Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott and the Department of Public Works (DPW) reaffirmed their commitment to prioritizing recycling and the environment by joining WIN Waste Innovations, formerly Wheelabrator Technologies, to establish and staff several community recycling collection locations throughout Baltimore City. Effective Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, the City, in partnership with WIN Waste Innovations, will provide community recycling drop-off sites for residents to use in the week when their recycling collections are not occurring. The sites will increase residential recycling opportunities as curbside collection operations have been modified from weekly to bi-weekly due to pandemic-related staff shortages and other challenges at DPW.

“While Covid continues to present unprecedented operational challenges for municipalities around the world, we are undeterred in our efforts to make Baltimore a leader in recycling and other sustainable practices,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “We are drawing upon every available resource, including our private-sector partners, to ensure we provide the residents of Baltimore with essential public services and promote responsible waste management policies.”

Each Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., WIN Waste will staff and operate several recycling drop-off centers in neighborhoods not receiving curbside service. This new partnership marks the third time during the pandemic that the company, which converts everyday residential and commercial waste into renewable energy, has enhanced the City’s recycling capacity by funding and staffing community collection sites.

“With people receiving more home deliveries than ever before, it is critical that Baltimore residents continue to have easy access to recycling options during the pandemic to ensure we are continuing to increase our recycling rates,” said WIN Waste Innovations Director of Communications and Community Engagement Mary Urban. “The availability of our staffed, local recycling drop-off centers will support reuse and help minimize the environmental impact of these materials.”

Over the last month, DPW has experienced severe staffing shortages due to the recent rise in positive COVID-19 cases. Beginning Jan. 18, DPW changed its curbside recycling collection from weekly to bi-weekly to bring stability and predictability to routes impacted by delays. Under the modified system, curbside collections will take place on an alternating “A and B schedule,” with Northeast and Northwest quadrant collections taking place during Week A and Southeast and Southwest collections taking place during Week B.

“This partnership is an integral part of meeting our commitment to Baltimore residents,” said Baltimore City Department of Public Works Director Jason W. Mitchell. “As we continue to develop innovative ways to overcome the operational challenges imposed by COVID-19, we are pleased to have the support of our private-sector partners, like WIN Waste Innovations, to maintain the delivery of critical services upon which our residents rely. DPW remains committed to the goals outlined in the Less Waste, Better Baltimore plan and moving Baltimore City forward towards a zero-waste future.”

Community Recycling Drop-Off Locations and Operating Hours:

The community recycling collection sites serving Southeast and Southwest neighborhoods (south of North Avenue) will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. during “A Weeks”:

• DPW Property Management Facility, 115 S Kresson Street
• DPW Maritime Operations Facility, 3311 Eastbourne Avenue
  • In front of the building on Eastbourne Avenue
• Westside Skills Center, 4501 Edmondson Avenue
  • Parking lot accessible via Athol Avenue
• Digital Harbor High School, 1100 Covington Street
  • Parking lot next to the school, accessible via Covington Street

The community recycling collection sites serving Northeast and Northwest neighborhoods (north of North Avenue) will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. during “B Weeks”:

• Hamilton Elementary School, 6101 Old Harford Road
  • Back parking lot accessible via Christopher Avenue or Sylvan Avenue
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School, 3750 Greenspring Avenue
  • Cul-de-sac in front of the building
• William S. Baer School, 2001 N. Warwick Avenue
  • Parking lot in front of the school
• Mergenthaler (“Mervo”) High School, 3500 Hillen Road
  • Back parking lot accessible via 3500 block of Tivoly Avenue

DPW aims to provide more access and opportunity for Baltimore City residents to recycle. These community drop-off sites are in addition to DPW’s five Residential Drop-Off Centers that residents are encouraged to take advantage of from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday: 

• Northwest Transfer Station, 5030 Reisterstown Road
• Quarantine Road Landfill, 6100 Quarantine Road
• Northwest Residential Drop-off Center, 2840 Sisson Street
• Southwestern Residential Drop-off Center, 701 Reedbird Avenue
• Eastern Residential Drop-off Center, 6101 Bowleys Lane

Residents can find more information about each of DPW’s five Residential Drop-Off Centers here.