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Department of Public Works - Recycling

Neighborhood Recycling Partnership – Make A Difference

Household recycling is an important component in creating a cleaner and greener City. Mayor Dixon and the Department of Public Works (DPW) want to double household recycling participation over the next four years. We need your help to achieve this goal. The DPW Recycling Office is seeking block captains in communities across the City to communicate and motivate 100% household recycling - block by block.

If you are interested in helping your neighbors understand the benefits of recycling and in encouraging them to participate, please contact us at 410-396-4511 for more information; or complete the attached form and e-mail it to info@cleanergreenerbaltimore.org. Distribution literature will be provided to each registered block captain. Someone from the Recycling Office will make initial and periodic contact with you to ensure progress, supply literature and help with any questions or concerns.

Download Neighborhood Recycling Partnership Action Plan Template

One Bin Same Day

Baltimore is now Single Stream Recycling – All items collected in one container.

Recycling is an important part of our effort to build a cleaner, greener Baltimore. Now it is easier than ever with SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING. Instead of separating your bottles, cans, jars and paper, you can now place all these items in one container for collection. Your paper collection day last year is now the collection day for all your recyclables. DPW has also added more varieties of plastics which we will accept. Plastic bottles and jars with 1 - 7 on the bottom, instead of just 1 - 2 , will now be collected.

Times have changed. Much of what we used to throw away must be re-used to preserve dwindling resources, to conserve landfill space and to reduce pollution and global warming. Resource recovery also saves money and creates jobs. Many products we all use each day are made from recycled paper, aluminum, steel, glass and plastic. Purchasing products made from recycled materials is not only good for the environment but also good for the economy. Please recycle. Recycling materials should be set out in front of house, except for communities approved for rear pick-up (Download List - PDF)

Recycling is good for you, good for Baltimore and good for the environment!

Recycling Searchable FAQ

Recycling Printable FAQ

Zone Schedule

ZONE 1: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month.
ZONE 2: 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month.
ZONE 3: 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month.
ZONE 4: 2nd and 4th Friday of each month.Every
ZONE 5: Tuesday and Friday evening (after 7 p.m.).

Acceptable Recycling Material:

Metal: aluminum, tin and steel food and beverage containers (Ex. soup, pet food, empty aerosol cans, vegetable cans, tuna cans)
Plastic: bottles and jars with the symbols 1 - 7 on the bottom (narrow neck and screw top)
(e.g. soda bottle, detergent/bleach bottle, water bottle, milk jug, juice bottle)
Glass: bottles and jars - brown, clear, or green
Mixed Paper: all colors, mail, books, newsprint, folders, magazines, cardboard, cereal boxes, office and school paper.

Unacceptable Recycling Material (Examples):

plastic grocery bags, wire hangers, contaminated paper and cardboard, chemicals or paint, waxed packages (juice boxes, etc.), paper napkins, towels, plates and tissues, plastic cookware or plates, yogurt/cottage cheese/margarine tubs, cat litter, plastic utensils, dry cleaning bags, foil, waxed paper, window glass, mirrors, deli or takeout cartons, foam or plastic packaging material, bottles or cans used for toxic substances.

Placement Instructions:

Please place all recycling materials (Plastic and glass bottles and jars, paper and cans) in recycle bins, cardboard boxes, paper bags or a clearly marked container and they will be collected citywide on your regularly scheduled recycling day.

Set out recycling items by 7 a.m. for collection. (Zone 5 is an evening collection. Please see map).

If your collection day falls on a holiday, please hold your recycling items until the next scheduled collection day.

For additional information, please dial 311.

City Government and Baltimore Business Recycling:

Special recycling services are provided to City Government buildings and some Baltimore businesses for FREE!

Please contact the Recycling Office at 410-396-4511 for additional information.

Household Hazardous Waste:

Baltimore City offers Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop off free to city residents during its bi-annual HHW drop off days; the 4th Saturday and Sunday in April and the 4th Saturday and Sunday in October. For more information, please dial 311 or look to your Public Works calendar for time and location.

Acceptable materials include:

automotive fluids, break fluid, button batteries, car batteries, coal tar products, creosote products, floor care products, fungicides, furniture strippers, gasoline, herbicides, household batteries, insecticides, kerosene, laser toner cartridges, oven cleaners, paint, oil based and latex paint, paint thinners, pesticides, pool chemicals, propane gas tanks (30 gal. only), rust removers, solvents, turpentine, varnishes and stains, weed killers, wood preservers, florescent light bulbs.

CFL Disposal (Compact Fluorescent Bulbs):

Presently, Baltimore City only accepts the straight fluorescent bulbs during our twice a year household hazardous drop-off days. Many Ikea stores offer a “Free Take Back” program for CFL bulbs; however at point of purchase, you are encouraged to check with the retailer or manufacture for possible take back or recycling programs. Also, for additional information and assistance on disposal methods, please visit MDE’s website at http://www.mde.state.md.us/. Once there, click the link that says “Statement of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs and Mercury”.

Recycle Bins:

What about the sale of yellow recycling bins?

Both 18 gallon and 25 gallon yellow recycling bins are now available at Baltimore City's Kane Street Yard (111 Kane Street, across from Patterson High School).
Bins can be purchased between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
18 gallon bins are $5.00
25 gallon bins are $12.00
A limit of four bins may be purchased by each individual. (Kane Street Location only)
Residents can buy for there block with proof.
Communities groups can purchase in bulk and resale to their members.
Acceptable Payment – Cash, Money Order or Check (Checks must be addressed to the Director of Finance and citizens must show proof of identification including address).
Thanks to a few dedicated community groups, below are some alternative locations for residents to purchase recycle bins. *Bin prices are the same as above.
Brooklyn and Curtis Bay Coalition
Contact: Cheryl Gorham
Phone: 410-355-1100
Location: 320 E. Patapsco Avenue 21225
Hours: M-F 8am-5pm
Special Instructions: Call first to make sure someone is at the locations

Please remember that yellow recycling bins are for recycling only! Regular trash and debris will not be picked up from recycling bins.
The promotional yellow bins are NOT REQUIRED to recycle – a citizen can use any bin of his/her choice as long as it is clearly marked “recycle,” citizens can also use cardboard boxes and/or paper bags.
We do not have lids available for the 25 gal. containers, but lids can be purchased separately at many hardware stores.
We are exploring a future purchase of lids that will be sold separately for those who wish to have covered recycling bins.
Recycling is different from household garbage (it is generally clean paper, bottles and cans) – a lidded can is not required under this or our past recycling program.

Recycling Drop-Off Locations:

Acceptable Items Include:

Metal: aluminum, tin and steel food and beverage containers (Ex. soup, pet food, empty aerosol cans, vegetable cans, tuna cans)
Plastic: bottles and jars with the symbols 1 - 7 on the bottom (narrow neck and screw top) (e.g. soda bottle, detergent/bleach bottle, water bottle, milk jug, juice bottle)
Glass: bottles and jars - brown, clear, or green
Mixed Paper: all colors, mail, books, newsprint, folders, magazines, cardboard, cereal boxes, office and school paper
Electronics Recycling (eCycling): computer monitors, televisions, central processing units, computer mice, keyboards, cell phones, printers, power supplies, laptop computers, scanners, computer cables and cords, miscellaneous circuit boards, chips and cards and other computer or electronic related accessories.
Oil – Used motor oil (Locations 1 – 5 only)
White Goods – appliances (e.g. stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, air conditioners), scrap metal

We cannot accept (examples):

plastic grocery bags, wire hangers, contaminated paper and cardboard, chemicals or paint, waxed packages (juice boxes, etc.), paper napkins, towels, plates and tissues, plastic cookware or plates, yogurt/cottage cheese/margarine tubs, cat litter, plastic utensils, dry cleaning bags, foil, waxed paper, window glass, mirrors, deli or takeout cartons, foam or plastic packaging material, bottles or cans used for toxic substances.
Please note that many grocery stores will recycle your plastic bags.

View Drop-Off Locations Map
2840 Sisson Street (410) 396-6070 Mon. – Sat. 9am – 7pm	5030 Reisterstown Road (410) 466-8828 Mon. – Sat. 7am – 3pm
6101 Bowleys Lane (410) 396-9950 Mon. – Sat. 9am – 7pm	Quarantine Road (410) 396-3772 Mon. – Sat. 7am – 5pm (daylight Savings) & 7am – 3:30 pm (winter hours)
701 Reedbird Avenue (410) 396-3367 Mon. – Sat. 9am – 7pm	4325 York Road (410) 396-6551 Mon. – Fri. 8am – 2pm
4410 Lewin Avenue (410) 396-0210 Mon. – Fri. 7am – 11pm (Mixed Paper and Cardboard Only)	239 Calverton Road (410) 396-0228 Mon. – Fri. 7am – 11pm (Mixed Paper and Cardboard Only)

Single Stream Recycling Facility Tours

If you are interested in scheduling a tour at one of the Waste Management Recycle America Single Stream facilities, please contact one of the sites below. Groups of 10 are preferred, and all tourists must be prepared to put on goggles, safety vest, hats and ear phones.

Waste Management Recycle America (WMRA)
7175 Kit Kat Road
Elkridge, MD 21075
443-755-9416
(Must be at least 18 years of age to tour this facility)

Waste Management Recycle America (WMRA)
1000 Ritchie Road
Capital Heights, MD 20743
301-499-1707
(All ages are accepted – This site is more kid friendly)

*Baltimore’s single stream material is processed at the 7175 Kit Kat Road facility.

For The Kids

The following resources are specifically for children to learn more about recycling and the environment.

For Teachers

The following resources are for K–12 teachers to learn how to bring environmental lessons and practices into the classroom.

Fri. May 9, 2008

Contacts

David E. Scott
Director
600 Abel Wolman Municipal Building
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 545-6541

Water Quality

Downloads

DPW Employees Night with the Director