In honor of America Recycles Day, Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) is hosting a recycling trifecta: a plastic bag takeback, free document shredding, and a recycle bin sale.

DPW is taking back plastic bags in order to help prevent litter and keep bags out of the waste stream.  Residents who bring in five or more plastic grocery bags will receive a free reusable grocery bag (limit one reusable bag per resident). A reusable bag can replace up to 700 disposable plastic bags, and some stores even offer a discount for using a reusable bag.

These America Recycles Day activities (plastic bag takeback, free shredding, and recycle bin sale) will take place Saturday, Nov. 18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Baltimore City Community College’s (BCCC) satellite parking lot, 2900 Liberty Heights Ave (across the street from campus).

“Recycling benefits our environment and impacts the cleanliness of our neighborhoods,” said DPW Director Rudolph S. Chow, P.E. “DPW wants to make recycling easy for everyone.”

Officially celebrated on Wednesday, Nov. 15, America Recycles Day, a program of Keep America Beautiful, is a nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States. It has been held on – or around – that date since 1997.

Ask Us a Recycling Question

DPW’s Recycling Office wants to answer your recycling questions. On Nov. 15, ask us a recycling how-to question on Twitter, and DPW’s recycling experts will give you an answer. Join us on Twitter at @BaltimoreDPW (#AmericaRecyclesDay) from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

Paper Shredding

DPW will offer free paper shredding for city residents. Residents can bring up to two garbage bags of documents to be shredded. Once shredded, the documents will be taken directly to a recycling facility.

This is an opportunity for Baltimore City residents to safely dispose of sensitive paper documents quickly, easily, and securely. Cancelled checks, medical records, credit card information, utility bills, old tax returns, and pay stubs are among the many items that should be destroyed by shredding. Bags that contain other trash will not be accepted.

Those interested can bring up to two 32-gallon bags of papers, and must bring a license or other proof of Baltimore City residency.

Recycle bins on sale

The bright, canary yellow recycling bins will be on sale at deeply discounted rates. Baltimore residents can purchase the 25-gallon bins for $7 (regularly $12) and the smaller 18-gallon bins are on sale for $4 (regularly $5). 

As a reminder, residents do not need city-issued recycling bins to recycle. Paper bags, cardboard or plastic boxes and trash cans, labeled “recycling,” are all acceptable containers. Please do not use plastic bags for recycling.

The plastic bag takeback, recycle bin sale and  free paper shredding will take place Saturday, Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Baltimore City Community College’s (BCCC) satellite parking lot, 2900 Liberty Heights Ave (across the street from campus).