Recycling, Food Scraps, & Special Trash Collection

Recycling

Nearly half of all aluminum and steel cans aren’t being recycled. We CAN do better. #YesWeCanRecycle

Recycling Tip: Keep that plastic bag out of the cart - take it back to the store. No ponga en bolsas el reciclaje. #WednesdayWisdom

Electronics Drop-Off Location

City of College Park residents can bring electronics for recycling to the drop off box near the entrance of the front doors to Davis Hall. No more than 3 items can be disposed of at no cost.

  • Acceptable: TVs, monitors, mouse pointers, keyboards, microwaves, gaming systems, computers, hard drives, cell phones, printers, laptops, surge protectors, copiers, fax machines, telephone systems, cable, circuit boards, and toner cartridges.
  • Unacceptable: Light bulbs (CFL or Tubes) or batteries of any kind.

Drop off your Food Scraps!

Conserving Resources According to the EPA, reducing wasted food does great things for the environment, such as: • Reduce Methane from Landfills – When food goes to the landfill, it’s similar to tying food in a plastic bag. The nutrients in the food never return to the soil. The wasted food rots and produces methane gas. • Save Resources – Wasted food wastes the water, gasoline, energy, labor, pesticides, land, and fertilizers used to make the food. When we throw food in the trash, we’re throwing away much more than food. • Return Nutrients to the Soil – If you can’t prevent, reduce or donate wasted food, you can compost. By sending food scraps to a composting facility instead of to a landfill or composting at home, you’re helping make healthy soils. Adding compost to gardens, highway construction sites, and poor soils makes great things happen. Properly composted organics (wasted food and yard waste) improve soil health and structure, improve water retention, support more native plants, and reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides.

What can residents do?

The City of College Park encourages all residents to take part in the food scrap drop off program.

Instead of putting food scraps in the trash, City residents can drop them off for FREE at the following locations:

  • Public Works, 9217 51st Avenue, College Park available 24/7
  • Old Town Playground/Community Garden (7504 Columbia Ave.) – available 24/7. Location is in the southern part of the City, near the corner of Norwich Road and Columbia Avenue, just north of the Old Town Playground.
  • North College Park Farmers’ Market (9801 Rhode Island Avenue) – seasonally through November

Five-gallon food scrap buckets are still available at Public Works. Pick up during regular business hours (Mon-Fri 7:30 am to 4:00 pm). The buckets are useful to transport collected food scraps to the drop off location.

Acceptable items: fruit and vegetable scraps; coffee grounds and tea leaves; dry goods - breads, pasta, nuts, rice and grains; dairy products, eggs and egg shells; meat, fish, poultry and bones – cooked or uncooked; compostable products; food soiled paper products – greasy pizza boxes, napkins, paper towels, coffee filters, and tea bags.

Please DO NOT include plastic products of any kind, pet or human waste, diapers, clam or oyster shells, grease or fats, or ash from wood or charcoal.

Changes to Bulk Trash Collection Started July 1, 2021

In May 2020, the Mayor and Council passed Ordinance 20-O-02, to amend City Code Chapter 119, “Refuse, Solid Waste and Special Trash” and Chapter 110, “Fees and Penalties.” It changes how bulky trash is collected, sets fees for collections of an excess number of items, and sets penalties for violations. The changes go into effect on July 1, 2021.

This Ordinance made changes to bulk trash collection and includes the following provisions:

  • For a single-family, owner-occupied residence: Up to four (4) bulky refuse collections per calendar year, with a maximum total of 20 bulky refuse items, will be free of charge to the resident.
  • For a single-family rental property that pays for City trash services: Up to four (4) bulky refuse collections per calendar year, with a maximum total of 29 bulky refuse items, will be free of charge.
  • For quantities and/or frequency more than stated above, a $20 collection fee per item over the allowable number of items will be imposed. A waiver may be available for a major extenuating circumstance on a limited basis.

Bulky trash includes items such as furniture, carpet, lumber, fencing, mattresses, etc. All bulky trash collections must be scheduled in advance and the caller must identify the quantity and type of items when scheduling a collection.

Bulky refuse items must be set out neatly for collection and separated by type. Department of Public Works staff will provide guidance when you make your appointment.

What is Bulk Trash & Special Trash?

The City collects four different types of special trash by appointment on Thursdays and Fridays. Different trucks are assigned to each category. Please source separate items into:

  • Bulk Trash: furniture, carpet, large bulky items, lumber with nails bent, fencing, etc. Mattresses and box springs MUST be wrapped in plastic to be collected. All material must be less than five (5) feet long and weigh less than 75 lbs.
  • Appliances & Metals: Appliances include stoves, air conditioners, refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, hot water heaters and ovens and have a $20 fee per item for collection. Metals include bikes, grills, file cabinets and radiators.
  • Electronics for Recycling: computers, printers, keyboards, microwaves, modems, gaming consoles, etc. TVs and Monitors have a $20 fee per item.
  • Brush, Branches, and Logs: All woody material must be bundled and tied in bunches no longer than four (4) feet in length, up to two (2) feet in diameter and no more than 50 lbs. Or material can also be placed in City approved containers or bags. Individual branches cannot be wider than four (4) inches in diameter while logs must be cut into 12 inch lengths that are no more than 12 inches in diameter (a maximum of 25 logs will be collected per pickup).