refuse collection Schedule

All refuse carts need to be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day, or you can put them out the night before. Don’t forget to remove your carts from the curb before midnight of your collection day. Please confine your dog(s) or other pets on collection day (for our crew and your pet’s safety).

Collection schedules vary by neighborhood for both refuse and recycling. Except for collections dates occurring on City holidays, refuse is normally collected on your scheduled day.

Not sure which neighborhood you’re in? Use this handy map to locate your address and learn all about your collection schedule and more!

Refuse Carts

Green refuse (or trash) carts are provided at no cost to all City residents that participate in the City’s refuse collection program. Residents have a choice of a 95-gallon, 65-gallon, or 35-gallon cart.

Need to replace a broken cart? As long as it wasn’t destroyed or became unusable due to negligence (be kind to your carts), the City will replace at no cost to you. Damaged or broken lids can be replaced as well. Keep your carts clean – dirty carts will not be replaced.

Want to upgrade to a larger cart or switch to a smaller one? For this or other refuse cart issues, please contact the City’s Department of Public Works.

What Refuse is Accepted for Collection?

All refuse should be placed inside your cart. This includes garbage like food waste, normal household trash that’s not recyclable, and domestic animal waste contained in plastic bags.

Safe Disposal of Sharp Items

Any items that could be a hazard to the crew member collecting them (like broken glass) needs to be wrapped in paper or an impervious disposable container and labeled with the hazard prior to placing inside the cart. Sharps, needles, syringes must be capped and the syringe placed inside a rigid plastic container (such as laundry detergent bottle or coffee can). Replace the cap on the bottle, tape it closed and write on it Sharps, and place it inside your green refuse cart.

Paint Disposal

Water based (latex) paint cans are collected by the City only if they are empty or if the paint has hardened. To prepare liquid latex paint for collection, add kitty litter or a commercial paint hardener. If your paint is in good condition, check with a home goods re-use store to see if they can accept it.

What Refuse is Not Accepted during regular Collection?

Special trash (furniture, appliances, tires, etc.), yard waste (leaves, grass, brush, logs), and electronics are not considered household refuse and should not go out to the curb on your regular collection day. For these items, see the What are Special Collections Guide.

Not sure what’s recycling versus trash? Check out our handy Recycling Guide. We are a green City, so refuse carts containing recyclable materials will not be collected.

Roof shingles, asphalt, tarpaper, bricks, dirt, rocks, concrete, block, pressurized containers, explosives, paint, poisons, fluorescent light bulbs or tubes, batteries, ammunition, and caustics or hazardous materials are also not accepted.

Used motor oil may be recycled anytime at the Department of Public Works. The designated receptacle is for used motor oil only - please do not dump other automotive fluids in the motor oil receptacle. Dispose of oil and containers in accordance with posted directions.

Hazardous Materials

The City is not permitted to collect hazardous materials.

These items may include batteries (alkaline, car, etc.), ammunition, automotive fluids/fuels, cleaning agents, cooking oil, fluorescent bulbs or tubes, mercury, insecticide/herbicide, fertilizer, oil-based paints, pool chemicals, photographic chemicals, roof shingles, smoke detectors, solvents, sealants, varnishes and stains.

Where can I take these items?
These items (except for construction and demolition debris like shingles) can be taken to the Prince George’s County’s Brown Station Road Sanitary Landfill and its Hazardous Waste Acceptance Subfacility. For hours, location, and more information, please click here.

Shingles, tar paper and other construction or demolition debris can only be taken to Ritchie Landfill located at 2001 Ritchie Marlboro Road in Upper Marlboro. Call 301.350.4053 for hours, proper disposal procedures or more information.