Composting, Recycling, New Tree Ordinance, & Tree Plantings
Curbside Food Scrap Composting Coming Soon
Help us divert compostable materials from the landfill-- join the City of College Park's Food Scrap Compost Program! Soon, City residents can opt-in to receive curbside composting pick-up services. By participating, you help reduce excessive methane greenhouse gas emissions, protect our environment, and support the City in reaching its sustainability goals!
New Storm Drain Mural!
The Committee for a Better Environment partners with the College Park Arts Exchange to bring environmental awareness about pollution, specifically what goes down the drain ends up in our waterways. The storm drain murals depict animals and plants that are part of the Anacostia Watershed. More installments are planned for the fall.
The latest installment is in front of 5207 Lackawanna Street, just prior to the North College Park Metro Station. The artwork, titled “Ambiente Anacostia” was painted by artist Alison Lovejoy Spain.
Electronics Recycling
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. Details here.
Keep Grass Clippings off the Street
As you take care of your lawn this season, make sure to not sweep or blow grass and leaves into the street. Lawn clippings and debris that are left in the street wash into storm drains and storm sewers, potentially clogging them, which may result in flooding. Debris that washes into storm sewers is transported through local waterways and eventually to the Chesapeake Bay, threatening aquatic life and drinking water quality.
Instead, you can leave the grass clippings on the lawn to recycle the nutrients or start a compost pile in your backyard (click here for a brochure from the Maryland Department of Agriculture.) You may also place clippings in paper bags or reusable containers for weekly curbside pickup on the same day as your trash and recycling collection.
Soft Yard Waste and Woody Yard Waste
Are you confused about how to separate yard waste and the difference between soft yard waste and woody brush, and why they are collected separately? Soft yard waste and woody brush are processed independently into two different end products; therefore, these materials should be prepared separately for collection and further processing.
• Soft yard waste (grass, leaves, flowers, weeds and soft clippings that are less than ½” in diameter) is picked up year-round on your regularly scheduled collection day.
• Woody yard waste (branches, shrubs, brush, and small logs) is collected year-round on Thursday and Friday by appointment only. Please email publicworks@collegeparkmd.gov or call 240-487-3590 to schedule a collection.
• Paper bags, beige yard waste carts or reusable containers can be used to contain either of these materials set out for collection.
Grasscycling
Grasscycling is the simple practice of letting grass clippings decompose on the lawn after mowing.
- Helps protect the environment by reducing the amount of grass clippings in the landfill.
- Encourages a healthier lawn by returning both macronutrients and micronutrients to the soil in a slow-release form. Can reduce fertilizer use by 25%, saving time, and money and decreasing the amount of runoff into the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
- Eliminates the need to bag or rake grass clippings.
- Does not contribute to thatch buildup or increase turf diseases. Grass clippings are largely composed of water and decompose rapidly. Microbial decomposition of clippings occurs on soils that are maintained at a pH of 6.0 to 6.8.
Click here for more information about lawn care and maintenance from the University of Maryland Extension.
• Woody yard waste (branches, shrubs, brush, and small logs) is collected year-round on Thursday and Friday by appointment only. Please email publicworks@collegeparkmd.gov or call 240-487-3590 to schedule a collection.
Protecting our Tree Canopy
Trees are a vital part of our ecosystem. A majority of the City’s tree canopy is in residential neighborhoods -- this means our residents can make a big difference in helping to maintain our tree canopy!
On May 10, 2022, the City Council approved Ordinance 21-O-09, which will require a permit to remove trees on residential land. Starting July 1, 2022, those who wish to remove or prune a tree must submit an application for a permit. Applications are available online, and in-person at the Department of Public Works. There is no application fee to obtain a permit.
The ordinance was enacted to limit the removal of healthy, mature trees as a measure to maintain the City’s tree canopy. The Tree and Landscape Board and City Council held numerous public meetings and incorporated changes to address many concerns and suggestions from residents.
Residents, property owners, and tree and landscape companies may have many questions about this new permitting process. Visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/trees for a list of FAQs and for the application.
Summer is a Good Time to Plant Trees!
Trees provide many benefits such as reduction of cooling and heating costs, interception of rainwater, increasing property values and improving air quality. The City offers a few ways to help. More information is available at www.collegeparkmd.gov/trees. The City is gauging interest in a potentially new tree planting program for residents. If you are interested in having a tree planted on your property by a contractor, please complete the interest form on the City website in the trees section or click here. When filling out the form, select Tree Planting on residential property or contact horticulturist@collegeparkmd.gov. REQUESTS FOR STREET TREES: The City has a program that provides for street tree planting in the right-of-way area, which includes the grass strip between the curb and sidewalk. College Park residents interested in requesting a tree can contact Brenda Alexander at 240-487-3590 or balexander@collegeparkmd.gov. The location will be inspected to determine if it is suitable. TREE CANOPY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (TCEP): City of College Park property owners can apply for reimbursement of up to $150.00 annually, for approved tree(s) planted on their residential lot. The completed application should be sent to horticulturist@collegeparkmd.gov for review and approval. Click here for a link to the guidelines and application. TREE MAINTENANCE The City is responsible for tree maintenance in the rights-of-way, City maintained buildings and parks, and on public property. Trees on private property are the responsibility of the property owner.