Refuse Collection

How to Store and Dispose of Your Non-Recyclable Refuse

Please place your garbage at the street curb between 4:00pm the day before and 7:00am of your pickup day.

Refuse Collection Map

Refuse Storage

Wrapped garbage (waste particles of animal, fruit, grease, or vegetable matter), waste paper, and other combustible refuse must be stored in metal or plastic containers with secure covers and handles. Each filled container must weigh less than 60 lbs. Refuse may not protrude from the container.

Containers and stored material must be placed at the rear of the building between collection periods. Containers must be neat, at least 18 inches off the ground (to prevent harboring rodents), and located where they will not offend neighbors. Plastic bags may not be used to store refuse outside. Brush, boards, and metal must be tied and bundled and should not be placed in refuse containers.

Refuse containers must be set out at the street curb in front of your house between 4:00pm the day before and 7:00am on the day of your refuse collection. When your collection day falls on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day please set out refuse containers on the following workday. This also includes the remainder of the days of that week following the holiday. Refuse containers, including refuse not collected, must be removed from the street curb by 7:00am the following day. Refuse not in containers must be properly packaged and placed neatly at the curb, not dumped or scattered. No container or single bundle should weigh more than 60 lbs.

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Refuse Not Collected

Radioactive materials. Call the Oakland County Health office at (248) 424-7093.
Hazardous materials like volatile cleaning fluids, chemicals, acids, caustics, drugs, explosives, poisons, and batteries. Call SOCRRA at (248) 288-5153.
Roofing. Call a local transfer station.
Vehicles engines or transmissions. Call a local salvage yard.
Construction or building materials. You (not the contractor) may rent a City truck and load it, and the City will dispose of the materials. Contractors' debris not acceptable.
Dirt and rocks. Call a local transfer station.
Auto tires.

Refuse Preparation

Be sure to separate your recyclables from your regular trash! Here's how to prepare trash:

Material	Preparation Instructions
Boards	Cut in three-foot lengths. Hammer nails down, bundle and tie.

Wood Paneling (or any 4' x 8' sheet)	Cut to 2' x 2', hammer nails down, bundle and tie.

Cardboard Boxes	Unfold, flatten and bundle boxes with twine or tape and place inside, next to or under bin. Unfold, flatten and stuff smaller boxes in larger box (no larger than (18”W x 24”L x 24”H) along with other fiber items and place inside or next to bin. Set empty, large appliance boxes next to recycling bin. Make sure they are clear of packing materials or other trash. No need to break them down.

Fencing (free of debris)	Roll into bundle(s) and tie securely. Cut wood fencing into 3' lengths, and stack neatly at curb. (Metal or wood fence posts: Remove cement and fence rails; cut rails into 3' lengths; bundle and tie.)

Carpet and Padding	Five to six foot lengths; roll and tie (60 lbs. per roll).

Swing Set	Disassemble, bundle and tie in 8' lengths.

Metal Sheds	Two by six foot pieces, bundle and tie.

Paint Cans	Dry out and leave lid off before placing for collection. (To dispose of full or partial cans of paint, solvents, or thinners call SOCRRA at (248) 288-5153 for an appointment to deliver these.)

Window and Picture Frame Glass	Place separately in metal refuse container(s). (Please recycle glass jars and bottles in your recyclables bin.)

Medical Waste	Dispose of through the Household Waste Program.

55 Gallon Barrels	Cut up into quarters or remove ends and flatten.

Gutters, Aluminum Siding and Plumbing Pipes	Must be cut up into 8' lengths, bundled and tied.

Large Wood Structures (such as work benches and large shelving units)	Must be disassembled, bundled and tied.

Plasterboard, Drywall and Lathe	Must be tied in bundles, not to exceed 60 lbs. Sheets must be 2' x2', placed out during dry weather only. Please broken pieces in containers (30-32 gallon) not to exceed 60 lbs.

Railroad Ties and Landscape Timbers	Cut into 2' lengths. No more than 10 pieces.

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Special Refuse Collection

The following special refuse is collected at curbside on your refuse collection day:

Yard Waste Compost

Grass clippings, leaves, garden vegetables and fruit, pencil-size sticks, and old potting soil are considered yard waste compost. Sod must be free of soil.

Place in your own home compost pile.
Mulch or compost grass clippings or leave them on your lawn.
Place in a reusable container bearing the Ferndale Yard Waste Compost label or in a paper KRAFT Bag available at hardware stores.

Brush Clippings

Brush less than an inch in diameter, tree branches, branches with needles or thorns, shrubs, vines, or hedge brush, cut into 4' lengths and tie in bundles.

Branches (four inches or less in diameter)

Cut into 4' to 12' lengths. On collection day, place cut branches at the curb with the butt ends pointing in the same direction vehicles travel on your side of the street.

Logs (more than four inches in diameter)

Cut into 2' lengths no more than 50 lbs. each. Place at the curb for collection on your regular trash collection day.

Tree stumps

Tree stumps must be free of roots and soil, no more than 50 lbs. each.

Bulk Items (Furniture and Appliances)

Place appliances such as washers, dryers, hot water tanks, air conditioners, refrigerators, and furniture at the street curb on your refuse collection day. Doors to refrigerators and freezers must be removed.

Disposing of Broken Concrete (Residential Only!)

Broken concrete (clean and free of wire) is collected at curbside only in September. Call DPW, after placing at the curb, at (248) 546-2519. During other months, take it to the City Yard, 521 East Cambourne, 8:00am - 3:00 pm, Monday - Friday.

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Fall Leaf Disposal

Dispose of fall leaves in any of these ways:

Compost on your property with your other yard-waste compost.
Rake to the curb from mid-October through early-December, weather permitting.
Place in a reusable container bearing the Ferndale Yard Waste Compost label or use the paper KRAFT bags (available at local hardware stores) and place at the curb between mid-April and early December.
Between early December and mid-April, put in a 30-gallon bin or paper Kraft bag and drop off at SOCRRA’s Troy transfer station on Coolidge (248) 288-5150 free or store it until the city’s yard waste collection begins mid-April.

Christmas Trees

If you use a plastic drop cloth or bag under the tree in the house, please remove the bag after taking the tree to the curb. The tree will be chipped by the refuse contractor.

Recycling and Disposing of Hazardous Materials

Take motor oil and vehicle batteries to the Ferndale City Yard (residents only). Monday through Friday the Ferndale City Yard, 521 East Cambourne at Paxton, accepts motor oil and vehicle batteries for recycling during business hours only. Please contact the Yard at (248) 546-2519 before delivering these materials.

Used Motor Oil

Used motor oil from cars, trucks, lawn mowers, etc., should be transported in a tightly sealed plastic gallon jug. Reuse the empty plastic jug, if possible, or dispose of it in the dumpster next to the oil receptacle. do not mix used oil with gasoline or any other fuel!

Automotive Batteries

Wet cell batteries from cars, trucks, boats, etc., should be transported in a secure box.

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Special Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

Paints, garden chemicals, automotive products, antifreeze, household cleaners, solvents, insulin syringes, and other hazardous materials from homes are accepted by appointment only! Call SOCRRA's Special Household Waste Hotline for an appointment, (248) 288-5153.

Recycling bins are $10. Call the DPW yard at (248) 546-2519 to make arrangements to pick up your bin. Place bin at curbside on the same day as your regular refuse collection. When you move, please transfer the bin to the new resident.

Truck Rental Program

This program is for residential do-it-yourself projects. The City will deliver a six-yard dump truck to your home that can be loaded with items such as shingles and demolition debris like kitchen cabinets, bathroom fixtures, wood and other items. Call for more information and price of service at (248) 546-2519. Some projects may require building permits.

The City of Ferndale, Michigan
300 East Nine Mile Road
Ferndale, Michigan 48220
(248) 546-2525

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