More Curbside Pick Options Available for Howard County Residents

The Howard County Bureau of Environmental Services and Department of Public Works has recently added some new services for residents, and they are aimed at helping us recycle and properly dispose of bulk items.

These items fall into four categories: bulk plastic, bulk trash, bulk metal and items that are not accepted.

Bulk plastic items are now accepted for pick-up.  These include items such as “playhouses & play sets (disassembled), totes, sheds (disassembled), lawn furniture and coolers.”  You no longer have to drag them yourself to Alpha Ridge, and rather than throwing them out, these items can be recycled.  They ask that you place these items at the curb on your regular recycling day. As always, unlimited amounts of recycling are accepted.

Also now accepted are bulk trash items, but these pick-ups must be scheduled with the county.  In order to schedule a bulk trash pick-up, you can call 410-313-6444 or go to www.HowardCountyBulkPickup.org.  Bulk trash items include items that don’t fit in trash cans such as mattresses, box springs, chairs, sofas, dressers, tables and other furniture items.  Note that you will need to “place…items at the curb on your regular trash day. [A] maximum of 4 large trash items will be collected per pick-up. Items must be able to be lifted by two collection crew members (larger items will be tagged and left for the resident's disposal).”

Before you throw something out, however, consider or it and giving it a second life.

Starting in October, residents will also be able to schedule pick-ups of bulk metal items. These include items such as metal swing sets, filing cabinets, appliances, lawn mowers and exercise equipment. The county asks that you please remove all doors from refrigerators and drain oil/gas from lawn mowers.

A couple of important notes:

• All items need to be placed at the curb by 6 a.m,. but no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before.
• Don’t block mailboxes or fire hydrants.
• Bulk metal and trash collection must be scheduled.
• Only Howard County’s contractors can pick up scrap metal at the curb – it’s illegal for anyone else to do so.

At this time there are no plans for other items (such as electronics) to be included in bulk pick-ups. This is due to the dangers involved, as well as the fact that residents can bring them to Alpha Ridge Landfill for recycling.

Finally, the county has published a list of items that are not accepted for pick-up. These include:

Ammunition
Asbestos
Ashes
Carpet
Chairs with electric plugs
Compressed gas tanks
Computer monitors
Construction & demolition debris
Dead animals
Drum containers
Explosives
Firearms

Fuel and oil tanks
Household hazardous waste
(poisons, acids, caustics)
Liquids including paint, oil, etc
Medical Waste
Mirrors/plate glass
Sawdust
Sofa beds
Stumps and logs
Tires
TVs