What are Special Collections?

The City collects four different types of special trash on Thursdays and Fridays by appointment. Each source separated collection is performed by a different truck and crew.

Bulk trash (furniture, mattresses wrapped in plastic, large bulky items, etc.)
White goods & metals (washers, dryers, mowers, bikes, metal file cabinets, etc.)*
Electronics for recycling (TVs, computers, printers, etc.)*
Brush and Logs

You may see a truck on your street and wonder why they didn’t stop to pick-up your collection; it may be because they are collecting a different type of item. These different types of items should be separated to facilitate collection.

Effective May 1, 2020, the following provisions took effect (see ORDINANCE 20-0-01)

No Contractor-generated construction materials will be collected; however, small home-improvement material that is generated by the resident and properly set out will be collected.
Soft and Woody Yard Waste that is properly set out will be collected; however, Soft and Woody Yard Waste that is oversized and requires the use of a crane will be charged at a cost of $100 per collection, per hour
Certain materials set out for collection will require a fee. These include:
a. Appliances - stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, furnaces, water heaters, grills, etc. - $20 per item
b. Televisions and monitors - $20 per item
c. Tires - $4 per tire
Mattresses must be wrapped in plastic, or placed in a plastic mattress bag, in order to be collected.
Oversized, overweight, improperly sorted material, or collections requiring use of a crane, will be assessed a fee of $100 per collection, per hour.
Refuse Carts: The City will provide up to two refuse carts free of charge per household. There will be an annual cost of $50 for a third refuse cart. A maximum of three refuse carts are allowed per household.

Are there any disposal fees?

As of May 1, 2020 the following took effect:
Tires incur a $4 per tire fee; TV’s and Monitors incur a $20 fee per item; Appliances incur a $20 fee per item.

Temporary Electronics Drop-Off
DPW has temporarily set up an electronics drop off box near the entrance of the front door to Davis Hall. Must have a valid City of College Park ID. No more than 3 items to be disposed of.

Schedule an Appointment

Special and bulk trash are collected on Thursdays and Fridays by appointment only. Appointments fill up fast - make sure to call early in the week to ensure an appointment. There is no charge for special collection pickups.

You can call 240.487.3590 or email the Department of Public Works to schedule.

Collections are by appointment only so that our Department of Public Works is aware of large pickups and has an appropriately sized crew and machinery. Appointments also prevent trash from sitting in our neighborhoods collecting vermin or becoming unsightly.

Help keep our City beautiful by making your special and bulk trash appointments prior to setting out the items to the curb.

PILOT PROGRAM BULK TRASH -

MARCH 1, 2020 TO FEBRUARY 28, 2021

In January 2020, the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, Maryland enacted Ordinance 20-O-02, to amend City Code Chapter 119, “Refuse, Solid Waste and Special Trash” and Chapter 110, “Fees and Penalties, “to change how bulky trash is collected, to set fees for collections of an excess number of items, and to set penalties for violations.

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.

ORDINANCE 20-0-01: Effective May 1, 2020, the following provisions went into effect:

Soft and Woody Yard Waste that is properly set out will be collected; however, Soft and Woody Yard Waste that is oversized and requires the use of a crane will be charged at a cost of $100 per hour, per collection. Must schedule an appointment.

What is Soft Yard Waste?

Soft yard waste consists of any soft vegetative yard waste such as grass, leaves, vines, weeds, small trimmings (no thicker than a pencil), and clippings.

When is Soft Yard Waste Collected?
New for 2020! Soft yard waste is now collected year round on the same day as your trash and recycling.

During curbside leaf collection season, November through mid-January, you can opt to rake your leaves to the curb when the leaf collection crew is scheduled to come through your neighborhood. For more information about curbside leaf collection, including the calendar and map, please click here.

How to properly prepare your soft yard waste for collection:

Make sure you keep soft yard waste separate from woody yard waste - do not mix them. Soft yard waste is processed into Smartleaf Compost and woody yard waste is processed into wood mulch.
Use paper yard waste bags, the beige yard waste cart, or personal reusable containers. *Personal containers must have a yellow City yard waste decal which is available for free at Public Works.
Set material at the curb by 7:00 am
Do not use plastic bags
Do not use City issued refuse or recycling carts, or material will not be collected.

What is Woody Yard Waste?

Woody yard waste includes brush, branches, logs, shrubs, bamboo, sticks, and twigs.

When is Woody Yard Waste Collected?
These items are collected year round on Thursdays and Fridays by appointment only, please email publicworks@collegeparkmd.gov or call 240-487-3590.

Proper preparation for Woody Yard Waste

On scheduled collection days, tree limbs, branches, and shrubs may be placed for collection and shall be packed in bundles, not to exceed 25 in number, or placed in the yard waste cart and cut to fit so that the lid will close.
Bundles of woody material shall measure less than 2 feet in diameter and weigh not more than 50 pounds.
Bundled tree limbs, branches and sticks may not be more than four feet in length and four inches in diameter for individual branches.
Bundles shall be placed adjacent to the curb. Bundled items, including shrubs, must be tied with biodegradable materials such as rope, twine or string (no wire), or contained in recyclable paper bags.
No more than 25 bags will be collected at one time.
Up to 25 individual log sections not to exceed 12 inches in length and diameter and 50 lbs. in weight each, may be placed at the curb per appointment.*
Oversized collection: Woody Yard Waste that is oversized and requires the use of a crane will be charged at a cost of $100 per hour, per collection and you must schedule an appointment.

*The 25-log maximum does not apply to the debris from branches or trees falling onto abutting property, if abutting property owner places at curb properly bundled.

How can I schedule an appointment?

Contact the Department of Public Works to Schedule a pickup. Email publicworks@collegeparkmd.gov or call 240-487-3590.

TIPS

Do not use City issued refuse or recycling carts for yard waste or it will not be collected.

Do not put animal waste, trash or recycling in with your yard waste. Flower pots, plastic bags/wrappers, toys, balls, rocks and other non-vegetative materials do not belong in with your yard waste. We will not collect yard waste containing these contaminants.

Do not use plastic bags. The City will not accept yard waste in plastic bags. You must use a brown paper yard waste bag, a City Yard Waste container, or any personal reusable container*.

If you use your own reusable container, it must not exceed 32 gallons or 50 pounds. *Reusable containers MUST have a City yard waste decal. Decals can be picked up for free at Public Works. You may want to drill small holes in the bottoms of personal containers for water drainage.

KEEP GRASS OUT OF THE STREET

Grass and leaves pushed into the street wash into storm drains and storm sewer lines, potentially clogging them and causing flooding. This debris ultimately reaches waterways and the Chesapeake Bay, threatening aquatic health. Mulch your grass clippings or compost them instead. To learn how to set up a backyard compost, click here.

Yard Waste Carts Available for Purchase

The City offers beige yard waste carts for $25 for City residents. The cart can be used for either “soft yard waste” or “woody yard waste”. The two products are collected on separate days and processed into different products.

This sturdy cart has wheels and a lift-bar for easy collection. Using the new yard waste cart can save time and money – single use paper lawn bags become expensive over time and can tear or fall apart when wet.

To purchase, contact the Department of Public Works.

CURBSIDE LEAF COLLECTION IS OVER FOR THE SEASON

Curbside Leaf Collection is an annual City service that begins in November and ends in early January depending on weather conditions. This annual collection diverts leaves and other soft yard waste from the landfill and is used to make SMARTLEAF compost. Click here for the leaf plan.

During Curbside Leaf Collection, signs are posted in your neighborhood in advance of the scheduled collection dates. The collection calendar posted here will be updated as the collection schedule changes.

Please note: once the trucks have left your road they won’t be back through until the next scheduled date (usually about 2 weeks later).

SERVICE AREA DESCRIPTIONS

SA-1 Calvert Hills
Albion Rd north to Calvert Rd; U.S. Route 1 east to Bowdoin Ave.

SA-2 Old Town and West Side of Route 1
Calvert Rd north to Norwich Rd; Cornell Ave east to Columbia Ave.

SA-3 College Park Estates and Yarrow

SA-4 Lakeland and Berwyn
Pierce Ave north to Route 193, U.S. Route1 east to 54th Ave.

SA-5 West Side of Rhode Island Avenue
Route 193 north to Niagara Rd; Autoville Dr east to Rhode Island Ave Includes Cherry Hill area.

SA-6 East Side Rhode Island Avenue
Branchville Rd north to Narragansett Pkwy/Muskogee St; Rhode Island Ave east to Metro Line.

SA-7 North End
Narragansett Pkwy north to Paducah Rd; Rhode Island Ave east to 53rd Ave

SA-8 College Park Woods including Crystal Springs, Acredale Ct, and Patricia Ct

TIPS – THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF LEAF COLLECTION!

Bagging is not necessary during leaf collection with vacuums. Grass can be included in your leaf piles, but no sticks, branches, vines, or woody materials (as these items require a special collection).
Rake leaves to the curb but do not put them in the street. Pile leaves away from cars and storm drains as the leaf vacuum cannot reach around cars.
Remove tree limbs, rocks, trash, and other debris from leaves to be collected. These items damage the equipment and cause delays.
Noise and dust may be noticeable as dry conditions generate more dust. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Special Trash Collections