Dear Beyond Recycling Readers,
Happy New Year! To kick off 2025, the Office of Waste Diversion is taking a moment to reflect on the impactful work and significant progress we made in 2024. We’re starting strong in the new year with a quick refresher on proper recycling practices and how to prevent contamination. When you, your neighbors, and communities understand what is and isn’t acceptable in your curbside bin, the entire system operates more efficiently and can contribute to a clean and useful recycling stream. Use the Recycle Right tool on the DPW website to easily check if your items are accepted at the curb, at a Residential Recycling Center, or need to go in the trash.
In addition to curbside recycling, Baltimore City offers convenient options for handling hard-to-recycle materials. Items like electronics, mattresses, box springs, food scraps, scrap metal, motor oil, hard plastics, tires, textiles, and household hazardous waste can be brought to one of our Residential Recycling Centers. Visit the DPW website to learn more about what is accepted onsite and where these centers are located.
If you are a resident in a single-family home and don’t have a blue recycling cart, you can request one by calling 311. If you’re facing challenges recycling, we want to hear from you! Share your feedback with us at recycling@baltimorecity.gov.
Let’s work together to ensure a cleaner, greener Baltimore by starting the year off practicing responsible and effective recycling practices.
Thank you for your continued commitment to sustainability!
The Office of Waste Diversion
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Happy New Year from the Waste Diversion Team
We want to take a moment to thank you for your incredible efforts in 2024. Every small action—from composting food scraps to choosing reusable items—has brought Baltimore City closer to a zero-waste future. We’re thrilled to continue this journey together in the year ahead.
In 2025, we’re excited to bring you more opportunities to reduce waste through events, workshops, and new programs. Keep an eye out for announcements and join us in making this year even more impactful. Thank you for all you do, and here’s to a hopeful and sustainable year ahead!
Skip the Straw Day – Feb. 28
Join us on Feb. 28 for Skip the Straw Day and make a small change with a big impact. Single-use plastic straws contribute to plastic pollution that harms wildlife and clogs our waterways. Skipping the straw is easier than you think and can help protect the planet. Here’s how:
- Go straw-free: Sip directly from your cup or glass—it’s simple and waste-free!
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Choose reusable options: Invest in a metal, silicone, or bamboo straw to carry with you.
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Say no to straws at restaurants: Let servers know you don’t need one when ordering.
Making these adjustments can reduce waste and inspire others to join in. Together, we can skip the straw and keep our environment cleaner!
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4MyCiTy: Advancing Food Diversion in Baltimore
The Office of Waste Diversion recently attended an inspiring event hosted by4MyCiTy, an organization founded in 2018 to tackle food insecurity in Baltimore. The innovative food rescue program that the organization started a few years ago redistributes food to families in need. Partnering with large distributors like Walmart and Amazon, 4MyCiTy rescues food that would otherwise be discarded due to short shelf lives, providing families with a daily average of $150 worth of groceries—completely free.
4MyCiTy’s impact is profound, having rescued and distributed over 260 million pounds of food to date. Families visiting the facility bring their own bags, but compostable bags are also available. For those unable to travel, a delivery program ensures access to fresh, rescued food. During the holiday season, they go even further by hosting a special giveaway, distributing 25,000 toys and holiday sacks filled with pencils, erasers, candy, and other treats to families with children. 4MyCiTy is volunteer-powered, with a team of bilingual youth ranging in ages between 16-23 that manage the facility. Their efforts exemplify how community-driven initiatives can combat waste and feed the hungry, all while building a sustainable future.
Refillable and Homemade Cleaning Supplies
Switching to refillable or homemade cleaning supplies is an easy way to cut down on waste and save money. Do It Yourself DIY) cleaners, like a simple mix of vinegar, water, and essential oils, are effective, eco-friendly, and made with ingredients you likely already have at home. If DIY isn’t your style, consider purchasing concentrated cleaners that you can dilute and store in reusable containers. These options help packaging waste and keep single-use plastic out of the landfill.
DPW is offering free Christmas tree mulching services to Baltimore City residents Thursday, Dec. 26, 2025, through Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. Residents must bring their trees to the Sisson Street Residential Recycling Center from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Before mulching, please ensure that all ornaments, tinsel, and other decoration have been removed from your tree. Residents should bring bags or containers to collect mulch for their own personal use. You are not required to bring in a Christmas tree to receive free mulch.
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Do you have an upcoming sustainable event that you'd like to showcase? Share the details with us at recycling@baltimorecity.gov, and we'll feature it in our newsletter!
Events
Jobs
Job Opportunities with the Department of Public Works
Job Opportunities with Baltimore City Recreation and Parks
Job Opportunities with the State of Maryland
Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, is a City holiday. DPW offices and sanitation yards will be CLOSED.
Trash and recycling collections are NOT impacted by the Presidents Day closure. Monday is not a scheduled curbside trash or recycling collection day.
For all inquiries, residents should call 311.
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