Recycling Services

When you recycle, it helps to protect Baltimore City's environment and our region by reducing trash, preventing pollution, decreasing emissions of greenhouse gases which affect our climate, and reduces the number of items that are dumped into our landfills or would need to be incinerated.

For additional information about recycling in Baltimore, please email us at [email protected] or call the Recycling Office at (410) 396-4511.

How do I recycle certain items?

Items like hard plastics, scrap metal, household hazardous waste, and electronics can be recycled in Baltimore City, just not with your other curbside recycling. They must be taken to one of our Citizen Drop Off Centers. Other items like leaves can only be recycled curbside at certain times of the year.

Baltimore City Residents must show proof of city residency, e.g. a driver's license, telephone bill or tax bill, before they can drop off any item at the drop off center.

Please Click on the Tabs Below to Learn More

Acceptable Items for Curbside Recycling Collection

Paper:

• Office paper (all colors)
• Newspaper, magazines and catalogs
• Mail (including junk mail, envelopes with windows, flyers, etc.)
• Books (including paperbacks, textbooks, and hardbacks)
• Brown paper bags
• Cardboard and paperboard boxes
• Corrugated cardboard
• Cardboard egg containers
• Non-metallic wrapping paper
• Clean pizza boxes (not soiled with grease)
• Food and beverage cartons (e.g. milk, juice, or stock)
• Shredded paper (contained in paper bag or cardboard box)

Plastic:

• Plastic bottles (e.g. water and soda)
• Plastic jugs such as milk (other than for motor oil, pesticides, and herbicides)
• Plastic jars (e.g. peanut butter)
• Plastic tubs (e.g. sour cream or yogurt)
• Prescription bottles (including caps)

Metal:

• Aluminum cans
• Metal food or beverage containers
• Clean aluminum foil/ foil pans
• Empty aerosol cans

Glass:

• Glass bottles and jars (all colors) lids may be left on

Unacceptable Items for Curbside Recycling Collection

• Soiled recyclables
• Polystyrene (Styrofoam) of any type
• Plastic bags
• Clamshell containers (e.g. deli or salad bar containers, to go food boxes, berry containers)
• Plastic film of any type (e.g. 6 pack rings, case wrap, dry cleaning bags, food storage bags)
• Plastic cutlery and straws
• Potato chip and snack bags, candy wrappers
• Take-out food containers
• Non-packaging plastic (e.g. toys, toothbrushes, pens)
• Paper towels, toilet paper or tissue paper
• Wax or parchment paper
• Non-packaging glass (window and mirror)
• Cords, hoses, string and other “tanglers”
• Compostable materials or yard waste
• Trash such as cigarette butts, diapers, food waste, needles, bags with pet waste, etc
• Electronics and appliances
• Clothing, shoes, and textiles
• Cookware

Household Hazardous Waste Recycling

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 2020:

April 3 and  4 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)	August 7 and 8 (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
May 1 and 2  (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)	September 4 and 5  (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
June 5 and 6  (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.)	October 2 and 3 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
July 10 and 11  (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

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

Accepted Hazardous Materials	Hazardous Materials Not Accepted
Automotive Fluids (e.g. antifreeze, transmission and power brake fluid) Batteries Glycols (e.g. Antifreeze) Household Cleaning Products Fungicides/Herbicides Insecticides/Pesticides Oil Paint Paint Thinners Pool Cleaners Pool Chemicals Propane Tanks Rust Removers Solvents Fire Extinguishers Thermometers Turpentine (Varnishes & Stains) Florescent Light Bulbs	Photographic Chemicals Gasoline Kerosene Asbestos Ammunition Explosives Acids (e.g. Sulfuric Acid) Industrial Wastes Medical Wastes Radioactive Materials

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.

View our 2019 Household Hazardous Waste Flyer

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.

Electronics Recycling

Rigid Plastics Recycling

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;.

Yard Waste

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.