BALTIMORE, MD (June 26, 2014) – Baltimore City Department of Public Works Director Rudolph S. Chow, P.E., announced today that trash cans and recycling containers are being distributed in select Baltimore City neighborhoods. This pilot program will test a Municipal Trash Can system aimed at creating cleaner, healthier communities.

Residents in the Belair-Edison neighborhood and certain areas in Greater Mondawmin have already begun receiving the cans. Distribution will continue into next week as more than 9,000 residences will receive the cans. Crews from the Bureau of Solid Waste are ready to begin collecting trash from the new cans right away.

“We believe the Municipal Trash Can Pilot Program is a proactive step that will help us attack litter and rat problems head on. It allows us to better serve our citizens, and achieve greater operating efficiency,” said Mr. Chow. “But we need residents to use the cans in order for all of us to reap the benefits.”

Each trash can is constructed of heavy-duty plastic and is equipped with an attached lid and wheels to make it easy to move. Bagged trash should be put in the cans and left at the normal pickup locations.

The recycling bins that are also being distributed will reduce the waste stream. By separating out recyclables, including paper, metal, glass and many plastic products, a week’s worth of bagged household trash should fit easily in the trash cans. Residents may clean and reuse their old trash cans for extra recycling, for storage, or for anything else they’d like.

The new trash cans are the property of the City, and are assigned one to a residence. Each can is equipped with a chip that the City can use to determine where the can belongs. Taking a can from a property is considered theft and may be subject to law enforcement action.