Share:
Font Size:


MISSION

The Wayne County Department of Public Services Environmental Services Divison's mission is to create, foster, and maintain a clean and safe land and water environment for citizens of Wayne County by providing services for cost effective drainage systems, waste water management, and solid waste management. The Environmental Services Divison's mission is continuously achieved by talented administrators and employees, guided by the strategic goals of the Wayne County Executive.

Throughout this website, you will be able to learn about ESD's many diverse services and programs. From Western Wayne to Downriver, from Detroit to Asia, ESD's successes and leadership in improving our environment is a model for communities around Michigan and the world. We are proud to serve you, our customers, with high-quality and cost-effective environmental services, and we welcome your comments and suggestions. Thanks for visiting.

The DPS Environmental Services Division is comprised of:

This web site provides information for ESD programs and their established missions, goals, and organizational structure, along with the services that they provide to the many constituents and communities of Wayne County. Please visit each area's web site and utilize our services to the fullest extent. Our office is located at 3600 Commerce Court, Building E, Wayne, MI 48184. Our office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. We look forward to serving you.

Public Notices

2025 FOTR Winter Stonefly Search - Voluteers Needed
Do you ever wonder about the organisms that live in the Rouge River besides fish and turles? The Friends of the Rouge (FOTR) is looking for voluteers to participate in the Winter Stonefly Search on January 25, 2025. The volunteers will meet at the Plymouth Cultural Center at 10:00 a.m. and the event will end around 3:00 p.m. No prior experience is necessary but registration s required. For more information about the event and to find out how to register, please click here to download the flyer.
USACE GLWA Southeast Michgan Flood Risk Management Public Meetings in December 2024
Southeast Michigan has experienced repeated widespread flooding with five flooding-related FEMA Federal Disaster Declarations since 2000. This widespread flooding has resulted in economic burden and social hardship across southeast Michigan. The United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) and the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) have received authorization and federal funding from Congress to study flooding across the region and identify actions to help mitigate its impacts on our communities. This team will hold five Public Scoping Workshops in southeast Michigan during December and you are invited to participate. In these workshops you will:
  • Talk to the study team about flood risk management
  • Share your experience with flooding
  • Provide your input on study focus areas
As this team kicks off this study, they want to hear from you! Please click here to download the workshop flyer for more infromation including workshop locations, dates, and times.
Milk River Intercounty Drain - Notice of 2024 Drainage Board Meetings
The Drainage Board for the Milk River Intercounty Drain will meet at the following dates and times in 2024:

January 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
March 28, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
May 30, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
July 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
September 26, 2024 at 12:00 a.m. Please note location change in notice.
October 21, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Please note location change in notice.
December 12, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Please note location change in notice.

Meetings are held at the St. Clair Shores City Hall, Geer Conference Room, 27600 Jefferson, St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Meeting notices will be added and linked above as they become available. Click on the link to download the meeting notice which includes the agenda.
2024 Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Events
Wayne County's Department of Public Services hosts four Household Hazardous Waste Collections per year for County residents. The collections are designed to accept unwanted household hazardous waste for proper disposal from residents. Only household generated products from Wayne County residents are accepted. Wayne County is continuing household hazardous waste (HHW) collection events in 2024. These events are listed below.

Watch this space for the future HHW events that will posted here early in 2025.

In addition, there are other resources available for you to manage your waste materials:
  • You can download our "Wayne County Recycles" app from Google Play or the App store. It provides options for safe disposal on a wide variety of household hazardous waste and electronic waste items.
  • An online version of our application can be found on our website here. At the bottom of the page you will see the "Resource Recovery Guide" where you can type in the name of an item and receive safe disposal options.
  • Obtain a free recycling voucher available to Wayne County residents. See the section below for details on this new and innovative program for recycling household hazardous waste.
  • Our processing contractor, Environmental Recycling Group in Livonia, accepts residential drop off of HHW by appointment for a fee. You can call them at 734-437-9650.
Wayne County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Recycling Voucher Program
Wayne County offers a recycling voucher program to Wayne County residents. This program allows residents to dispose and recycle of their household hazardous waste five days a week at the contractor's Livonia site. Please visit 3600 Commerce Court, Building E, Wayne, Michigan 48184 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to pick up your voucher. Call 734-326-5708 or email jdemerjian@waynecounty.com if you have any questions. Note that supplies are limited and vouchers are available on a first come, first serve basis. Please click here to view the recycling voucher flyer.
Alliance of Downriver Watersheds (ADW) Summer Photo Contest

While you're out enjoying nature this summer Downriver, snap some photos and enter the ADW Focus on Downriver Photo Contest!

Submit photos matching one of three contest categories (Michigan native plants, trees, or wildflowers; Nature in the Downriver area; A wetland, pond, stream, or river in the Downriver area) between June 1 - August 31, 2024 for a chance to win up to $200. Contest details can be viewed at https://allianceofdownriverwatersheds.com/photocontest.

Please click here to download the contest flyer.

Hayes Elementary School in Westland Achieves Recognition as a Green Ribbon School
Hayes Elementary School in Westland is an Evergreen School in the Wayne County Green Schools Program and has participated in it for 8 years. This year, Hayes Elementary was also recognized as a 2024 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School, one of only two in the state. This federal Green School designation goes above and beyond the requirements of the EGLE sponsored Michigan Green Schools Program. For more information about this prestigious award, please click here for the press release from the Michigan Department of Education. For more information about the Michigan Green Schools Program, please click here.

Meijer Prescription Drug Take Back Kiosk
Meijer Pharmacy wants to help you protect your loved ones, the community and the environment. Safely dispose of your unwanted and expired medications the right way by visiting your local Meijer store and look for the receptacle by the pharmacy counter. This is a free service - no questions asked. Please click here for more infomration.
Board of Determination Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Please click here to download a pdf of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding a Board of Determination.
Wayne County Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Public Notification Plan
Wayne County has developed a public notification plan (PNP) for combined sewer overflows (CSO) that may occur from outfalls located along Detroit and Rouge Rivers, in accordance with NPDES Permits and 40 CFR Part 122.38(c). A CSO is a discharge from a combined sewer system, during wet weather, at a point prior to the downstream wastewater treatment facility. Wayne County's PNP describes how the County provides notification to the public of CSO occurrences from combined sewer systems and combined sewer overflow treatment facilities operated by Wayne County. Wayne County's CSO Public Notification Plan is available here.

Information about combined sewer overflow discharges is available online from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), as follows:

1. MiWaters web page - click here.
2. "Combined Sewer Overflow, Sanitary Sewer Overflow, and Retention Treatment Discharge Annual Report". These reports are published annually for the previous year. To download the annual report, click here.

For more information regarding the Wayne County Public Notification Plan, and combined sewer overflow discharges reported under the Public Notification Plan, please contact esghelp@waynecounty.com.

General News and Information

SEMCOG Releases New Video on the Alliance of Downriver Watersheds

The Alliance of Downriver Watersheds (ADW) is featured in a new SEMCOG One Water video that highlights the organization's efforts to keep Downriver water resources safe for drinking, fishing, and recreational activities. Click on one of the links below to view this video.

ADW YouTube channel
ADW Facebook page
ADW Instagram page

To view other SEMCOG One Water videos, please click here.

Construction of Improvements to the Milk River Intercounty Drain Drainage District Wastewater Facilities Are Underway

In October 2016, construction began on a multi-year project for improvements to the Milk River Intercounty Drain Drainage District wastewater facilities serving the Cities of Harper Woods, Grosse Pointe Woods, and St. Clair. These improvements will allow the Milk River Intercounty Drain Drainage District to continue to provide efficient transport of combined sewage from system customers during normal conditions and to effectively treat combined sewage overflows into Lake St. Clair into the future.

More Information

Notice Requirements for Sewage Disposal or Storm Water System Event

Notice Requirements for Sewage Disposal or Storm Water System Event (Wayne County systems only)

Notice Requirements for Sewage Disposal or Storm Water System Event (Wayne County Drains only)
Notice Requirements for Sewage Disposal or Storm Water System Event (Milk River Intercounty Drain only)

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests

The Wayne County Drain Commissioner has adopted the County of Wayne's procedures and guidelines for FOIA requests for all county and intercounty drains.

Inspect or obtain copies of public records for drains, please click here.

Dispose of Fats, Oils, and Grease Properly

Excessive fats, oils and grease (FOG) washed from sink drains in businesses and homes can block sewer pipes and lead to backups of sewage into buildings and overflows of sewage to rivers, lakes and streams.

Dispose of FOG properly in the home