Detroit Recycling Guide & 2026 Calendar
Single-stream recycling pickup is listed for Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Item-specific answers appear below.
Detroit recycling calendar 2026
Regular collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Check the current holiday delay notice for changes to regular pickup.
A verified 2026 recycling calendar has not been provided. Get the official calendar and confirm your route.
Accepted & prohibited recycling
Accepted items
- Paper (newspaper, junk mail, flattened cardboard and box board, magazines, mixed paper)
- Metal (empty cans and aerosol cans, aluminum, tin)
- Plastic (clean bottles and jugs with necks narrower than bases)
Prohibited items
- Plastic bags or film wrap
- Plastic cups, utensils, and food storage bags
- Styrofoam and takeout containers
- Food waste and soiled pizza boxes
- Pyrex, ceramics, and bubble wrap packing materials
Can you recycle these items in Detroit?
Can you recycle cardboard in Detroit?
AcceptedFlatten boxes and place loosely inside the recycling cart.
Can you recycle pizza boxes in Detroit?
Not acceptedSoiled pizza boxes are not accepted; discard with regular trash.
Can you recycle plastic #1 in Detroit?
AcceptedRinse bottles clean and replace caps before placing in recycling cart.
Can you recycle plastic #2 in Detroit?
AcceptedRinse milk and detergent jugs clean; place loose in cart.
Can you recycle plastic #3 in Detroit?
Not acceptedRigid vinyl and PVC plastics are not accepted in curbside cart.
Can you recycle plastic #4 in Detroit?
Not acceptedPlastic grocery bags and films tangle sorting machinery; do not place in cart.
Can you recycle plastic #5 in Detroit?
AcceptedClean plastic containers and tubs are accepted loose.
Can you recycle plastic #6 in Detroit?
Not acceptedStyrofoam and foam cups are prohibited; place in regular trash.
Can you recycle plastic #7 in Detroit?
Not acceptedMixed or unnumbered resin plastics are not accepted curbside.
Can you recycle glass in Detroit?
Accepted with conditionsCurbside guidelines exclude glass in single-stream carts; use designated drop-off sites.
Can you recycle aluminum in Detroit?
AcceptedEmpty and rinse aluminum beverage cans before placing in cart.
Can you recycle shredded paper in Detroit?
Not acceptedShredded paper cannot be sorted by automated equipment; place in trash.
DPW & sanitation contact
City of Detroit Department of Public Works · contractor
Phone: 313-224-3901
2 Woodward Ave, Suite 611Detroit, MI 48226
These collection rules cover Zone City of Detroit Curbside Service Area.
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Detroit, MI?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Place container on the street with wheels against the curb by 7 a.m. on collection days and remove same day.. These rules apply to Zone City of Detroit Curbside Service Area.
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Detroit?
As of 2026-09-23: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule. A listed holiday shifts that day and the remaining collection days in its service week by one day. Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. These rules apply to Zone City of Detroit Curbside Service Area.
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Detroit?
Collection must be scheduled before your regular collection day or placed on your designated bi-weekly bulk collection route. Items must be placed at the curb. The listed limit is 5 items per pickup. Advance notice is required. Contact sanitation at 313-224-3901 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone City of Detroit Curbside Service Area.
What items are accepted for recycling in Detroit?
The listed accepted materials are Paper (newspaper, junk mail, flattened cardboard and box board, magazines, mixed paper), Metal (empty cans and aerosol cans, aluminum, tin), Plastic (clean bottles and jugs with necks narrower than bases). Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags or film wrap, Plastic cups, utensils, and food storage bags, Styrofoam and takeout containers, Food waste and soiled pizza boxes, Pyrex, ceramics, and bubble wrap packing materials. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone City of Detroit Curbside Service Area.