Trash & Recycling Collection Update

The City has announced that both trash and recycling collections will resume tomorrow – Tuesday, February 16, 2010. Please note the following particulars:

• Citizens are asked to place their regularly scheduled trash OR recycling at the end of the nearest street or alley or at an accessible central location determined by your community association president for pick up. (Streets that may have been deemed passable by the City for cars may not be safe for trash trucks. Since no one wants a trash truck sliding into their car, the hope is that communities will support this decision…)

• Community Association Presidents may call 311 with accessible central locations where regularly scheduled trash OR recycling will be placed for pick up.

• This week only trash and recycling may be placed in just bags; cans are temporarily optional, especially if you are taking your trash and recycling any distance to have it collected.

• As always, citizens should call 311 for missed pick ups. The Bureau will continue to collect in this manner until full access to regular pick up locations is possible. Care should be taken not to block sidewalks, streets and alleys for vehicles and pedestrians.

• Citizen Drop-Off Centers are open to the public at their regular operational hours. Citizens can go to http://www.baltimorecity.gov/ or http://www.cleanergreenerbaltimore.com/ to find the nearest drop off center.

• Bulk Trash pick up is cancelled for the week of February 15 through February 19, 2010.

As quickly and safely as you can, please clear your sidewalks and then help your elderly and disabled neighbors do the same.

It is also very important to clear areas around fire hydrants and storm drains to augment the continuing efforts of Public Works Water and Wastewater crews as they tackle the City’s 33,000 inlets. Daily thawing and melting snow can pool and freeze during the night causing large ice patches.

Most importantly, thanks to all for your patience and perseverance as we work together to meet the challenges presented by these historic and unprecedented back-to-back storm events.

PLEASE NOTE: Changing weather conditions expected for Monday, February 15 may alter planned sanitation operations. Citizens should continue to listen to and read local media for the latest updates and instructions from the Mayor and the Office of Emergency Management.

For more information, contact Celeste Amato: 410-545-6541/Celeste.Amato@baltimorecity.gov or Robert Murrow: 410-545-6189/Robert.Murrow@baltimorecity.gov