FAQs • Royal Oak, MI • CivicEngage

Why must I separate these items?: Yard waste is banned from disposal in Michigan landfills. SOCRRA converts yard waste into compost, a useful nutrient rich soil amendment.

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Yard Waste

1. What is yard waste?: Yard Waste includes:

- Grass clippings
- Leaves
- Spent flowers and garden plants
- Weeds
- Pine needles
- Pine cones
- Acorns
- Chestnuts
- Walnuts
- Apples
- Halloween pumpkins
- Vines
- Twigs
- Branches and other woody material up to 2 inches in diameter

2. How do I prepare yard waste for collection?: Yard waste may be placed in 32-gallon trash cans, clearly labeled with a “yard waste” decal facing the street, so it can be easily spotted for pickup. Free yard waste decals are available at the DPS office on Campbell Road and at City Hall. Yard waste may also be placed in a 30-gallon paper yard waste bag, available at most stores.

Containers and bags cannot weigh more than 50 pounds each. Plastic bags are not acceptable.

3. Why must I separate these items?: Yard waste is banned from disposal in Michigan landfills. SOCRRA converts yard waste into compost, a useful nutrient rich soil amendment.

4. Is yard waste collected year-round?: No, weekly curbside collection is provided from April through mid-December.

5. What if I have yard waste when collection isn’t provided?: Royal Oak residents can bring up to 10 yard waste bags per day to the SOCRRA Transfer Station at 995 Coolidge in Troy, at no charge, from mid-December through March. No plastic bags. Please call SOCRRA at 248-288-5150 for more information.

6. What is woody material? Why can't I dispose of it with regular yard waste?: Woody material includes tree branches, woody shrubs, bushes and hedges. Residents must keep woody materials larger than 2 inches in diameter out of their separated yard waste. Woody materials do not decompose as fast as grass, leaves and the other "soft" materials, and must be screened out of finished compost and taken to landfill, adding unnecessary costs to the program.

7. How do I dispose of woody materials?: Put woody material between 2 and 5 inches in diameter with the regular refuse, and set it at the curb by 7 a.m. on trash day. Tie brush securely into bundles up to 4 feet long and 15 inches in diameter, not weighing more than 40 pounds, and set it at the curb. Logs over 5 inches in diameter must be disposed of privately.

To have brush between 1 and 6 inches in diameter and between 4 and 12 feet in length chipped at the curb, call the City's recommended contractor for details and costs. The City's recommended contractor is JH Hart, who may be reached at 586-795-5581.