(adopted August 1, 1991, in accordance with Baltimore County Bill 88-90)
(modified March 28, 1991, 1993; June 16, 1994)
Household refuse, including garbage (food wastes) and household trash (paper, glass, plastic and metal food packaging material), has been historically collected by Baltimore County authorized collectors twice per week in all sections of Baltimore County. Refuse collection is offered to all residential units, which includes single family houses, townhouses, rowhouses, condominiums, and apartments as well as select charitable and institutional organizations. Refuse collection is not offered and is not available to commercial or industrial establishments, including, but not limited to, trailer parks, offices, businesses, stores and factories.
In order to comply with the State of Maryland's regulations requiring recycling and with Baltimore County's goals to minimize landfilling and maximize recycling, the County Code authorizes the enactment of regulations for the purpose of promoting the recycling of solid waste. As a result, the County has begun initiating a one and one program for all single family houses and townhouses in accordance with provisions of Baltimore County's Solid Waste Recycling Plan. This program includes trash collection one day per week, with one recyclable pick-up per week. Certain areas of the County will have a supplemental bi-weekly collection of grass and leaves during certain periods. After this one and one collection program is initiated County-wide for single family houses and townhouses by July 1, 1995, it will be expanded to multi-family dwelling units. Recyclable materials which are separated for collection in accordance with provisions of the Plan will become the property of Baltimore County. In order to make recycling feasible, the County reserves the right to modify the collection schedule when necessary.
Recognizing the need to develop an integrated solid waste management program to meet existing and future State and Federal mandates, and reduce the solid waste stream through recycling, the Bureau of Solid Waste Management may elect to add to, delete from, or revise the specifications contained herein as is necessary and appropriate. Detailed information on the one and one program will be developed by the Bureau of Solid Waste Management and disseminated to all those units receiving that service.
Baltimore County prohibits the collection of any refuse, included but not limited to, source separated recyclable materials which are separated for collection in accordance with provisions of the County's Solid Waste Recycling Plan, by any person, except employees of the County engaged in public work, or private companies authorized by the County. All such private companies shall be required to obtain a permit from the County Department of Permits and Licenses and shall comply with the provisions of such permit. Permits shall be renewed at the end of each calendar year. Baltimore County does permit the collection, transport and processing of materials for recycling purposes by charitable, nonprofit and civic organizations. All such organizations will be required to report information concerning their recycling activities to the County. Such information will include types of recyclables, weight by type, date of disposition, and any other information which may be required by State or Federal regulations.
If a dwelling unit still has twice per week collection of refuse and its regular collection day falls on one of the following six holidays, refuse will not be picked up until the next scheduled collection day:
New Years Day
Memorial Day
4th of July
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
On the other hand, if a dwelling units is in the one and one recycling program, then refuse will be picked up on the immediate following work day.
At the option of the County, collection days may be cancelled due to certain circumstances e.g., storm and weather emergencies, equipment failure, mechanical breakdown, collection and/or disposal problems, or major operational problems. In such circumstances, refuse will be collected on the next scheduled collection day if there are two pick-ups per week; otherwise, on the next work day if the unit participates in the one and one program.
A watertight, rodent resistant, sturdy outdoor container equipped with handles and a tight fitting cover is required for storage of household garbage and trash. Lids should fit snugly, but must not be secured or fastened to container with rope, wire, chains, springs, or by any other means. Metal containers are recommended over plastic containers.
Containers are limited to a filled weight of 50 pounds and must not have a capacity greater than 32 gallons. Residents must remove containers from pull carts. Containers with wheels are not acceptable due to difficulty in handling. Refuse must not be placed in bags or containers associated with medical or hazardous wastes (e.g., red or yellow) or associated with recycling (e.g., blue).
Acceptable containers for recyclables will be specified whenever a curbside collection program is instituted in any area.
For apartments and multi-family housing units, alternate container specifications, e.g., dumpsters, may be acceptable based upon approval of the County and the authorized refuse collector.
Containers must be placed at the location designated by Baltimore County for collection.
In areas where the County has designated the curb as the location for collection, residents must place their containers at the curb unless, as in the case of some townhouses and condominiums, the County designates a station or central pick-up point.
In areas where the County has designated the alley as the location for collection, residents must place their containers in accordance with the following rules:
1. If there is no fence between the resident's lot and the alley, containers must be placed within 5 feet of the alley.
2. If there is a fence between the resident's lot and the alley, containers must be placed outside of the fence or in an open gateway.
3. If the lot includes a terrace, containers must be placed at the bottom step.
It is recommended that refuse be set out the evening prior to collection due to different starting hours for collection routes. This will help to ensure that residents do not miss their collection time in the morning.
Unless otherwise stipulated, collection of recyclables will be from the same location as refuse collection.
Collection locations for apartments and multi-family housing units shall also be determined by the County.
If for any reason, including, but not limited to, parked vehicles, road construction, low wires, or tree branches, a portion of the collection route (e.g., alleys, streets, and roadways) is inaccessible to the collection truck, then the refuse will not be removed until the next scheduled collection day in which the truck can travel through that portion of that collection route.
If the obstruction is due to problems caused or created by the residents, e.g., low tree branches for which the residents are responsible, and it is not removed, then the Bureau at its sole option may elect to alter the container placement, e.g., shifting from the alley to front street pick-up or designating another location for the containers.
The collectors shall be required to clean the area of a spill only when spillage occurs during their handling of materials which have been set out in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Certain bulk refuse items, such as furniture, appliances (e.g., washers, dryers, refrigerators, stoves, hot water heaters) and mattresses, will not be collected by the regular refuse collector. See regulations and procedures for arranging for Bulk Refuse Collection or call the Bureau of Solid Waste Management at 410-887-2000 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Certain types of refuse, such as packing boxes and lawn and garden trimmings, may be collected by the regular refuse collector, but must be specially prepared. The following regulations are to be used in preparation of these types of refuse:
1. Shrubs, tree trimmings, hedge cuttings and similar light-weight refuse must be broken up and tied in bundles each no more than 3 feet long and no more than 30 pounds in weight. In addition, tree limbs must not exceed 2 inches in diameter. Limit is 5 bundles per collection day.
2. Grass cuttings and leaves must be placed in plastic bags with a maximum 30 gallons capacity and with a maximum weight of 30 pounds each. Bags must be securely fastened. Lawn debris shall not be placed in refuse cans. If a unit is being serviced by a special bi-weekly collection, then grass and leaves shall only be placed out when there is the special collection. If a unit is not in the one and one program, then a maximum of 5 bags per collection day may be set out; however, if a unit has one and one collection with a special bi-weekly collection of grass and leaves, there is no limit to the number of bags of grass and leaves which may be placed out for collection.
3. Newspapers, magazines and flattened cardboard must be tied with string in bundles with a maximum weight of 30 pounds each and a maximum length of 3 feet, and shall be set out for the special bi-weekly paper collection if the unit has one and one collection, otherwise, no more than 5 bundles per collection day.
4. Glass items, including, but not limited to mirrors, window panes, fluorescent light tubes and broken glass, must be completely and securely wrapped in paper to prevent protruding edges and flying pieces. The word " Glass" must be written on each package.
5. Animal waste must be wrapped in paper and put in bags before being placed in a container or plastic bag for collection.
6. Unwanted refuse containers will be removed if a note is attached requesting same.
The following types of items are not collected by either the refuse collector or by Bulk Refuse Service: dirt, stone, sod, construction and/or demolition material, large tree branches, stumps, coals, ashes dead animals, vehicle parts, etc. Vehicle parts should be directed to an authorized junk yard. For removal of dead animals, residents should contact the County Bureau of Animal Control at 887-5961. The rest of these items (including a maximum of 4 tires no larger than 16" in diameter), if they comply with the appropriate regulations, may be hauled to a County disposal area (e.g., Eastern Sanitary Landfill, Days Cove Road, off 11400 block Pulaski Highway, White Marsh; Baltimore County Resource Facility, Recycle Way, off 10400 block York Road, Cockeysville; Western Acceptance Facility, Transway Road, off 4500 block Hollins Ferry Road, Halethorpe). The Eastern Sanitary Landfill is open from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., whereas the other two sites are open from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information, see the Regulation for the disposal area in question.
Certain other materials are also not collected. These materials include, but are not limited to, the following: firearms, ammunition and other explosives, poisons, acids, caustics, petroleum products (including drained oil), liquid paint products, other liquids, and hazardous wastes. For information concerning disposal of these items, residents should contact the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management at 887-3745.
The Bureau of Solid Waste Management may add to, delete from, or revise the list of materials not collected as it deems appropriate.
Additional quantities of bagged leaves may be collected at select times during the year on a schedule established by Baltimore County. For example, the regular refuse collector, if there is not bi-weekly collection of grass and leaves, may collect up to 10 bags on each collection day. Leaves must be placed in plastic bags with a maximum capacity of 30 gallons. Bags must not be of a color associated with medical or hazardous wastes (e.g., red or yellow) or associated with recycling (e.g., blue). Bags of leaves must be placed at the location designated by Baltimore County for refuse collection. Special collection of more than 10 bags of leaves may be per a schedule and procedures announced by the Bureau of Solid Waste Management.
Another seasonal collection may be Christmas trees which would be collected on a schedule and in accordance with procedures announced by Baltimore County.
Either leaf or Christmas tree collection may be cancelled during certain circumstances, e.g., storm and weather emergencies, equipment failure, mechanical breakdown, collection and/or disposal problems or major operational problems.
Questions on this Regulation and rules contained herein may be directed to the Bureau of Solid Waste Management at 887-2000 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Article IV, Section 13 of the Baltimore County Code (as amended) authorizes the Bureau of Solid Waste Management to develop guidelines for the collection of residential refuse to meet current and future State and Federal mandates. Such guidelines may include requirements as to size and type of refuse container, size of bundles, maximum weights of filled refuse containers, separation of recyclables, recycling reporting information and other such provisions to ensure an integrated solid waste management program.
Revised June 17, 2009
Courthouse 