Baltimore City Junk Removal

Why Municipal Trash Cans?
Containing trash in a durable can with a tight-fitting lid is one of the best ways to reduce debris and litter, keep food away from rats, and make our neighborhoods clean and safe. Each can comes with an attached lid, so trash won’t blow away and critters won’t climb in. Trash trucks fitted with special lifting mechanisms will quickly and easily dump the cans, reducing strain on our workers. Each can will have wheels, making them easy to move, as well as a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, making them easy to identify.

How will this work?
The Citywide Municipal Trash Can Program will deliver a composite resin container to every household that currently gets City trash removal service. The cans will remain the property of the City, and will be assigned to the specific address. Residents will not be charged for the cans, but are expected to place their trash into bags before putting the trash in the cans. The cans should not be altered or defaced with letters, names, stickers, numbers, or symbols.

Will collection patterns change?
No. You will not need to change where or when you set out the cans. Rear collections will remain in the rear of households; front collections will remain out front.

Who is providing the cans?
Schaefer Systems International, Inc., of Charlotte, N.C., won a nationwide open bidding process to provide the cans. Schaefer cans are in use in jurisdictions across the country, and recently were adopted in the Maryland towns of Indian Head and LaPlata.

What should I do with my old trash cans?
Begin using your municipal trash can as soon as it arrives. If you want to recycle your old plastic or metal trash can, please take it to a Citizens’ Convenience Center. You may also use them for recycling containers or for storage.

May I use additional, personal cans?
Collecting trash from additional cans is possible as long as the total amount of trash per address does not exceed 96 gallons, the legal limit for the City to collect. Regular recycling helps to minimize the amount of waste that is thrown away. Trash set out in bags is not an acceptable means to contain trash.

Will there be collection from multi-family dwellings?
Every address in Baltimore City is eligible for collection service under the restriction that they may only set out 96 gallons of mixed refuse per week. Addresses that generate above this limit must contract with private waste collectors. Any address currently receiving sanitation collection services from the Bureau of Solid Waste will participate in the Municipal Trash Can Program.

What do I do with the municipal trash container if I move?
The city-issued municipal trash container is the property of the City of Baltimore. Please leave it in the rear yard of the residence when you move and notify 311.