Trash & Recycling in Baltimore County, MD (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Baltimore County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Baltimore County collects trash and recycling once a week each, on an address-specific day. Find yours at baltimorecountymd.gov/collectionschedule or by calling 410-887-2000. On seven observed holidays, collection slides one day later for the rest of that week.
Baltimore County Trash Pickup Schedule & Rules
Some RestrictionsBaltimore 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.
Bin Placement Rules
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: Set-Out Timing and Container Placement
Some RestrictionsBaltimore 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.
Bulk Item Disposal
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: Bulk Item Collection Program
Few RestrictionsBaltimore 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.
Recycling Requirements
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: Single-Stream Recycling Requirements
Some RestrictionsBaltimore 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).
Illegal Dumping
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: Illegal Dumping Prohibited
Heavy RestrictionsBaltimore County Code § 13-4-105(a)
Except as authorized by state law, a person may not throw, cast, or deposit any dead carcass or parts of a dead carcass, dead fish, offal of any kind, garbage, or any excrement or filth from vaults or privies 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.(b)Private property. A person may ...
Dumpster Rules
In Baltimore County's Service Employment (S-E) Zone, commercial dumpster pads must sit at least 75 feet from any residential or R-O zone line and be screened with a six-foot opaque fence, wall or berm plus plantings, per BCZR Section 210.4.D.
Baltimore County: Commercial Dumpster Setback and Screening
Some RestrictionsBaltimore County Zoning Regulations (BCZR) § 210.4.D
D.Any parking space, loading space, aisle or driveway used by a commercial vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or more, and any dumpster space, must be located at least 75 feet from any residential or R-O Zone line. Truck loading and dumpster spaces shall be placed to the rear of the building, internal to the site. If not totally screened by other buildings which are part of th...
Recycling Rules
Baltimore County requires residents in its recycling program to separate recyclables from trash at the curb under regulations tied to the county solid waste plan, and everything set out becomes county property the moment it's placed. Taking recyclables from a curb without authorization is a misdemeanor enforced under County Code Section 17-1-112.
Baltimore County Curbside Recycling Rules
Some RestrictionsBaltimore County Code Section 13-4-213; Section 17-1-112
(a)Authority to adopt regulations. The county may adopt regulations for the purpose of promoting the recycling of solid waste.(b)Content of the regulations. The regulations shall:(1)Require residents designated by the county to separate certain recyclable materials from their solid waste at the collection point in accordance with provisions of the county solid waste recycling plan;(2)Prohibit t...
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