Trash and Recycling Collection in Baltimore City

Baltimore is an independent city in Maryland with over 600,000 residents. Like most large municipalities, Baltimore City provides comprehensive trash and recycling services. This article will cover key details on collection schedules, accepted materials, and resources for Baltimore City residents and businesses.

Collection Schedule

• Trash is collected weekly for all households. There is no set schedule – collection occurs Monday through Saturday between 6am and 8pm.

• Recycling is now collected biweekly on either an A or B schedule:

  • A weeks: Northeast & Northwest neighborhoods
  • B weeks: Southeast & Southwest neighborhoods

• To find your recycling week, use the online lookup tool.

• No collections on major holidays:

  • New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas

Curbside Collection

Trash

• Trash must be bagged – the city provides free trash bags upon request.

• Weight limit per bag/container is 50 lbs.

Recycling

• Place recycling loose in bins – no plastic bags. Free recycling bins available.

• Paper: cardboard, cartons, office paper, magazines, newspapers, etc.

• Containers: glass bottles/jars, aluminum cans, plastic containers #1-7.

• Flatten cardboard boxes.

• Do not include plastic bags, food waste, propane tanks, electronics.

• No limit on recycling – use additional containers as needed.

Yard Waste

• Yard waste collection occurs seasonally – contact 311 for schedule.

• Accepted materials: leaves, grass, branches (max 3ft length).

• Use paper bags or open containers only.

Drop-off Locations

• 5 Residential Drop-off Centers accept trash, recycling, yard waste – open Mon-Sat.

• Recycling-only Drop-off Centers open Tues-Sat in neighborhoods with biweekly recycling.

• Full list: Citizen Drop-off Centers

Key Contacts

• Request services or report issues: Call 311 or use 311 online

• Water billing questions: (410) 396-5398

• View pickup schedules/maps: Baltimore CityView

• Updates on service delays: DPW Collection Delays page

Recycling Information

• DPW Recycling Page – details on preparing and sorting recyclables

• Recycling Do’s and Don’ts – helpful pamphlet

• 311 Mobile App – collection day schedules/notification alerts

Conclusion

Baltimore provides weekly trash collection and biweekly recycling pickup to all households in the city. With access to the resources listed in this article, residents can look up their collection days, drop-off options, accepted materials, and find assistance for any service issues. Properly sorting waste for disposal and recycling is crucial for keeping communities and the environment clean.