5 rules for unincorporated Baltimore County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Baltimore County's Bureau of Solid Waste Management provides once-a-week trash and once-a-week single-stream recycling collection to all single-family homes and town homes, using private collectors authorized and supervised by the County. Some areas get a second weekly trash collection.
Baltimore County Residential Trash & Recycling Collection Regulation (Bill 88-90)
Private collectors, authorized and supervised by Baltimore County Government, provide once a week trash, once a week recycling collection, to all single-family homes and town homes located within Baltimore County boundaries on County and State maintained roads, County-designated alleys, and other areas as determined by the housing development.
Baltimore County trash and recycling must be set out the evening before collection, but set-outs before 6 p.m. the evening before are prohibited. Containers go at the curb in front of your property, or within 5 feet of the alley where alley collection is designated.
Baltimore County Residential Trash & Recycling Collection Regulation (Trash Container Placement)
Due to varying pickup times, to ensure collection, trash should be set out the evening prior to the scheduled collection day. However, to promote residential appearances, and deter rodents, trash set-outs prior to 6 p.m. the evening before collection are prohibited.
Baltimore County provides at least one bulk collection per year to each single-family home and town home, with a limit of three bulk items per collection. Residents may also self-haul bulk items to a County drop-off facility (up to six free trips per year).
Baltimore County Residential Trash & Recycling Collection Regulation (Bulk Items)
Each single-family home and town home located within Baltimore County boundaries will receive at least one (1) bulk collection per year, with a limit of three (3) bulk items per collection. … No items over 8 feet in length will be accepted in the County's residential bulk collection program.
Baltimore County collects mixed paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, and glass together as single-stream recycling. Recyclables must not be set out in plastic bags of any type or color, which would jam the sorting facility; set-outs are limited to sturdy containers no over 45 gallons/45 pounds.
Baltimore County Residential Trash & Recycling Collection Regulation (Single Stream Recycling)
Recyclables must not be set out for recycling collection in plastic bags of any type or color (ban on plastic bags needed to prevent processing complications at the "single stream" recycling sorting facility).
Baltimore County prohibits open dumps on any land and bars depositing garbage, filth, or solid waste on any highway, alley, lot, or waterway (County Code Sections 13-4-104 and 13-4-105). Maryland's Litter Control Law adds criminal penalties up to $1,500 for smaller dumps.
Baltimore County Code § 13-4-105(a)
Except as authorized by state law, a person may not throw, cast, or deposit any dead carcass … garbage, or any excrement or filth … or any other solid waste into or on any highway, byway, or alley, lot or tract of land in the county, or any groundwaters or surface waters of the county.
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