New Castle County, DE Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

New Castle County's Property Maintenance Code requires every dwelling occupant to keep rubbish, garbage and recycling in a clean, sanitary manner by placing it in approved leakproof, covered containers made for outside storage. The dwelling owner, not the tenant, is responsible for providing those containers. Rental property owners must also ensure tenants have regular removal service and document that in writing under Chapter 19. Violations run up to $100 per day under the Department of Land Use's civil penalty schedule. The code applies in unincorporated New Castle County and in any incorporated municipality that opts to have the County provide property maintenance enforcement; Wilmington and Newark run their own property codes and are not covered here.