Dear Beyond Recycling Readers,
As the winter months settle in, many of us turn to comforting routines, like baking, watching movies, or curling up with a good book. We enjoy sharing these experiences with our friends and family, like recipes, movie nights, or joining a book club. It’s fitting, then, to reflect on the idea of sharing economies—something as timeless as a library itself. While the term might sound new, the practice is familiar: borrowing items, sharing things, and giving them a longer life in the process. Libraries are just one example, letting us access books and return them so others can enjoy the same stories. Here in Baltimore, we even have tool libraries (Station North Tool Library and Baltimore Community ToolBank), where you can borrow tools for a project and return them when you're done.
Thrift stores are another great example. Clothing and household items that one person no longer needs can find a second life with someone else. Baltimore is home to many options for thrifting, like Goodwill, Savers, the ReStore, and Second Chance. Online platforms like Facebook Marketplace also offer opportunities to find pre-loved items at a fraction of the cost of buying new.
Why make the effort to participate in sharing economies? They keep items in use longer, reducing waste and consumption. But beyond their environmental benefits, sharing economies foster community connections, promote accessibility, and encourage us to rethink the idea that we need to own everything ourselves. By participating, we support a system where resources are shared, opportunities are equalized, and the community thrives.
Office of Waste Diversion
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Help Baltimore Meet Its Recycling Goal – Report Your Recycling Data
Baltimore City is required to report how much recycling is collected each year to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) under the Maryland Recycling Act (MRA). The City’s mandated goal is to recycle at least 35% of its waste.
We’re asking businesses, multi-family buildings, office buildings, and other entities that don’t receive recycling collection from DPW to report their recycling and waste totals (weights) for the year. Your participation helps Baltimore reach its recycling target and gives your facility a better understanding of its waste habits—an important first step in reducing waste.
Please take a moment to complete the Annual Business Recycling Reporting Survey. If you know a business or building that should report items their company has recycled, feel free to share this information with them.
FREE Shred Event Returns This March – Don’t Miss It!
Get ready, Baltimore! DPW’s first Free Shred Event of the year is happening on Saturday, March 29, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Furley Elementary.
✅ Up to two 32-gallon bags of paper documents
❌ No cardboard, plastic, or trash—paper only!
Plus, don’t miss the GROW Center Pop-Up, where you can pick up free trees, mulch, and more!
Mark your calendar and spread the word!
New Look for Food Scrap Drop-Off Bins
 |
|
DPW’s Food Scrap Drop-Off Bins have a fresh new look at our Residential Recycling Centers! The updated bins feature clear information about what can and cannot be accepted, along with a QR code for quick access to additional details. Food scrap drop-off is available at all five Residential Recycling Center locations, making it easier than ever to reduce waste heading to the landfill or incinerator, keep pests out of your trash can, and embrace a zero-waste lifestyle. Visit DPW’s Food Scrap Drop-Off page to learn more. |
Spring is the perfect time to tackle new projects, and a little pre-planning can go a long way toward keeping them zero-waste! Before heading to a big-box store, check out your local tool libraries, thrift stores, and reuse centers for the materials and tools you need. By sourcing secondhand and sharing resources, you’ll save money, reduce waste, and give new life to pre-loved items. |
|
 |
 |
|
It might feel strange to place all your recyclables loose in your blue bin, but that’s the right way to recycle in Baltimore City. Plastic bags and plastic film—including trash bags, grocery bags, Ziploc bags, and plastic wrap—should never go in your curbside recycling. These materials are not accepted for curbside recycling collection. Instead, many local grocery stores accept plastic bags and film for |
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
Bmore Fabric Swap: Wednesday, March 5 from 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. at MICA.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade: Saturday, March 16 at 2 p.m. beginning at the Washington Monument. Parade route and information can be found here.
Jobs
Daylight saving time begins, Sunday, March 9, 2025. Make sure to turn your clocks forward one hour.
For all inquiries, residents should call 311.
|
