Bulk Trash Pilot Program - March 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021

During the pilot program, DPW is tracking all bulk trash items collected. Residents may receive correspondence from the City regarding this, it is not a bill, but instead should be used to help inform you of how many items we have picked up and how many collections you have had. During this time you may have many questions, please reach out to publicworks@collegeparkmd.gov. This is a learning process and your feedback is welcome. In its final form, this Ordinance includes the following provisions:

• For a single-family, owner-occupied residence: Up to four 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 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.

Food Scrap Drop-Off

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. This drop-off 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.

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.

Over 21 tons of food scraps were diverted from the landfill from April 2019-June 2020. Collecting food scraps and food soiled paper products is easy. When preparing meals, separate food scraps from other garbage to divert this organic material from regular household trash that is disposed at the landfill. Food scraps that are collected separately are taken to the Prince George’s County Organics Compost facility for processing into a product that can be used for gardening projects.

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; food soiled paper products – 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.

Slow Down to Get Around

It can be frustrating to encounter unexpected delays during your day, whether it is because you are behind a refuse truck, a school or Metro bus. However, it is important to remember that there are people in and around these vehicles who expect to arrive home safely at the end of the day. City employees have been injured as a result of distracted drivers. Remember to slow down to get around these vehicles, and that aggressive driving could kill or injure another person. Slow Down to Get Around/Move Over legislation includes any solid waste vehicle collecting solid waste. Anyone not slowing down or involved in an accident with a trash truck will be fined double the normal fine.