News & Information from the Department of Public Works

Wood Mulch is Now Available!

After a long wait for processing, wood mulch is finally available. Mulch is $12.00 per cubic yard, and material may be picked up Mon.-Fri. between 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Delivery can be scheduled for an additional fee. Click here to schedule a delivery. For more information on wood mulch click here. For further questions call 240-487-3593.

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.

Bulk Trash & Special Collections

For a single-family, owner-occupied residence: Up to four (4) bulky trash collections per fiscal year, with a maximum total of 20 bulky refuse items per fiscal year, 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 trash collections per fiscal year, with a maximum total of 29 bulky refuse items per fiscal year, 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.

Other Special Collections

The City collects special items by appointment on Thursdays and Fridays. Different trucks are assigned to each category, and material must be source-separated for collection.

• Bulk Trash: furniture, carpet, large bulky items, lumber with nails bent, fencing, etc. Mattresses and box springs MUST be wrapped in plastic. Lumber should be less than five (5) feet long. Large items should weigh less than 75 lbs. Residents are allowed 4 collections or 20 items per fiscal year (whichever comes first); registered rentals are allowed 4 collections or 29 items per fiscal year (whichever comes first).

• Appliances & Metals: Appliances include but are not limited to stoves, air conditioners, refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, hot water heaters and ovens and have a $20 fee per item for collection. Other metals such as bikes, file cabinets, and miscellaneous metal items do not incur a fee.

• Electronics for Recycling: computers, printers, keyboards, modems, gaming consoles, etc. Please note that TVs, monitors, and microwaves have a $20 fee per item. Residents have the option of bringing these items to the electronics drop-off box at Public Works for free.

• 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. Material can also be placed in personal containers or paper yard waste 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).

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. Please note, if the foam is spongy, it is not Styrofoam, and is not accepted.

No Mow Month is Over!

We hope our native pollinators had a great month! No Mow April has ended, please cut your grass so it doesn’t exceed 12” high. City staff may issue violation notices (with time to correct before a fine) for properties not in compliance. The City and your neighbors greatly appreciate your cooperation. Residents are reminded that they are responsible for maintaining grass in the right-of-way area, which includes the grass strip between the curb and sidewalk adjacent to your property.

Mowing is the Key

Proper mowing greatly improves the appearance of lawns, promotes a healthy root system, reduces weed encroachment, and lessens disease pressure.

How to mow

Research at the University of Maryland shows the best height to mow your lawn depends on the type of grass you have.

  • Tall fescue – set the mower's height at the highest setting 3" - 4", especially in the hottest, driest part of the summer.
  • Kentucky bluegrass - 2 1/2" - 3 1/2"
  • Fine fescue - avoid mowing in the hottest, driest part of the summer - 3"- 4"
  • Zoysiagrass - 1/2" - 1"

If the lawn is cut lower than recommended it weakens the grass and tends to increase the amount of weeds. Plan to remove no more than one-third of the grass blade each time you mow. Scalping the lawn is a major cause of crabgrass infestation.

To adjust the height of cut, put your lawnmower on a hard surface like a sidewalk or driveway. Use a ruler to measure from the ground to the blade and adjust each wheel so they’re all the same height. Keep the blade sharp!

Raise the mower height up one-half to one inch higher during hot, dry periods in the summer. And do not mow when grass is dormant during the hottest, driest part of the summer.

When to mow

Sometimes timing is everything…and timing is important when it comes to mowing. Infrequent mowing allows the turf to grow too tall. Subsequent mowing removes too much leaf surface and may shock the plants.

Weekly mowing may not be enough, especially during the peak period of leaf growth in the spring. The rate of growth depends on weather, season, soil fertility, moisture conditions, and species.

Sharpen mower blades at the beginning of the mowing season and then again every 4-6 weeks.

Grass Cycling

Grasscycling is the simple practice of letting grass clippings decompose on the lawn after mowing.

  • 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.

Tips on Grasscycling

  • Mow with sharp blades.
  • Mow lawn when dry. After a rainy period, large clumps of grass can be remowed or raked up and removed.
  • Mow regularly. Remove no more than one-third of the leaf blade. During the spring it may be necessary to mow twice a week.
  • Mulching mowers hasten the decomposition process but are not necessary. Check the availability of mulching "kits" which can be purchased for some models of lawnmowers. Kits include a plate that blocks discharged shoots, forcing clippings back through the blades. Check your lawn mower manual for information.
  • Avoid the overuse of fertilizer.

Yard Waste Preparation

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.

Learn more at www.collegeparkmd.gov/yardwaste.

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.

Visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/trees for details.

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.