Accepted Materials Directory
This directory identifies materials that can be taken to Baltimore County's three resident drop-off facilities. For more information, please call the Bureau of Solid Waste Management (BSWM) customer service line at 410-887-2000, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Before recycling or throwing out reusable materials, please consider donating them.
The Baltimore County Reuse Directory lists local organizations that accept a wide range of materials.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES
Please note that all materials are accepted year-round unless otherwise noted.
KEY
Accepted as Recycling
Not Accepted
Accepted as Trash
Available for Pick-Up
Material | Eastern Sanitary Landfill (ESL) | Central Acceptance Facility (CAF) | Western Acceptance Facility (WAF) |
---|---|---|---|
Acid, chemicals, solvents Place in designated area at CAF. | |||
Aerosol cans Place in single stream recycling container. Empty cans only. Do not recycle pesticide cans or spray paint cans, even if empty. See pesticides and herbicides. | |||
Aluminum cans Place in single stream recycling container. | |||
Aluminum foil and pie pans Must be clean and free of food residue. Place in single stream recycling container. | |||
Aluminum scrap Place in scrap metal bin. | |||
Antifreeze Place in designated container. | |||
Appliances and white goods See the Reuse Directory for donation information. BGE accepts working refrigerators and freezers. Contact BGE at 866-898-1901 to schedule a pick-up. | |||
Asbestos shingles Small quantities only; must be double bagged or in box with tight lid; place in designated container. | |||
Asbestos—non-friable For more information, call Environmental Protection and Sustainability (EPS) at 410-887-3745. For alternate acceptance, contact Honeygo Run Reclamation Center at 410-335-9500, or Days Cove Rubble Landfill at 410-335-3778. | |||
Asphalt For alternate acceptance, contact Honeygo Run Reclamation Center at 410-335-9500, or Days Cove Rubble Landfill at 410-335-3778. | |||
Automobiles and automobile parts Small parts only. | |||
Bathtub (fiberglass)—not usable Must be cut in half. | |||
Bathtub (metal)—not usable Place in scrap metal bin. | |||
Batteries (lead-acid, auto, boat) Place in designated area. Do not place in household trash or single stream recycling; improper battery disposal can lead to fires. | |||
Batteries (non-rechargeable, alkaline) These battery types have very low toxicity levels so they may be disposed of as trash. To recycle, contact Cirba Solutions. | |||
Batteries (rechargeable household and tool) All lithium ion, nickel metal hydride, and nickel-cadmium battery types are accepted (electric vehicle batteries included). Place in designated area. Various home improvement stores, such as Home Depot, also accept these batteries. Do not place in household trash or single stream recycling; improper battery disposal can lead to fires. | |||
Boats Must be broken down into six foot pieces for free disposal. If intact, must be 30 feet or less (gas tanks and metal must be removed)—$100 minimum charge, $200 per ton. | |||
Brake Fluid Place in designated area. Do not place in oil container. | |||
Branches Size limit: eight inches by six feet. CAF recycles March to December 15; no limit as long as residential material in noncommercial vehicle. If commercial material, $125 per ton at ESL. No commercial material at CAF or WAF. | |||
Brick, block, rubble For alternate acceptance, contact Honeygo Run Reclamation Center at 410-335-9500, or Days Cove Rubble Landfill at 410-335-3778. | |||
Brush Size limit: eight inches by six feet. CAF recycles March to December 15; no limit as long as residential material in noncommercial vehicle. If commercial material, $125 per ton at ESL. No commercial material at CAF and WAF. | |||
Building materials—not usable Call BSWM at 410-887-2000 for more information, including limits on quantities at CAF and WAF. | |||
Campers $60 minimum charge, $125 per ton if not broken into six foot lengths (no wheels, remove propane tanks and metal). | |||
Caps (pickup) $60 minimum charge, $125 per ton if not broken into six foot lengths (remove metal). | |||
Cardboard Place in single stream recycling container. Also accept milk cartons and juice boxes. | |||
Carpet Rolled and tied; only small amounts accepted at CAF and WAF. | |||
Christmas trees No bags, ornaments, lights, stands, etc. Trees delivered to CAF from mid-January through March may not be recycled. | |||
Commercial materials Call BSWM at 410-887-2000 for more information. ESL takes most types of material for $125 per ton. | |||
Concrete and rubble Three-quarter ton maximum. Free for residents. No steel reinforcements, mesh or bars. A Refuse Disposal Authorization may be needed for free residential disposal. | |||
Construction debris Only small quantities accepted. Accepted at a cost of $125 per ton. For more information, call BSWM at 410-887-2000. | |||
Diesel fuel Maximum of 25 gallons; no 55 gallon drums. Place in designated motor oil container. For large quantities, call BSWM at 410-887-2000. | |||
Durable medical equipment Visit the Maryland Department of Aging for a list of acceptable items. Only accepted at CAF. | |||
Earth—contaminated For more information, call EPS at 410-887-3745. | |||
Earth—uncontaminated Free for residents, three-quarter ton maximum. Commercial based on need. Must be uncontaminated and dry. Contact Jim Dawson at jdawson@baltimorecountymd.gov or 410-887-4953 for more information. | |||
Electronics—PCs, VCRs, Phones, TVs and Monitors Residential electronics only. See the Reuse Directory for other options. Accepted for recycling by some manufacturers and retail stores. | |||
Fence (metal) Rolled and tied; only small amounts accepted at CAF and WAF. | |||
Fire extinguishers (empty, nozzleless) Place in scrap metal bin. | |||
Fire extinguishers (not empty) Place in designated area. | |||
Fireworks (used) Soak in water first; ensure material is still damp at the time of disposal. | |||
Fluorescent bulbs Residential bulbs only, limit of 10 bulbs per visit. | |||
Furniture See the Reuse Directory for donation information. | |||
Garage doors (metal) Place in scrap metal bin. | |||
Garage doors (wood) Maximum of six feet. | |||
Gasoline Maximum of 25 gallons. Place in designated container. | |||
Grass Accepted at ESL only. | |||
Gravel Must be clean and free of dirt. For more information, call BSWM at 410-887-2000. | |||
Grills (charcoal and gas) Propane tanks must be removed from gas grill (see propane tanks for disposal information). Place in scrap metal bin. | |||
Hangers (metal) Place in scrap metal bin. Many dry cleaners accept hangers for reuse. | |||
Hot water heater Place in scrap metal bin. | |||
Household hazardous waste Place in designated area at CAF. | |||
Hydraulic fluid Maximum of 25 gallons; no 55 gallon drums. Place in designated motor oil container. For large quantities, call BSWM at 410-887-2000. | |||
Kerosene Place in designated motor oil container. | |||
Land clearing waste Commercial loads accepted at a cost of $125 per ton. Size restrictions apply. For more information, call BSWM at 410-887-2000. | |||
Lawnmowers Remove all liquids. For riding mowers, remove tires and gas tanks. Place in scrap metal bin. | |||
Leaves No limit as long as residential material is in a noncommercial vehicle. For acceptance at CAF, leaves must be out of bags. CAF recycles March to December 15. | |||
Lumber Size limit: eight inches by eight inches by six feet. Maximum of 12 pieces. | |||
Mattresses and box-springs For donation information or to schedule a pick-up, contact Salvation Army at 1-800-728-7825. | |||
Medicine Collection containers are located at Baltimore County Police stations. For small quantities, mix with cat litter or coffee grounds and place in a sealed container for curbside trash collection. | |||
Mercury (liquid) Place in designated area at CAF. | |||
Metal scrap Place in scrap metal bin. | |||
Microwave ovens Place in scrap metal bin. | |||
Mobile homes Accepted at ESL for a cost of $125 per ton, by appointment. Must be stripped of tires, appliances, propane tanks and metal. For alternate acceptance, contact Honeygo Run Reclamation Center at 410-335-9500. | |||
Motorcycles and parts Try "junk" or "junk auto dealer" in the Yellow Pages. | |||
Mulch If available, residents can pick up for free, but must self-load. For availability, call BSWM at 410-887-2000. Must request mulch in person at ESL. | |||
Needles and sharps Place in heavy plastic or metal container with lid for curbside collection. Check Safe Needle Disposal for alternative disposal and take-back program options. | |||
Oil (heating) Maximum of 25 gallons; no 55 gallon drums. Place in designated motor oil container. For quantities larger than 25 gallons, call BSWM at 410-887-2000. | |||
Oil (household cooking) Do not add to motor oil containers. Place in designated area at CAF. | |||
Oil (motor) Maximum of 25 gallons; no 55 gallon drums. Place in designated motor oil container. For quantities larger than 25 gallons, call BSWM at 410-887-2000. | |||
Oil filters (used) Place in designated container for recycling at ESL and CAF. Accepted with regular household trash at WAF. | |||
Oil tanks Tanks must be empty. Punch six holes and cut in half. Clean with detergent. Place in scrap metal bin. | |||
Paint (latex) and paint balls Place in designated area at CAF. Maximum of 20 gallons per visit. Residential material only. For small quantities, dry out and dispose of with curbside trash collection. | |||
Paint (oil) Place in designated area at CAF. Maximum of 20 gallons per visit. Residential material only. For small quantities, dry out and dispose of with curbside trash collection. | |||
Pallets See lumber regulations. No commercial pallets. Acceptable if resident has one or two pallets broken apart. For alternate acceptance, contact Frank's Pallet Service at 410-631-7199, or Pallet Masters at 410-488-5500. | |||
Paper (mixed) Place in single stream recycling container. Also accept milk cartons and juice boxes. | |||
Pesticides and herbicides Residential material only, no farms or businesses. Place in designated area at CAF. | |||
Pianos See the Reuse Directory for donation information. | |||
Pipe (metal) Size limit: six foot length. Place in scrap metal bin. | |||
Pipe (PVC) See lumber regulations. Limit of six feet. Maximum of 12 pieces. For more information, call BSWM at 410-887-2000. | |||
Plastic Accept narrow neck (including caps) and wide mouth containers. Also accept rigid plastics such as buckets, drinking cups, flower pots, lawn chairs, signs (remove all metal, wood, frames and posts) and toys. Place in single stream recycling container. No plastic bags or styrofoam. | |||
Propane tanks Empty tank and remove valve. Maximum accepted 20 pound tank (includes one- and two-pound tanks). Place in designated container. For other types of compressed gas tanks such as helium and oxygen, call BSWM at 410-887-2000. | |||
Railroad ties Small quantities accepted. Size limit: 8 inches by 8 inches by 6 feet. Not accepted from commercial operations. For alternate acceptance, Contact Honeygo Run Reclamation Center at 410-335-9500, or Days Cove Rubble Landfill at 410-335-3778. | |||
Sand Free for residents, three quarter ton maximum. For free commercial acceptance (based on need), contact Jim Dawson at jdawson@baltimorecountymd.gov or 410-887-4953. | |||
Satellite dish (fiberglass) | |||
Satellite dish (metal) Place in scrap metal bin. | |||
Shingles and siding Contact Honeygo Run Reclamation Center at 410-335-9500, or Days Cove Rubble Landfill at 410-335-3778. ESL will take for $100 per ton. No more than two cubic yards. | |||
Shrubs and trimmings No limit for residents. CAF recycles March to December 15. If commercial material, the cost is $125 per ton at ESL. No commercial material accepted at CAF and WAF. | |||
Sinks (metal)—not usable Place in scrap metal bin. | |||
Sinks (porcelain)—not usable | |||
Smoke and fire detectors These items have very low radiation levels so they may be disposed of as trash. | |||
Steel cans Place in single stream recycling container. | |||
Styrofoam (polystyrene) Many packaging service stores accept expanded polystyrene foam peanuts for reuse. | |||
Textiles See the Reuse Directory for donation information. EPS also reuses old clothing as cleaning rags, call 410-887-3745. | |||
Thermometers and thermostats Mercury-containing thermometers and thermostats are accepted for recycling. | |||
Tires Up to four clean tires (passenger size only), no racing slicks. Regulations require tires to be off rims (current vendor will accept tires on rims). For truck tires and large quantities of all types of tires, contact Emanuel Tire Company or Auston Contracting. | |||
Toilets—not usable | |||
Transmission fluid Maximum of 25 gallons; no 55 gallon drums. Places in designated motor oil container. For quantities larger than 25 gallons, call BSWM at 410-887-2000. | |||
Trash | |||
Tree stumps Must be less than 12 inches high and 36 inches across. | |||
Trees and tree limbs Size limit: eight inch diameter by six foot length. CAF recycles March to December 15. If commercial material, the cost is $125 per ton at ESL. No commercial material accepted at CAF and WAF. | |||
Wood (treated) Size limit: eight inches by eight inches by six feet. Maximum of 12 pieces. | |||
Wood (untreated) Size limit: eight inches by eight inches by six feet. Maximum of 12 pieces. |
Contact Information | Accepted Materials | Drop-Off/ Pickup | End of Use |
---|---|---|---|
AMVETS Pickup Service Email: amvetspickup.org Phone: 800-292-2259 |
| Drop-Off/Pickup: Schedule online or by phone | Sold in stores. |
Annapolis Office Technologies Phone: 443-336-3018 |
| Drop-Off: Pickup: | Refilled if possible, or melted down to plastic and recycled. |
Assistance Center of Towson Churches 120 West Pennsylvania Avenue Towson, Maryland 21204 Phone: 410-296-4855 |
| Drop-Off: Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Thursday: 12:30 to 2 p.m. | Given to homeless and low-income families. |
At Jacob's Well 323 East 25th Street Baltimore, Maryland 21218 Phone: 410-235-8877 |
| Drop-Off: Call to schedule | Used by people in transitional housing working toward permanent housing. |
Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) 2490 Giles Road Baltimore, Maryland 21225 Phone: 410-396-4695 |
| Drop-Off: Monday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Used by animals at the shelter. |
Baltimore Child Abuse Center (Center for Hope) 5400 Preakness Way Baltimore, Maryland 21215 Phone: 410-601-4673 |
| Drop-Off: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Provided to victims of child abuse and trauma. |
Baltimore County Animal Services 13800 Manor Road Baltimore, Maryland 21013 Phone: 443-887-PAWS |
| Drop-Off: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call to arrange drop-off | Used by animals at the shelter. |
Baltimore County Department of Aging Bykota Senior Center 611 Central Avenue Towson, Maryland 21204 Phone: 410-887-2594 |
| Drop-Off: Call ahead | Loaned to County residents age 60 and over. |
Baltimore County Public Library 320 York Road Towson, Maryland 21204 Phone: 410-887-6166 | Gently-used, odor and mold free, books in good condition. | Drop-Off: Call for details | Donated to/for sale through Better World Books. A percentage of the sale price is returned to the library to purchase additional materials and fund library services. |
Baltimore Humane Society 1601 Nicodemus Road Reisterstown, Maryland 21236 Phone: 410-833-8848 |
| Drop-Off: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Used in the shelter or sent to the BmoreKind pet food bank. |
BCPS Education Foundation Exchangeree 105 West Chesapeake Avenue Suite B-1 Towson, Maryland 212304 Phone: 410-809-8962 |
| Drop-Off: See website | Distributed to educator resource centers. |
Bentley Springs UMC Mission Central Hub and Disaster Relief Center Phone: 410-357-0310 |
| Drop-Off: Pickup: | Local, national and international disaster relief. |
Book Thing of Baltimore 3001 Vineyard Lane Baltimore, Maryland 21218 |
| Drop-Off: See website for details | Given freely to those who want/need them. |
Community Assistance Network (CAN) 7900 East Baltimore Street Baltimore, Maryland 21224 Phone: 410-736-9781 |
| Drop-Off: Call to ensure there is space for large items | Sent to area shelters and after school programs. |
Earl's Place 1400 East Lombard Street Baltimore, Maryland 21231 Phone: 443-522-0225 |
| Drop-Off: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call ahead | Used by shelter residents. |
EPS Industry Alliance 1298 Cronson Boulevard Suite 201 Crofton, Maryland 21114 Phone: 443-522-0225 |
| Drop-Off: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 24-hour bin for drop-off. Call for details. | Recycled or reused for packaging. |
Family Crisis Center P.O. Box 3909 Baltimore, Maryland 21222 Phone: 410-285-7496 |
| Drop-Off: Call for details | Used at domestic violence center. |
Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc. Phone: 410-837-1800 |
| Drop-Off: Pickup: | Sold in thrift stores. |
GRC Wireless Recycling Phone: 800-203-1506 |
| Drop-Off: Pickup: | For each donated device, up to $200 is donated to GRC's charity partners. |
Greendrop, LLC 10 Stemmers Run Baltimore, Maryland 21221 Phone: 888-944-3767 |
| Drop-Off: Pickup: | Resold in thrift stores. Proceeds go to veterans, the visually impaired and victims of disaster. |
Guitar Exchange 740 Frederick Road Catonsville, Maryland 21228 Phone: 410-747-0122 | Guitars (new used or broken, will pay) | Drop-Off: Pickup: | Sold in store or given away. |
Habitat for Humanity Restore Phone: 410-366-1250 |
| Drop-Off: Pickup: | Sold at discounted prices at Restore locations. All profits invested back into Habitat Chesapeake. |
Helping Up Mission 717 West Franklin Street Baltimore, Maryland 21201 Phone: 667-600-3070 |
| Drop-Off: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. See website for locations | Provided to men and women served at the mission. |
Loading Dock 2 N. Kresson Street Baltimore, Maryland 21224 Phone: 410-558-3625 |
| Drop-Off: Pickup: | Redistributed to low and moderate income families and nonprofit organizations. Items also sold to general public. |
Lutheran Mission Society Compassion Place 438 Eastern Boulevard Essex, Maryland 21221 Phone: 410-636-0123 |
| Drop-Off: Tuesday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Given free of charge to people in need or redistributed for a small fee. |
Madre: Helping Hands Program 121 West 27th Street Suite 301 New York, New York 10001 Phone: 212-627-0444 |
| Drop-Off: Mail to address Attention: Helping Hands | Delivered to women in need in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa. |
Maryland Book Bank 1794 Union Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21211 Phone: 443-517-9767 | Books for all ages | Drop-Off: 24-hour drop-off at warehouse | See website for details. |
Maryland Food Bank 2200 Halethorpe Farms Baltimore, Maryland 21227 Phone: 410-737-8282 |
| Drop-Off: Pickup: | Given freely to those in need by more than 600 emergency care providers located in Maryland. |
The Maryland SPCA 3300 Falls Road Baltimore, Maryland 21211 Phone: 410-235-8826 |
| Drop-Off: Pickup: | To feed, care for and support animals at the shelter or in the foster care program. Vehicles proceeds benefit the Maryland SPCA. |
Mr. Vinyl Phone: 410-205-2996 |
| Drop-Off: Pickup: | Sold to collectors. |
Music-Go-Round 10118 York Road Cockeysville, Maryland 21030 Phone: 410-666-3996 |
| Drop-Off: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Donor must be over 18 years of age. | Sold in store. |
National Children Center Phone: 202-722-2300 |
| Drop-Off: Call for details | Sold to raise funds for children in need who are living with developmental disabilities. |
Normal's 425 East 31st Street Baltimore, Maryland 21218 Phone: 410-243-6888 |
| Drop-Off: Call ahead | Sold in store. |
Onesight Phone: 888-935-4589 |
| Drop-Off: Participating locations including LensCrafters and Target Optical | Disassembled and sent to a third-party recycler that utilizes the raw materials. OneSight received modes/funds based on weight that supports charitable programs. |
Our Daily Bread Employment Center 725 Falls Way Baltimore, Maryland 21202 Phone: 667-600-3438 |
| Drop-Off: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Used in soup kitchen to feed seniors, homeless people and the disabled in the County. |
Plato's Closet Baltimore 1415 York Road Lutherville, Maryland 21093 Phone: 410-583-0590 |
| Drop-Off: Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Resold in stores at up to 70 percent off retail prices. |
Play It Again Sports 7968 Belair Road Baltimore, Maryland 21236 Phone: 410-882-1810 | Buys sports equipment in good condition | Drop-Off: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Sold directly/on consignment or traded for new equipment. |
St. Vincent De Paul of Baltimore 2305 North Charles Street Suite 300 Baltimore, Maryland 21218 Phone: 443-846-0900 |
| Drop-Off: Business hours | Distributed to people in need through a third-party vendor. Donations are sold and proceeds benefit the programs of St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore. |
The Salvation Army 814 Light Street Baltimore, Maryland 21230 Phone: 800-728-7825 |
| Drop-Off: Pickup: | Redistributed to individuals in need. Sold goods support local, adult drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs and other Salvation Army efforts. |
Savers 1925 East Joppa Road Parkville, Maryland 21234 Phone: 410-663-7481 |
| Drop-Off: Multiple locations. See website for details. | Each store accepts donations on behalf of a nonprofit organization. Savers purchases all donations from the store's designated nonprofit. |
Scene II By Hadassah 1500 Reisterstown Road Pikesville, Maryland 21208 Phone: 410-486-9851 |
| Drop-Off: Call ahead | Proceeds go to people in need in Israel and worldwide. |
Second Chance 1700 Ridgely Street Baltimore, Maryland 21230 Phone: 410-385-1700 |
| Drop-Off: Pickup: | Sold in warehouse store to support job training program. |
Securis 14801 Willard Road Suite 800 Chantilly, Virginia 20151 Phone: 800-731-1909 |
| Drop-Off: Call to schedule an appointment | Refurbished or disassembled and recycled as components or scrap. Securis is R2 certified with a no-landfill, no export policy. |
Sharp Dressed Man 1400 Aliceanna Street Baltimore, Maryland 21231 Phone: 410-404-5131 |
| Drop-Off: By appointment Friday and Saturday Noon to 5 p.m. | Provided to people actively engaged in a workforce development program with various organizations in Greater Baltimore. |
Shepherd's Clinic 2800 Kirk Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21218 Phone: 410-467-7146 |
| Drop-Off: Call ahead for times | Used in clinic. |
The Sound Garden 1616 Thames Street Baltimore, Maryland 21231 Phone: 410-563-9011 |
| Drop-Off: See website for details | Sold in stores. |
Suited to Succeed 22 Light Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202 Phone: 410-528-1799 |
| Drop-Off: Call for details | Professional wardrobes and career development services given to women experiencing economic hardship. |
Surprise Shop 122 Allegheny Avenue Towson, Maryland 21204 Phone: 410-828-9343 |
| Drop-Off: Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Sold at the store or donated. Proceeds fund Trinity Episcopal Church homeless outreach. |
Ted's Musicians Shop 11 East Center Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202 Phone: 410-685-4198 | Broken or working musical instruments (no pianos) | Drop-Off: Saturday
| Repaired instruments given away. Spare parts given to local sculptors for artwork. |
Trinity Thrift Shop 2100 Westchester Avenue Catonsville, Maryland 21228 Phone: 410-747-5841 |
| Drop-Off: 9 a.m. to noon | Funds used for various community outreach projects that help those in need. |
Vehicles for Change 4111 Washington Boulevard Halethorpe, Maryland 21227 Phone: 855-820-7990 |
| Drop-Off/Pickup: Call or see website to schedule | Vehicles are either repaired and awarded to a prequalified family or auctioned/sold, with all proceeds used to prepare other vehicles for low-income families. |
Vietnam Veterans for America Phone: 800-775-8387 |
| Drop-Off: Pickup: | Funds raised through the sale of the donated items to privately owned thrift stores are used for the various veteran service programs of the organization. |
WYPR Car Talk Vehicle Donation Program Phone: 866-789-8627 |
| Drop-Off/Pickup: Call or see website to schedule | Vehicles are recycled or sold with proceeds benefiting WYPR 88.1 FM, a Baltimore, public radio station. |