When you recycle, it helps to protect Baltimore City's environment and our region by reducing trash, preventing pollution, decreasing emissions of greenhouse gases that affect our climate, and reducing the number of items that are dumped into our landfills or would need to be incinerated.

Use any container you want: paper bags, cardboard boxes, old laundry baskets – you can even use a trash can (just mark it “recycling”). There is only one rule: Do not place recycling in plastic bags! 

 Fill your container with any of the approved recycling materials: paper, cans, cardboard bottles, etc. 

 Put out all of the recycling that you want curbside or take it to one of DPW Citizens' Convenience Drop-Off Centers; there is no limit! If your collection day falls on a holiday, please hold your recycling items until the makeup collection day which will most often be the following Saturday. Unsure of your recycling day? Click here to view the recycling map. 

 

 

Download Recycling Guide
Descargar la Guía de Reciclaje

How do I recycle certain items?

Items like hard plastics, scrap metal, household hazardous waste, and electronics can be recycled in Baltimore City, just not with your other curbside recycling. They must be taken to one of DPW Citizens' Convenience Drop-Off Centers. Other items like leaves can only be recycled curbside at certain times of the year.

Baltimore City Residents must show proof of city residency, e.g. a driver's license, telephone bill, or tax bill before they can drop off any item at the Drop-Off Center.

 

Acceptable Items for Curbside Recycling Collection

Paper:

  • Office paper (all colors)
  • Newspaper, magazines and catalogs
  • Mail (including junk mail, flyers, etc.)
  • Books (including paperbacks, textbooks, and hardbacks)
  • Brown paper bags
  • Cardboard and paperboard boxes

Cardboard

  • Cardboard egg containers
  • Non-metallic wrapping paper
  • Clean pizza boxes (not soiled with grease)
  • Food and beverage cartons (e.g. milk, juice, or stock)

Plastic:

  • Plastic bottles (e.g. water and soda)
  • Plastic jugs such as milk (other than for motor oil, pesticides, and herbicides)
  • Plastic jars (e.g. peanut butter)
  • Tubs (e.g. sour cream or yogurt)
  • Prescription bottles (including caps)
  • Rule of thumb: If the mouth (top) of the bottle is narrower than the bottom, it is recyclable.

Metal:

  • Aluminum cans
  • Metal food or beverage containers
  • Clean aluminum foil/ foil pans
  • Empty aerosol cans

Glass:

Glass bottles and jars (all colors) lids may be left on

Unacceptable Items for Curbside Recycling Collection
  • Soiled recyclables
  • Polystyrene (Styrofoam) of any type
  • Plastic bags
  • Clamshell containers (e.g. deli or salad bar containers, to go food boxes, berry containers)
  • Plastic film of any type (e.g. 6 pack rings, case wrap, dry cleaning bags, food storage bags)
  • Plastic cutlery and straws
  • Potato chip and snack bags, candy wrappers
  • Take-out food containers
  • Non-packaging plastic (e.g. toys, toothbrushes, pens)
  • Paper towels, toilet paper or tissue paper
  • Wax or parchment paper
  • Non-packaging glass (window and mirror)
  • Cords, hoses, string and other “tanglers”
  • Compostable materials or yard waste
  • Trash such as cigarette butts, diapers, food waste, needles, bags with pet waste, etc
  • Electronics and appliances
  • Clothing, shoes, and textiles
  • Cookware
What is Household Hazardous Waste?

Household hazardous waste is anything that can typically be found on a grocery or home improvement store shelf such as bleach, ammonia, batteries, paint, etc. The access to these materials is relatively easy, but disposing of them incorrectly can be hazardous to us and the environment. Household hazardous waste material must be handled, stored, and recycled according to specific guidelines and regulations.

Household Hazardous Waste Collections

Baltimore City residents may recycle their household hazardous waste at our Northwest Citizen Convenience Center located at 2840 Sisson Street on the first Friday and Saturday between *April and October.

Businesses and commercial users are not permitted to drop their household hazardous waste at this facility and should contact a private vendor for disposal. Commercial vehicles are also not allowed at this facility.

For more information about recycling hazardous materials, please view the Maryland Department of the Environment's fact sheet.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Schedule for 2024
DateTime
*April 5 & 69 AM – 5 PM
May 3 & 49AM – 5PM
June 7 & 89 AM – 7 PM
July 5 & 69 AM – 7 PM
August 2 & 39AM – 7PM
September 6 & 79AM – 5PM
October 4 & 59 AM – 5 PM

All Materials must be in original packaging with manufacturer's label.  No unmarked or leaking containers will be accepted.

Note: Propane tanks are no longer accepted

 

  Accepted Hazardous Materials  Hazardous Materials Not Accepted
  • Automotive Fluids (e.g. antifreeze, transmission and power brake fluid)
  • Batteries
  • Glycols (e.g. Antifreeze)
  • Household Cleaning Products
  • Fungicides/Herbicides
  • Insecticides/Pesticides
  • Oil Paint
  • Paint Thinners
  • Pool Cleaners
  • Pool Chemicals
  • Rust Removers
  • Solvents
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • Thermometers
  • Turpentine (Varnishes & Stains)
  • Florescent Light Bulbs
  • Photographic Chemicals
  • Gasoline
  • Kerosene
  • Asbestos
  • Ammunition
  • Explosives
  • Acids (e.g. Sulfuric Acid)
  • Industrial Wastes
  • Medical Wastes
  • Radioactive Materials
Are there other ways to dispose of compact florescent light bulbs (CFL)?

However some Ikea locations and HomeDepot stores also offer a “Free Take Back” program. Please check with retailers for program details.

How do I dispose of non-accepted materials?

If you have hazardous waste that cannot be disposed of at our Northwest Citizen Convenience Center, please review the Recycling Directory maintained by Maryland Recycles for private companies who may be able to assist; noting some charge a fee for their services.

Electronics Recycling

 

Baltimore City offers electronic recycling, commonly referred to as eCycling, to Baltimore City residents. These items cannot be set out curbside and must be taken to one the City's Citizen Drop Off Centers, locations 1 - 5 only. The item should be placed in the container marked electronics.

Acceptable eCycle Materials

  • Cell Phones
  • Keyboards
  • Scanners
  • CD Players / CD-ROMs / Radios
  • Laptop Computers
  • Servers
  • Computer Monitors/CRTs & Flat Panels
  • Mainframes
  • Stereos
  • Controllers
  • Computer Mice
  • Switch Boxes
  • Copy Machines
  • Microwaves
  • Tape Players
  • Desktop Computers
  • Modems
  • Televisions / Flat Screens / CRTs
  • Docking Stations
  • Network Hubs
  • Telephones
  • Fax Machines
  • Peripherals
  • VCRs
  • Gaming Consoles
  • Power & Network Cables
  • Hard Drives
  • Printers
  • Ink and Toner Cartridges
  • Printed Circuit Boards

White Goods White Goods (e.g. Stoves, Refrigerators, Washers, Dryers, Air Conditioners) are scrap metal, and can be dropped off at the City's Citizen Drop Off Centers, locations 1 - 5 only. To remove these items, residents can also request bulk item pick up by calling 311. For a bulk item collection, items must be placed in the same location where trash and recycling are normally picked up.

 

Rigid Plastics Recycling .

 

Rigid plastics include milk/soda crates, buckets, laundry baskets, lawn furniture, totes, plastic drums, coolers, flower pots, water bottles, pallets, pet carriers, shelving, closet organizers, and empty garbage/recycling bin.

These items cannot be set out curbside and must be taken to one of the City's Citizen Drop Off Centers, locations 1 - 5 only. The item should be placed in the container marked rigid plastics.

 

Yard Waste

Yard Waste

Yard waste includes items like grass clippings, leaves, bush or shrub trimmings, and branches. You can place your yard waste out with your trash on your regular trash collection day. Please place yard waste curbside, and not in the gutter or street.

Getting Yard Waste Ready for Pick Up

  • Place yard waste in plastic bags (preferably clear or labeled bags), paper bags or in tied bundles
  • Tree branches larger than 4 inches in diameter or longer than 3 feet will not be collected
  • DPW will collect up to 5 bags/bundles of yard waste from your residence each week

Leaves are collected at specific times of the year

2023 Leaf Collection Schedule

Leaf collection pick-ups will occur from Monday, October 23rd, to January 5, 2024

More than 20 bags of leaves?

Starting October 23, 2023, City residents can call 311 before 6 pm Sunday to schedule a special leaf pick-up the following Monday for up to 20 bags

  • You can make an appointment to schedule bulk leaf pickups
  • Appointments can be made up to two months in advance
  • Multiple appointments can be made during the leaf collection schedule

Take Yard Waste to a Residential Drop-Off Center

You can take your bagged or bundled yard waste to our Residential Drop-Off Centers.

The Centers do not accept branches longer than 3 feet and larger than 4 inches diameter.

Questions or Concerns?

We're here to help. Please call 311 or visit 311 online to connect with us. 

Learn more about recycling services for city residents.

You can also take your yard waste to any of our Citizen Drop-Off Centers.


 

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