Bowie, MD Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)

Section 10-3A of the Bowie City Code sets the container standard for curbside refuse pickup: containers must be provided by the property owner or occupant, hold between 10 and 32 gallons, be made of metal or plastic with handles, stay sanitary and in good condition, weigh no more than 50 pounds when filled, and be covered at all times. Loose refuse itself must go inside plastic bags that are tightly tied or otherwise sealed before being placed in the container, and the container's lid must fit tightly.

Section 10-3C carves out an exception for larger containers: residents may use a 48-to-64-gallon can instead of the standard 10-to-32-gallon size if it has a metal bar across the center rear that lets crews lift it mechanically, which covers the wheeled carts many households now use. Definitions in § 10-3D and § 10-3E separate what counts as ordinary 'refuse,' meaning food waste and items that attract animals or vermin including wrapped diapers, from 'household trash,' the broader category covering bulk items, furniture and waste building material that the City collects separately from routine refuse.

Waste building material placed out with household trash must go in contractor bags or trash receptacles under 50 pounds each per § 10-3F. Public Works enforces the container standards, and noncompliant set-outs that scatter refuse can also trigger the littering provisions of § 10-2 and a Chapter 1 municipal infraction citation.