BI-WEEKLY RECYCLING UPDATE
DPW’s Temporary Shift to Bi-Weekly Recycling Brings
Stability to Solid Waste Operations
Solid Waste Crews Are Completing 100 Percent of Routes

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works’ (DPW) temporary shift to bi-weekly recycling collections has stabilized the Department’s curbside recycling collections and allowed DPW to better serve residents, bringing predictability and consistency to Solid Waste operations. Over the last three months, DPW’s Solid Waste crews have been able to:

• Complete 100 percent of scheduled routes
• Optimize the use of DPW’s five residential drop-off locations
• Collect 100 percent of the recyclables placed curbside.

“I want to thank Baltimore City residents for their continued patience as the Department continues to assess our Solid Waste operations,” said DPW Director Jason W. Mitchell. “The temporary change to bi-weekly recycling collections has helped the Department manage recycling collections for the short-term and to better support solid waste services impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

DPW will be implementing route optimization software to support recycling collections, and we are in the process of obtaining emergency approval to optimize routes for recycling collections. "Route optimization will help the Department right-size recycling routes and ensure the needed resources are available to provide predictable and consistent service levels," Director Mitchell said.

DPW will continue to provide periodic updates to our valued residents as the Department progresses with its recycling route analysis and recommendations for the residential recycling program.

To expedite the restoration of Solid Waste services suspended during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, DPW has taken steps to hire more CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) drivers. In October 2021, the Department launched an in-house training course to help current employees obtain their Commercial Driver’s License.

DPW remains committed to bringing equitable recycling options to Baltimore households. DPW has delivered over 170,000 recycling carts (65-gallon) to City households that receive routine trash and recycling services. The City’s move to the larger-capacity, lidded recycling carts has provided more residents with a critical resource to support residential recycling efforts. Previously, Baltimore households that participated in the City’s recycling collections had to provide their own containers.

For recycling best practices, residents are encouraged to review the DPW Recycling Guide.

                                                                 ###

Want more information on the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW)? Click these links to view the 2022 DPW Calendar, the 2019-2020 Bi-Annual Report, or DPW's most recent Water Quality Report.