Thanksgiving Holiday Alert
- Thursday, Nov 28th – NO Curbside Collection – WMS Facilities Closed
- Friday, Nov 29th – Curbside Collection Provided to Thursday Customers – WMS Facilities Closed
- Saturday, Nov 30th – Curbside Collection Provided to Friday Customers – WMS Facilities Open
Curbside Collection Delays and Service Disruptions
Households in Pasadena, Severna Park, Odenton, Laurel and Maryland City will experience curbside collection delays and service schedule disruptions.
Holiday Collection Schedule
View the list of holidays in 2024 that will interrupt Curbside Collection.
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Collection Tips
Each material, recycling, yard waste, and trash, is collected by a separate truck. Although the trucks all look similar, recycling and yard waste trucks are marked with recycling symbols.
- The loaded containers cannot weigh more than 40 pounds each so they can be lifted safely.
- Place containers at the curb before 6:00 a.m. on your collection day. Contractors make collections between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
- Indoor trash receptacles should never be used as a curbside trash container.
- Mark all yard waste containers and non-County issued recycling containers with an “X” so the collectors know it’s recycling, not trash. County issued yellow containers need not be marked with “X’s”. Do not place yard waste in a County issued yellow container.
- Containers may be placed at the curb the night before your collection day.
- To find out what day your collections occur:
- ask a neighbor, or
- call our Customer Service Representatives at (410) 222-6100 weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or use our General Services Map Viewer Tool.
- Your material will be collected on your regularly scheduled collection day unless that day falls on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day. In the event your collection day falls on one of these six holidays or we experience inclement weather, your collection will be delayed. For more information on collections interrupted by a holiday, please visit our Holiday Collection page.
- You can recycle most of the paper, plastic, metal, and glass that comes into your home.
- You can put as many containers of recycling at the curb as you need.
- Use containers such as County issued yellow carts, containers or bins. You may also use a reusable container made of metal or rigid plastic, equipped with handles, and marked with an “X” on all sides so the collectors know it’s recycling, not trash.
- All non-County issued containers used for curbside recycling collection must be marked with a large "X" on all sides to ensure proper collection.
- Paper yard waste bags should never be used to contain shredded paper or other household recyclables for curbside collection. Click here for instructions on packing shredded paper.
- Plastic bags and plastic film are no longer accepted in the curbside recycling program. Return clean and dry bags to a local grocery store or County Recycling Center for recycling.
- Polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam, is not accepted for recycling.
- Plastic, glass and metal containers accepted with curbside recycling do not need to be fully cleaned in order to be recycled. However, containers must be empty of all contents.
- Shredded paper is accepted for recycling, but it must be contained inside of a paper bag or envelope and then taped or stapled shut. You can put it with your other curbside recyclables or drop it off at your nearest recycling center.
- Keep your yard and street clean by securing papers and other light weight items inside your recycling cart so they won’t blow around before the recycling truck arrives. For residents using the round open top recycling container, place heavier items on top and don't load the container above the rim.
- Paper products that are saturated with food, liquid (other than water), or other contaminate should not be included with recycling.
- Do not put paper, plastic, metal, and glass recyclables inside of plastic bags. Keep materials loose and unbagged in the same recycling container.
- Place paper, plastic, metal, and glass together in the same recycling container(s).
- Large bulky plastics, such as lawn furniture, buckets, toys, pools, and play-sets can be placed next to your recycling container(s).
- Large, bulky metal items and appliances must be scheduled for collection by calling our Customer Service Representatives at (410) 222-6100 weekdays, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- Yard waste is grass, leaves, tree limbs and branches from your yard. Items not accepted as yard waste include: tree stumps, food waste, bamboo, flower pots or trays, sawdust, dirt, sod, lumber, treated wood, pallets, and gumballs (Sweetgum seed pods).
- You can put as much yard waste at the curb as you need to.
- Tree limbs and branches must be less than 4 feet in length, with a maximum branch diameter of 4 inches.
- Put leaves, brush, branches and grass clippings in biodegradable paper yard waste bags or a reusable container made of metal or rigid plastic, equipped with handles, and marked with an “X” on all sides. Each "X" must be large enough to be visible to the collection crew. This will ensure that they know it is yard waste and not trash.
- Mulch must be placed in rigid containers marked with an "X" on all sides, and weigh 40 pounds or less. DO NOT use biodegradable paper yard waste bags for mulch.
- Do not use plastic bags, reusable fabric bags, or County issued 35, 65, or 95-gallon yellow containers for yard waste. Non-rigid, lightweight containers, including fabric, plastic, collapsible mesh, or similar reusable bags, are not an acceptable container for yard waste for the following reasons:
- Difficult to recognize at the curb as a yard waste container
- Difficult to completely empty; twigs, sticks, small branches, and similar materials tend to become tangled inside them
- Can be mistakenly taken as a trash item
- Difficult to secure once emptied; may be blown away before retrieval
- Paper yard waste bags should never be used to contain shredded paper or other household recyclables for curbside collection. Click here for instructions on packing shredded paper.
- If not containerized, branches must be tied into bundles (not to exceed 4 ft/4" diameter).
- You are limited to 4 containers of trash per week.
- Place trash in bags, tie or seal bags completely, and place sealed bags in a sturdy trash container with handles and a tight fitting lid. Do not put trash inside cardboard boxes. All cardboard is collected as recycling.
- Indoor trash receptacles should never be used as a curbside trash container.
- Paper yard waste bags should never be used to contain trash for curbside collection.
- Large, bulky trash items, such as mattresses, box springs, sofas, and dressers should be placed next to your trash containers or bags.
- Large, bulky metal items and appliances must be scheduled for collection by calling our Customer Service Representatives at (410) 222-6100 weekdays, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- Residential customers can place needles, syringes, lancets and other sharp objects in puncture-proof, hard plastic containers you can't see through. Or use metal containers with lids; reinforced with tape. Lids that screw on tightly are best. Then place the sealed container with your trash --- never in a recycling bin. You may also find instructions on disposing of unwanted sharps and expired and unused medications on the Anne Arundel County Department of Health website.
- The following materials are not collected at your home because of special handling requirements. Please visit Materials Accepted page to determine how to get rid of these materials.
Curbside Collection Notices
Recycling Cart Lid Label
Warning! Items Not Accepted
These items are NOT ACCEPTED at curbside or at any County Facility. Open link to view a list of items not accepted.
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For Communities interested in receiving County provided curbside collection service, please call: