News & Information from the Department of Public Works
Smartleaf® Compost for sale
Smartleaf® compost is available! Purchase and pick up material at the Department of Public Works (9217 51st Avenue, College Park) Monday-Friday 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Delivery is available through October for an additional fee. Click here to schedule a delivery.
Material can be loaded into open-bed pickup trucks or trailers. Don't have a truck? Bring a shovel and your own containers (bins, buckets, bags, etc.), and be prepared to load your containers yourself. We sell in 1/4 cubic yard increments.
- · ¼ cubic yard is approximately 50 gallons (10 five-gallon buckets, or 3 paper yard waste bags filled half full)
- ½ cubic yard is approximately 100 gallons (20 five-gallon buckets, or 6 paper yard waste bags filled half full)
For more information on compost click here, or for further questions call 240-487-3593.
Styrofoam Recycling
A drop-off container is at the entrance to Public Works for block Styrofoam recycling. Only block Styrofoam is accepted. No peanuts, cups, plates, or egg cartons are accepted.
Items Available for Purchase
The following items are on display and are available to purchase and pick up Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at Davis Hall - 9217 51st Avenue, College Park. For more information call 301-487-3590 or email publicworks@collegeparkmd.gov. Click below for more information:
- Rain Barrels - $81.25
- Yard Waste Carts - $30 for City residents
- Backyard Compost Bins - $20 for City residents and $40 for non-residents
- Smartleaf Compost is $28.00 per cubic yard. Learn more here.
Recycling Basics
Curbside Leaf Collection Begins in November
Curbside leaf collection will begin on November 6 (weather permitting). Look for signs posted in your neighborhood for collection dates.
Until then, residents should continue to set out soft yard waste (grass, leaves and soft vegetative waste) on regularly scheduled refuse and recycling collection days. You may use the beige yard waste cart which is available for purchase, paper yard waste bags, or your own reusable containers with a yellow yard waste sticker attached (stickers are available for free at Public Works). Please do not use the city-issued green refuse or blue recycling carts for yard waste or it will not be collected.
Litter & Waste
LITTER FACT: Of the nearly 50 billion items of litter in the US, 88% are cigarette butts. These small pieces of litter can be easily ingested by animals and can cause devastating effects on animal life!
Yard Waste Preparation
Not sure how to properly sort soft and woody yard waste? Learn what the two types of yard waste are, plus when they are collected and how to schedule an appointment by visiting www.collegeparkmd.gov/yardwaste.
Curbside Food Scrap Collection
This new voluntary program will divert organic materials, that are not waste, out of our landfill and will reduce harmful greenhouse gases emitted from organic decomposition in landfills, which contributes to climate change. If your household currently receives curbside trash and recycling collection within the City of College Park, then you are eligible to participate in the new program; residential collections only.
Ongoing registrations accepted. Sign up online at www.collegeparkmd.gov/CurbsideCollectionApp
Bulk Trash & Special Collections
To learn more about Bulk Trash and Special Collections, including accepted or prohibited items, requirements, fees (if applicable), and more, please visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/specialcollections.
The new fiscal year began July 1, resetting the count for everyone.
To schedule a pick-up, please call the Department of Public Works at 240-487-3590 or email publicworks@collegeparkmd.gov.
City Tree Programs
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 including tree planting programs, reimbursement for owners via the Tree Canopy Enhancement Program, and more.
Visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/trees for details on these programs, along with lots of tips to maintain your trees and other City tree requirements!
Residential Tree Planting Interest
The City has a new tree planting program for residents on their residential property. Planting is planned for fall and spring. If you are interested in having a tree planted on your property, please complete the interest form at www.collegeparkmd.gov/treerequest. Select “Tree Planting on Residential Property” and fill out the form or contact arborist@collegeparkmd.gov.
Urban Tree Protection: Ordinance 21-O-09
This Ordinance requires an application to be submitted for approval to obtain a permit to remove or prune a tree on residential land. Beginning July 1, 2022, trees on residential property within the City of College Park, greater than 36 inches in circumference measured at 4.5 feet above ground level, on which the property owner wants to remove or prune live branches or wood more than 20% will need to submit an application to the Department of Public Works for a tree removal/pruning permit and receive approval prior to beginning planned tree work. A requirement of the tree removal/pruning permit is that urban tree(s) approved for removal are replaced.
You can find the permit application at www.collegeparkmd.gov/TreeRemovalApp.
Requests for Street Tree Planting
The City has a program that provides 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 street tree can click here and submit a request. Locations will be inspected to determine if it is suitable.
For those that need to replace trees due to storm damage or approved permit removals, you can apply for a TCEP reimbursement to help offset the cost.
Tree Canopy Enhancement Program (TCEP)
City of College Park property owners can apply for reimbursement of up to $150.00 per fiscal year, for approved tree(s) planted on their residential lot. For guidelines and an application, please click here.
The completed TCEP application should be submitted online or via email to arborist@collegeparkmd.gov for review and approval prior to tree purchase.
Tree Maintenance
The City is responsible for tree maintenance of street trees in the rights-of-way, city-maintained buildings and parks, and on public property.
Tree maintenance or tree issues on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. For landscaping tips and tree care advice, visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/gardens.
Tree Planting Tips
Visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/trees for a list of suggested trees, tips, and other information about how to plant and care for trees.