Recycling is picked up every other week

DPW uses an alternating A and B cycle for curbside recycling pickup:

Week A: Northeast and Northwest neighborhoods are scheduled for recycling pickup Tuesday through Friday. 

Week B: Southeast, Southwest and Central district neighborhoods are scheduled for recycling pickup Tuesday through Friday.

Your recycling pickup day stays the same

Recycling is picked up every other week using an alternating A and B schedule based on your neighborhood. 

Your recycling day will not change with this alternating week schedule. For example, if your typical recycling collection day is Thursday, it will still be on Thursday and recycling will be picked up every other week. 

Note: Trash collection is every week, and is not impacted by the recycling pickup schedule. 

Use your recycle cart for recyclable items

  • DPW has 65-gallon recycling carts available for City households. These wheeled carts are easy to move and have attached lids. 
  • Please break down cardboard boxes and collapse aluminum cans so that they take up less space in your cart. Please prepare items for recycling by making sure they are clean and dry before they go in your cart. 
  • Review the Recycling Guide for items you can put in your recycle cart. 
  • There is no limit on how much recycling you can put out on your alternating week pickup schedule. 
  • In addition to your City-issued recycling cart, you can use other containers to put recyclables in for pickup. 
  • You can use paper bags, cardboard boxes, old laundry baskets – you can even use a trash can (just mark it “recycling”). 

One rule: No plastic bags

Do not place recycling in plastic bags. We won't collect recyclable items that are in plastic bags.

What goes in your cart? 

These items should be clean and dry for recycling:

  • Cardboard and cartons
  • Aluminum and steel cans
  • Plastic bottles, jar, and jugs
  • Glass bottles and jars

What does not go in your cart?

Put these items in your trash cart:

  • Plastic bags and film/wrap
  • Food and liquids
  • Paper towels and napkins
  • Garden hoses, wires, etc. 
  • Carryout food containers

Review the Recycling Guide for items you can put in your recycle cart. 

Visit a community recycling drop-off site

DPW has community recycling drop-off sites that you can use to drop off your recyclable items. Recycling is picked up every other week. These community recycling sites are open during the week you do not have curbside pickup:

Available Tuesday to Saturday
Open from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm

Use the map to find a Community Recycling site near you.

Open during A weeks

Serving Southeast and Southwest neighborhoods (south of North Avenue)

  • DPW Property Management Facility, 115 S Kresson Street
  • DPW Maritime Operations Facility, 3311 Eastbourne Avenue - In front of the building on Eastbourne Avenue
  • Westside Skills Center, 4501 Edmondson Avenue-Parking lot accessible via Athol Avenue
  • Digital Harbor High School, 1100 Covington Street-Parking lot next to the school, accessible via Covington Street

Open during B weeks

Serving Northeast and Northwest neighborhoods (north of North Avenue)

  • Reginald F. Lewis High School, 2201 Pinewood Avenue
  • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School, 3750 Greenspring Avenue-Cul-de-sac in front of the building
  • William S. Baer School, 2001 N. Warwick Avenue-Parking lot in front of the school
  • Mergenthaler (“Mervo”) High School, 3500 Hillen Road - back parking lot accessible via 3500 block of Tivoly Avenue

Trash and recycling drop-off sites for all residents

DPW has five convenient drop-off centers. Residents can bring their trash or recycling to these drop-off locations. 

Before you go: Review the drop-off sites regulations and policies 

Quarantine Rd. Sanitary Landfill
6100 Quarantine Road
410-396-3772
Drop-off hours:
Mon – Sat, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm 
Haulers/Landfill use: 
Mon – Sat, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm 
 
Western Sanitation Yard
701 Reedbird Avenue
410-396-3367
Mon – Sat, 9 am to 5 pm
 
Eastern Sanitation Yard
6101 Bowleys Lane
410-396-9950
Mon – Sat, 9 am to 5 pm

Sisson Street Drop-Off Center
2840 Sisson Street
410-396-7250
Mon – Sat, 9 am to 5 pm

Northwest Transfer Station
5030 Reisterstown Road
410-396-2706
Mon – Sat, 7 am to 5 pm

Questions or concerns?

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

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