Recycling Services

• Aerosol Cans (empty)
• Aluminum: cans, beverage and food containers, foil (clean), and pie pans
• Books: hardbound, paperback and text books
• Bottles: narrow-neck bottles used for food liquids, soap, soda or water - (lightly clean if heavily soiled)
• Cardboard and paperboard boxes corrugated boxes, egg containers, food boxes (including cereal boxes and pizza boxes), frozen food packaging, mailing boxes and show boxes
• Cartons (waxed): used for a liquid such as juices, milk or soups
• Glass containers such as bottles and jars (brown, clear or green - please lightly rinse)
• Juice Boxes (clean)
• Mail: envelopes with plastic windows
• Metal: beverage and food containers
• Paper (all colors and types): catalogs, folders, junk mail, magazines, mixed paper, newsprint (all types), non-metallic wrapping paper, office papers, printer paper, school papers and shredded paper
• Plastic:
  • bottles and jars (narrow neck and screw top – lightly clean if heavily soiled) -e.g., detergent/bleach bottles, juice bottles, milk jugs, soda bottles, water bottles;
  • wide-mouthed containers (lightly clean if heavily soiled) -e.g., cottage cheese, margarine, mayonnaise, sour cream and yogurt (you can leave the caps and labels on);
  • drinking cups and prescription bottles, including lids and caps.
• Steel: beverage containers and food
• Tin: cans and foil

• Carry out or deli food containers
• Cat litter
• Cookware and plates (plastic)
• Containers of toxic substances (e.g., bottles, cans of motor oil, pesticides, etc.)
• Contaminated paper products (e.g., napkins, paper towels, waxed paper, paper plates and tissue)
• Contaminated plastic products (e.g., plates, utensils, cookware, to-go cartons)
• Dry cleaning bags
• Food Waste
• Glass (window and mirror)
• Plastic bags including grocery and newspaper covers
• Utensils (plastic)
• Waxed paper

Baltimore City residents may recycle their household hazardous waste at our Northwest Citizen Convenience Center located at 2840 Sisson Street.  This facility only accepts resident’s hazardous waste between April and October.  Businesses and commercial users are not permitted to drop their household hazardous waste at this facility and should contact a private vendor for disposal. Commercial vehicles are also not allowed at this facility. 

What is Household Hazardous Waste?

Household hazardous waste is anything that can typically be found on a grocery or home improvement store shelf such as bleach, ammonia, batteries, paint, etc. The access to these materials is relatively easy, but disposing of them incorrectly can be hazardous to us and the environment.  Household hazardous waste material must be handled, stored, and recycled according to specific guidelines and regulations.

Household Hazardous Waste Collections

Baltimore City residents may recycle their household hazardous waste at our Northwest Citizen Convenience Center located at 2840 Sisson Street between the months of April and October.  See schedule below. 

Businesses and commercial users are not permitted to drop their household hazardous waste at this facility and should contact a private vendor for disposal. Commercial vehicles are also not allowed at this facility. 

For more information about recycling hazardous materials, please view the Maryland Department of the Environment's fact sheet.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Schedule for 2019:

All Materials must be in original packaging with manufacturer's label.  No unmarked or leaking containers will be accepted.

Are there other ways to dispose of compact florescent light bulbs (CFL)?

We strongly urge residents to recycle CFLs at our Northwest Citizen Convenience Center when it's accepting household hazardous waste.  However some Ikea locations and HomeDepot stores also offer a “Free Take Back” program.  Please check with retailers for program details.

For more CFL information, please refer to MDE's CFL fact sheet.

How do I dispose of non-accepted materials?

If you have hazardous waste that cannot be disposed of at our Northwest Citizen Convenience Center, please review the Recycling Directory maintained by Maryland Recycles for private companies who may be able to assist; noting some charge a fee for their services.

Baltimore City offers electronic recycling, commonly referred to as eCycling, to Baltimore City residents. These items cannot be set out curbside and must be taken to one the City's Citizen Drop Off Centers, locations 1 - 5 only. The item should be placed in the container marked electronics.

Acceptable eCycle Materials

White Goods

White Goods (e.g. Stoves, Refrigerators, Washers, Dryers, Air Conditioners) are scrap metal, and can be dropped off at the City's Citizen Drop Off Centers, locations 1 - 5 only.  To remove these items, residents can also request bulk item pick up by calling 311.  For a bulk item collection, items must be placed in the same location where trash and recycling are normally picked up.

Rigid plastics include milk/soda crates, buckets, laundry baskets, lawn furniture, totes, plastic drums, coolers, flower pots, water bottles, pallets, pet carriers, shelving, closet organizers, and empty garbage/recycling bins. 

These items cannot be set out curbside and must be taken to one of the City's Citizen Drop Off Centers, locations 1 - 5 only. The item should be placed in the container marked rigid plastics;.

Please follow the instuctions below for our yard waste collection and remember to not put your bagged yard waste in the gutter or public right-of-way.

• Place your yard waste in the same location as your other trash on your  scheduled trash collection day.
• Place yard waste in plastic bags (preferably clear or labeled bags), paper bags or bundle it.
• DPW will only collect up to 5 bags/bundles of yard waste from your residence each week.
  • ​Leaf collection pick-ups will occur from October 28, 2019, to January 6, 2020.  Starting September 30, 2019, City residents can call 311 before 6 p.m. Sunday to schedule a special leaf pick-up the following Monday for up to 20 bags. Multiple appointments can be made during the collection period.
  • Appointments can be made for up to two months in advance.​
• Tree branches larger than 4 inches in diameter or longer than 3 feet will not be collected.
• You can also take your yard waste to any of our Citizen Drop-Off Centers.