When is my recycling collected?

DPW currently 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 and Southwest neighborhoods are scheduled for recycling pickup Tuesday through Friday.

• View the recycling schedule and neighborhoods to find your pickup week. 
• Download: Recycling weeks and neighborhoods

What do I do if my trash or recycling is missed?

If your trash or recycling collection is ever missed, Please call 311 or visit 311 online. Your service request will be sent directly to the supervisor and will be resolved within 24 hours.

My trash or recycling collection is on a holiday, when will it be collected?

If your trash or recycling collection day falls on a City holiday, your items will be collected on the Saturday immediately following the holiday. No other collections will be disrupted.

What can I recycle?

Accepted items for recycling include paper, cardboard, newspapers, magazines, junk mail, cardboard, plastic bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, prescription bottles/caps, metal food or beverage containers, aluminum cans, empty aerosol cans, glass bottles and jars, and more...

Items should be empty, clean and dry when you place them in your recycling cart or container. 

Visit the Recycling Services page for a complete listing of items acceptable for curbside collection. You can also use our Recycle Right tool to determine what can be recycled. Curbside recycling is taken to the Waste Management facility in Elkridge, MD for processing. The list of acceptable materials for curbside recycling is heavily informed by what their facility is willing to process. 

Can I recycle plastic bags?

No. DPW does not recycle plastic bags.  We also won't collect recyclable items that are placed in plastic bags. 

Many local grocery or retail stores do accept plastic bags for recycling. Find a drop-off location for plastic bag recycling. 

Is latex paint recyclable?

No. Latex paint is not recyclable and is not considered hazardous. Latex paint can be put in your regular trash, but the paint must be dried out. Latex paint can be dried out by leaving the lid off of the container. Mixing in kitty litter or sawdust will speed up this process. Please note, like all trash, paint cans must be disposed of in a bag and placed in a trash can with a tight-fitting lid.

Can I recycle electronic equipment like computers or televisions?

Yes. You can take old or unwanted electronic items to a residential drop off center. 

Accepted items for drop-off

CD players, cell phones, computers, fax machines, gaming consoles, ink and toner cartridges, keyboards, microwaves, modems, monitors, power and network cables, printers, radios, telephones, televisions, and more…

How do I get a  recycling can?

If you move into a new property and you do not have a Recycling can, please call 311 to request one. Once you complete the form and send it back, a recycling can will be delivered to your home.

Recycling carts: Besides your City-issued cart, you may use any labeled container (label it with ‘Recycling’), including old trash cans, storage totes, and laundry baskets for recycled items collection. Cardboard boxes and paper bags are also acceptable containers. 

Stickers are available to label your recycling container. You can pick up the stickers at the  Office of Waste Diversion.

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

Questions or concerns?

We're here to help. Please call 311 or visit 311 online to connect with us. You can also email your recycling questions and feedback.