Welcoming the first day of fall, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) is pleased to announce our autumn lineup of cleaning and greening activities starting this October.

The popular GROW (Green Resources & Outreach for Watersheds) Centers will be popping up again this fall! The first of three GROW Center events is Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Langston Hughes Community Center, 5011 Arbutus Ave. 21217.

At the GROW Center events, residents can get free trees and mulch, purchase recycling bins, and talk to greening experts. All GROW Center events are 9 a.m. to noon.

Pop-up #1: Saturday, Oct. 12, Langston Hughes Community Business and Resource Center, 5011 Arbutus Ave. 21217.

Pop-up #2: Saturday, Oct. 26, Gateway Park at Darley Park, Harford Road & Normal Avenue, Baltimore, Md. 21213.

Pop-up #3: Saturday, Nov. 2, Stillmeadow Community Fellowship Church, 5110 Fredrick Ave. Baltimore, Md. 21229.

DPW launched its first GROW Center events in the spring of 2018. GROW Center funding is provided in part by the United States Department Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service.

Oct. 5: Shred Day,  Recycle bins on sale too!

DPW will offer free paper shredding for city residents on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Free Community Shred Day will take place at Middlebranch Park, 3301 Waterview Ave. 21230.

DPW respectfully asks that residents adhere to the Free Shred Day limit of two 32-gallon bags of papers per household. Residents must bring a license or other proof of Baltimore City residency.

This is an opportunity for Baltimore City residents to safely dispose of sensitive paper documents quickly, easily, and securely. Cancelled checks, medical records, credit card information, utility bills, old tax returns, and pay stubs are among the many items that should be destroyed by shredding.

Bags that contain other types of recyclable items and trash will not be accepted.

The bright, canary yellow City recycling bins will be on sale at discounted rates: 25-gallon bins with lids for $10, and the 18-gallon bin for $4. We accept cash and check only for the purchase of the recycle bins.

Oct. 4 & 5 Household Hazardous Waste Collection

DPW will offer its last Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection for 2019 on Friday, Oct. 4, and Saturday, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  HHW materials will be collected at the Northwest Convenience Center, 2840 Sisson St.

During HHW collections, residents can drop off items like automotive fluids, batteries, paint thinners, and insecticides. Additional information on HHW-accepted items is available on the DPW website.