How to get rid of a mattress in Flat Rock, MI.

Weekly bulk collection is included in the rate at no additional charge, in the hauler's own words on its Flat Rock page: 'Bulk Pick Up/Special Pick Up: Weekly pick up – included in the rate at no additional charge.' Nothing is booked and no tag is required. If the service day falls on or after a listed holiday that week, service is delayed one day; the City publishes the only holidays that delay garbage, under which New Year's Day on Thursday, January 1, 2026 delays Wednesday collection by a day, Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, 2026 and Labor Day on Monday, September 7, 2026 delay the entire week by a day, and Independence Day on Saturday, July 4, 2026, Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26, 2026 and Christmas on Friday, December 25, 2026 leave collection on schedule. The City's own code bears on a large item in a way the hauler's page does not: Code of Ordinances § 74-31(g) provides that 'Rubbish that is larger than can be contained in the receptacles shall be securely tied in compact bundles, not to exceed 100 pounds in weight, and placed in a location convenient for collection. Large bulky items, such as refrigerators, stoves, beds, crates, etc., will require notification of and arrangement with the city clerk for a special pickup or an estimate of charges.' Set-out under § 74-31(a): containers go at the curbside in front of the premises, or at the edge of an adjacent through alley, prior to 7:00 a.m. on the collection day but in no case before 7:00 a.m. on the day preceding, must not obstruct vehicles, must be readily accessible, and may not be placed on front porches, side drives or yards before placement for pickup. Section 74-31(b)(2) specifies domestic containers of 20 to 30 gallons, watertight and verminproof, or a city-distributed disposable bag; § 74-31(b)(4) requires containers within private property lines and not in the alley. Section 74-32(a) bars disposing of waste generated in the city other than through the city collection service or a licensed hauler. The penalty under § 74-7 is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.00 or imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or both, with each day a separate offense. Yard waste runs from the week of March 15, 2026 in 30-gallon or smaller cans marked with 'YARD WASTE' stickers from City Hall or in 30-gallon paper compost bags, and must not be mixed with trash.

Not confirmed: Neither the hauler's Flat Rock page nor the City's collection page names a mattress or a box spring, in either direction, and neither publishes an accepted or not-accepted list for bulk items.

Not confirmed: The code's § 74-31(g) says 'beds', not mattress or box spring, and whether a bare mattress is a 'bed' for that section is not stated.

Not confirmed: The code and the hauler's page point different ways on what a resident must do with a large bulky item: the code requires notification of and arrangement with the city clerk 'for a special pickup or an estimate of charges', while the hauler collects bulk weekly at no additional charge with nothing booked. The City does not reconcile them.

Not confirmed: The code's 100-pound cap applies to 'rubbish that is larger than can be contained in the receptacles', not to a large bulky item, and no weight cap is stated for the latter.

Not confirmed: The hauler's page states no item limit, no weight cap, no preparation rule and no set-out time beyond the service day, and carries no date.

Not confirmed: No wrapping or bed-bug rule appears anywhere in Chapter 74 or on the hauler's page.

Not confirmed: No outcome is published.

From the provider’s own page, checked Nov 7, 2026. Not confirmed by phone.

Priority Waste — Flat Rock, MI

City of Flat Rock, MI Code of Ordinances — Ch. 74 Solid Waste (§§ 74-1 to 74-32)

The first yard is free; in the City's words, 'The first yard of rubbish (approximately the size of a backhoe front bucket) is of NO CHARGE. After the initial first yard of rubbish, any additional yard will cost $50 until four (4) buckets are reached. After that point, a resident must pay $200.00 for a dump truck and every five (5) yards thereafter.' What the service is for is itemized: 'This includes dirt, construction wood and debris, concrete, sod (not yard waste or leaves), and other sizeable items the rubbish contractor will not take. Such as, swing sets, chain link fencing and poles, pool tables, steel shelving, and other items determined by the Director. All nails and other sharp objects must be removed prior to picking up.' Billing is after the fact: 'If your special pick up requires a charge, a tag will be left on your door notifying you of the cost. You may authorize the payment at City Hall and an invoice will be sent to you after the work is complete. Any unpaid fees will be added to your taxes with an additional 25% fee.' Placement is specific: 'Please place special pickup material on your driveway approach. Material placed on the grass easement or in the street will not be picked up.' The policy is dated May 16, 2024. The City's code, § 74-31(g), is the authority behind it, requiring large bulky items such as refrigerators, stoves, beds and crates to be arranged with the city clerk 'for a special pickup or an estimate of charges.'

• $0 — No charge for the first yard of debris on a special pick-up, in the City's own words: 'The first yard of rubbish (approximately the size of a backhoe front bucket) is of NO CHARGE.' A yard is roughly the size of a backhoe front bucket. The policy is written for items 'the rubbish contractor will not take' and does not name a mattress, so whether a mattress belongs in a special pick-up rather than in the hauler's weekly bulk run is not established.
• $50 — $50 per additional yard of debris after the free first yard, up to four buckets: 'After the initial first yard of rubbish, any additional yard will cost $50 until four (4) buckets are reached. After that point, a resident must pay $200.00 for a dump truck and every five (5) yards thereafter.' Charges are billed after the work: a tag is left on the door giving the cost, payment is authorized at City Hall, an invoice follows, and unpaid fees are added to the resident's taxes with an additional 25 percent fee. This is a volume price, not an item price, and the City sets no figure for a single mattress.

Not confirmed: A mattress is not on the policy's list of covered items, and the list is framed as items 'the rubbish contractor will not take' — while the City's contracted hauler collects bulk weekly at no additional charge. Whether a mattress belongs in a special pick-up or in the ordinary weekly bulk run is not established.

Not confirmed: The policy prices by the yard, not by the item, so it sets no price for a single mattress.

Not confirmed: The policy does not say whether the first free yard resets weekly, monthly or per request.

Not confirmed: No outcome is published.

From the provider’s own page, checked Nov 7, 2026. Not confirmed by phone.

City of Flat Rock, MI — Special Pick-Up Policy

Donors complete an online pickup request form and the team calls to confirm a date. Pickup is free when items are on a porch, in a garage or otherwise easily accessible; in-home pickup is $75, paid by check, money order, credit card or Venmo (no cash); premium removal services run $100 to $125 per item. Mattresses of any size qualify if clean, unstained, untorn, pet-hair-free and fully usable.

• $0 — Free pickup when the donated items are on a porch, in a garage or otherwise easily accessible.
• Plus $75 — In-home pickup surcharge, paid by check, money order, credit card or Venmo; cash is not accepted. Premium removal services are published only as a $100-$125 per item range and are not staged.

Not confirmed: The $100-$125 premium removal tier is published as a range without a per-item breakdown.

Not confirmed: No quantity limit per pickup is published.

From the provider’s own page, checked Sep 22, 2026. Not confirmed by phone.

Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit donation guidelines