information for each community is for reference purposes only. Please contact your city to verify the handling of tree debris. Click on your city below for general information.
Berkley
Beginning in April 2025, chipping will be provided to residents. Until then no chipping service provided. Residents can arrange for chipping service at their own expense. JH Hart is the recommended firm (800) 404-9390 — $55 for 15 minutes of chipping.
Branches smaller than 2 inches in diameter should be put out with YARD WASTE.
Dispose as trash: Branches larger than 2 inches in diameter should be cut into lengths of 2 to 4 1/2 feet, bundled with twine and placed at the curb on trash collection day. Bundles cannot weigh more than 50 pounds. Please set bundles with cut ends at curb.
Beverly Hills
No chipping service provided. Residents can arrange for chipping service at their own expense. Fontenot (313.935.7679) is the recommended firm — contact them directly for rates.
Branches smaller than 2 inches in diameter should be put out with YARD WASTE.
Dispose as trash: Branches larger than 2 inches in diameter should be cut into lengths of 2 to 4 1/2 feet, bundled with twine and placed at the curb on trash collection day. Bundles cannot weigh more than 50 pounds. Please set bundles with cut ends at curb.
Birmingham
Chipping Service Provided:
For branches 2 – 4 inches in diameter and 4 feet or longer. (Smaller branches should be put out with YARD WASTE.)
Stack branches with all cut ends at curb.
The “chipper truck” is a separate service and may not occur on the same day as your refuse.
April - November service (call in for service in other months)
Clawson
No chipping service provided. Residents can arrange for chipping service at their own expense. Fontenot (313.935.7679) is the recommended firm — contact them directly for rates.
Branches smaller than 2 inches in diameter should be put out with YARD WASTE.
Dispose as trash: Branches larger than 2 inches in diameter should be cut into lengths of 4 to 4 1/2 feet, bundled with twine and placed at the curb on trash collection day. Bundles cannot weigh more than 50 pounds. Please set bundles with cut ends at curb.
Ferndale
Chipping service provided:
For branches 2 – 4 inches in diameter and 4 feet or longer. (Smaller branches should be put out with YARD WASTE.)
Stack branches with all cut ends at curb.
Same collection day as trash.
Service runs 52 weeks/year.
Hazel Park
Chipping service provided:
For branches 2 – 4 inches in diameter and 4 feet or longer. (Smaller branches should be put out with YARD WASTE.)
Stack branches with all cut ends at curb.
Chipper runs on WEDNESDAYS.
Service runs 52 weeks/year.
Huntington Woods
Chipping service provided:
For branches 2 – 4 inches in diameter and 4 feet or longer. (Smaller branches should be put out with YARD WASTE.)
Stack branches with all cut ends at curb.
Chipper runs on WEDNESDAYS (weather permitting).
Service runs year round except mid-October to December 1 (leaf vacuuming season).
Lathrup Village
Chipping service provided:
For branches 2 – 4 inches in diameter and 4 feet or longer. (Smaller branches should be put out with YARD WASTE.)
Stack branches with all cut ends at curb.
Chipper runs on MONDAYS.
Service runs 52 weeks/year.
Oak Park
Chipping service provided:
For branches 2 – 4 inches in diameter and 4 feet or longer. (Smaller branches should be put out with YARD WASTE.)
Stack branches with all cut ends at curb.
Same collection day as trash.
Service runs beginning first full week of April for 41 weeks (approximately mid-January).
Pleasant Ridge
Chipping service provided:
For branches 2 – 4 inches in diameter and 4 feet or longer. (Smaller branches should be put out with YARD WASTE.)
Stack branches with all cut ends at curb.
Chipper runs on the THIRD TUESDAY of each month.
Service runs 52 weeks/year.
Royal Oak
No chipping service provided. Residents can arrange for chipping service at their own expense. Fontenot (313.935.7679) is the recommended firm — contact them directly for rates.
Branches smaller than 2 inches in diameter should be put out with YARD WASTE.
Dispose as trash: Branches larger than 2 inches in diameter should be cut into lengths of 2 to 4 1/2 feet, bundled with twine and placed at the curb on trash collection day. Bundles cannot weigh more than 50 pounds. Please set bundles with cut ends at curb.
Troy
No chipping service provided. Residents can arrange for chipping service at their own expense. Fontenot (313.935.7679) is the recommended firm — contact them directly for rates.
Branches smaller than 2 inches in diameter should be put out with YARD WASTE.
Dispose as trash: Branches larger than 2 inches in diameter should be cut into lengths of 3 feet, bundled with twine and placed at the curb on trash collection day. Bundles cannot weigh more than 50 pounds. Please set bundles with cut ends at curb.
How to Reduce Yard Waste
Yard waste can recycle naturally, when managed correctly. Here are a few ways you can put less yard waste to the curb and benefit your garden at the same time.
Grasscycling – Let the clips fall!
Use a mulching mower or retrofit your current mower with a mulching blade kit and let grass clippings fall back into the lawn. This adds nitrogen from the clippings to the soil. Can cut fertilizer use by 30% or more. Cut only 1/3 of grass blade at a time to promote root growth and shade out weeds. Deep roots help plants resist drought and disease .Reduce Lawn Area
Add low maintenance plant beds and groundcovers, slow-growth bushes, decks, walkways and borders to your yard to reduce lawn area.Use shredded leaves and grass clippings as mulch
Controls weeds, conserves moisture and reduces soil erosion. Place 1”- 2” layer on wet newspaper between vegetable/flower rows. Sprinkle 1” layer around bushes and tree bases. Shred leaves into lawn – adds nutrients and doesn’t harm lawn.Backyard Composting
Make your own bin/pile or purchase plastic compost bins and compost all of your yard waste.
Compost
SOCRRA compost is returned to SOCRRA member communities for distribution to residents and for community gardening projects. It is available for pickup at the SOCRRA compost site at 1741 School Road in Rochester Hills. Click here for more information.
Characteristics of SOCRRA compost (as analyzed by Midwest Laboratories): SOCRRA Compost Analysis