recycling collection Schedule

All recycling carts need to be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day or 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, recycling 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!

Recycling Carts

Blue recycling carts are provided at no cost to all City residents that participate in the City’s recycling 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 recycling cart issues, please contact the City’s Department of Public Works.

What is Accepted & not accepted for curbside Recycling Collection?

	Accepted Recycling Items	Not Accepted Recycling Items
GLASS	Glass jars and bottles for food and beverage items (beverage bottles, jars for jam, olives, pasta sauce)	Broken glass Baking and cooking dishes (Pyrex, casserole dishes, mixing bowls) Ceramic mugs and drinking glasses Light bulbs Windowpanes and mirrors
metal	Aluminum foil (clean) Aluminum, bimetal, ferrous, steel food and beverage containers (soda, soup, pet food, etc.) Empty aerosol cans Single use aluminum baking pans (clean)	Auto parts Containers from gasoline, oil, herbicide or pesticide Loose metal: clothes hangers, hardware, paper clips, etc. Pots and pans Pressurized tanks (propane, helium)
paper	All paper Milk and juice cartons Cardboard boxes (broken down/flattened) Frozen food packaging Hard and soft-covered books Paper bags and wrapping paper (non-metallic) Magazines, catalogs and phone books Newspapers with inserts Paper board (cereal boxes) Shredded paper (must be in a sealed/stapled paper bag) Cut cardboard down to fit in your cart, or tie with string and stack neatly next to your cart.	Carbon copy paper Overly greasy pizza boxes Laminated paper Metallic gift wrap Napkins, tissues or paper towels Photographic paper Loose shredded paper Wax paper Do not include any paper that has been contaminated by grease or food.
plastic	Containers with numbers 1, 2, 5 and 7 Drinking cups/glasses Flower pots Take out/clamshell containers Narrow neck containers Wide mouth containers (peanut butter, yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, whipped topping, margarine/butter tubs and prescription bottles)	Plastic bags, film, cling wrap and bubble wrap Candy wrappers, chip or snack bags Cutlery and utensils Hazardous containers (paint, herbicides, pesticides, poison or motor oil bottles) Six pack rings Polystyrene/Styrofoam (packing material, foam cups, plates, and takeout containers)

RECYCLING TIPS

Clean and rinse out your food containers – too much food contamination or food scraps can contaminate the entire load of recycling causing it all to go to the landfill. If that pizza box is looking a bit too greasy, then it’s best to throw it out.

Caps, lids, tabs, and labels can be left on or removed. Place recyclables loosely in your blue recycling cart.

No electronics.

Plastic bags from grocery stores cannot be accepted in the curbside recycling program as they get caught and damage the recycling facility. However, these shopping bags can be recycled at grocery stores (like MOMs, Shoppers or Giant). Your recycling will not be accepted if plastic shopping bags are found in your carts.

Cars & Vehicles
Cars and other vehicles (boats, motorcycles, RVs) can be recycled! Plus they don’t need to be in running condition either. For details including charities that will take them, please visit the MD Motor Vehicle Administration’s page here.

Batteries (single-use & rechargable)
Household batteries can be recycled at MOMs Organic Market, Home Depot and IKEA in College Park. The Prince George’s County Brown Station Landfill Hazardous Waste Facility also accepts single-use batteries to recycle.

Car Batteries
Some auto-parts stores will provide free recycling when you buy a replacement battery. Car batteries can also be recycled at the Prince George’s County Brown Station Landfill Hazardous Waste Facility.

Books (in good condition)
Various charities, including the College Park Community Library will accept books (paperback and hardcover) in good condition.

Construction & Building Materials
Lumber and trim, bricks, masonry materials, cabinets, doors, tiles, tools, hardware and more can be taken to Community Forklift and Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Clothing & Household Goods
Clothing, bedding and linens, kitchenware, small appliances, bicycles, books, toys, furniture and more can be donated and later reused. A GreenDrop store and Planet Aid bins are located throughout the City. Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America and other charitable organizations also accept donations.

Eyeglasses
Eyeglasses can be recycled through the Lions Club Recycle for Sight program at MOMs Organic Market and there is a drop off box in the lobby of City Hall.

Lights
Compact fluorescent lights can be dropped off at Home Depot, Lowe’s and IKEA. Christmas Lights can be taken to MOMs Organic Market. Fluorescent light tubes must be taken to the Prince George’s County Brown Station Landfill Hazardous Waste Facility.

Medicine (unused or expired)
Bring all unused, expired or unwanted medicines to the College Park State Police Barrack Q at 10100 Rhode Island Avenue in College Park (call 301.345.3101 with any questions). The University of Maryland’s Police Department has occasional medicine drop off dates, please visit their website for more information.

Metal Clothes Hangers
These hangers can be dropped off at ZIPS Dry Cleaners.

Pet Food & Supplies
Canned or dry pet food, and pet gear (carriers, crates, toys, towels, leashes, etc.) in good condition may be taken to City Hall or Davis Hall for use by the City’s Animal Control.

Plastic Bags
Clean and dry plastic grocery bags, plastic wrap, bubble wrap and dry cleaning bags can be taken to local grocery stores, Target and IKEA for recycling.

Printer Ink Cartridges
Inkjet printers and toner cartridges can be taken to Best Buy, MOMs Organic Market, Staples and Target for recycling.

Styrofoam & Packaging
Packaging materials including Styrofoam peanuts and bubble wrap can be taken to UPS stores.

Block Styrofoam from packaging or coolers are accepted at Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers - they have a large bin for drop offs.

TerraCycle
MOMs Organic Market has a recycling area that accepts cork, Brita filters, health and beauty packaging and other non-recyclable, or difficult-to-recycle waste like energy bar wrappers, drink pouches, snack bags and squeeze pouches.

FYI

Did you know, if you’re hosting a special event or function the City can loan blue recycling carts to use at the event? The Department of Public Works will coordinate pickup and drop-off of the containers and recyclables following the event. Contact the Department of Public Works for more information.

The City offers Behind the House Pickups for refuse and recycling collections to households where no one is physically able to move the carts to and from the curb. A completed application and doctors note must be filed with the City’s Department of Public Works. Contact the Department for further information.

Still not understanding how to recycle in the City? Contact the City’s Sustainability Coordinator for help, tips or tutorials!

recycling collection Schedule

Neighborhood Schedule

Recycling Carts

Recycling in the City

What is Accepted & not accepted for curbside Recycling Collection?

Accepted Recycling Items

Not Accepted Recycling Items

GLASS

metal

paper

plastic

RECYCLING TIPS

Other Recycling and Reuse Opportunities

FYI

America recycles day