REFUSE/RECYCLING GENERAL INFORMATION AND
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The City of Greenbelt is proud of its recycling efforts and citizen participation. Below are some frequently asked questions. Other information is covered in the links to the left under Refuse and Recycling. The City is also producing an revised informational booklet which will be available for download soon. You may contact the Recycling Office at 301-474-8308.
The current cost for once a week residential refuse and recycling is $228/year-$57/qtr.
If you prefer to have a permanent twice per week refuse collection, the cost to residents is an extra $116 ($344.00 total per year.) This will be billed at $29 per quarter.
A second option is to pay for and receive a one-time extra pick-up. This service costs $15 dollars, and may be arranged by calling Public Works at (301) 474-8004 at least 24 hours prior to the desired pickup. We request that the $15 extra payment be sent to the Finance Office in advance at 25 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, Maryland. However, if this is not possible, the finance office will bill you.
There are NEW guidelines for what you can now RECYCLE IN YOUR BIN!
Yes!!!
ALL NARROW NECK PLASTICS # 1-# 7
Empty and rinse Examples: Beverage bottles, milk jugs, ketchup bottles, salad dressing bottles, detergent bottles and shampoo bottles.
ALL WIDE-MOUTH PLASTIC CONTAINERS
#1-#7
Empty and rinse Examples: Peanut Butter Jars, Yogurt Containers, Margerine/Butter tubs, Cottage Cheese Containers, Sour Cream Containers, Whipped Topping Containers and Mayonnaise Containers.
CAPS AND LIDS: These are now accepted. Just rinse and place in bin!RIGID PLASTICS
Examples: Plastic Milk/Soda Crates, Plastic Buckets with Metal Handles, Plastic Laundry Baskets, Plastic Lawn Furniture, Plastic Totes, Plastic Drums, Plastic Coolers, Plastic Flower Pots, Plastic Drinking Cups/Glasses, Plastic 5-Gallon Water Bottles, Plastic Pallets, Plastic Toys, and Empty Plastic Garbage/Recycling Bins. NOTE: If an item that you wish to recycle does not fit in your recycling bin, please place it next to your bin and CLEARLY LABEL the item "For Recycling."
BAGGED PLASTIC FILM
Examples: Plastic Grocery Bags, Dry Cleaning Bags, Plastic Stretch Film, Shrink Wrap. TAKE ALL OF THESE MATERIALS AND PLACE THEM INSIDE ONE OF THE PLASTIC BAGS. DO NOT PUT THEM IN THE BIN LOOSE.
ASEPTIC/GABLE-TOP MILK AND JUICE FROZEN FOOD
CARTONS:
New! These containers are now accepted! Examples: soy/rice milk boxes, juice boxes, orange juice, etc.
Frozen Food Boxes.
METAL AND ALUMINUM
Examples: Beverage, Soup Cans, Tuna Cans, Vegetable and Pet Food Cans, Aluminum Foil, and Pie Plates.
SMALL PIECES OF SCRAP METAL
Must be able to fit in your bin. Examples: brake drums, hoe heads, or the metal parts of gardening tools, pots and pans.
AEROSOL CANS (MUST BE EMPTY.)
PAPER
Examples: Newspapers and Inserts (plastic bags removed), Computer and Office Paper, Telephone Books, Junk Mail, Magazines, Catalogs, Cereal and Food Product Boxes (liners removed), Corrugated Cardboard Packing Boxes, Computer Printouts, Books (including paperbacks, textbooks, and hardbacks), Brown Paper Bags, and Non-Metallic Wrapping Paper, Plastic coated boxes such as frozen food boxes
No!!!
Bottles that once held hazardous products such as automotive and garden products
Scrap metal that is too big to fit into your recycling bin.
Mirror or window glass
Salad bar and Clam Shell plastic food containers.
Glass Drinking glasses
Cookware
Pottery and ceramics
Wax coated boxes
Plastic inner liners of food product boxes
Paper towels, napkins or tissues
Styrofoam (Styrofoam Block or Expanded Polystyrene is accepted at the City's Electronics Recycling events)
Alkaline Batteries (These may be taped on one end and taken to the City's Electronic Recycling events)
DOWNLOAD A YES/NO RECYCLING FLYER HERE!
SPECIAL TRASH
Special trash items are ccollected with regular refuse collections.
GHI HOMES: Call 301-474-8004 by 12 noon the day before your collection day to request a pickup. Place special trash items in your yard on the service side by 7 a.m. on you collection day. When calling, please clearly state you address ("1B as in boy" or "12 V as in Victor.") and describe the items which are to be collected.
GHI residents may also request a special pick up by
emailing Public Works.
Non-GHI Homes: Place special trash items at the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day. You do not need to call for a pickup.
All special trash must be bagged, boxed or bundled and no item weighing more than 50 pounds will be collected. All items must be broken down and bundled in less than four foot lengths. Furniture that is put out for collection can be kept intact.
YARD WASTE
Yard waste in paper bags and bins is collected every Friday, except during holiday weeks. Bins must be marked or labeled as YARD WASTE. Free labels are available at the Public Works Office.
GHI Homes:Call 301-474-8004 by 12 noon on Thursday to schedule a Friday collection. Place yard waste in your yard on the service side by 7 a.m. Friday for collection.
GHI residents may also request a special pick up by
emailing Public Works.
Non-GHI Homes: Place yard wste at the curb by 7 a.m. on Friday. You do not need to call for a pickup.
The Finance Office, at 25 Crescent Road, sells paper yard waste bags 10 for $4.00 during business hours. Local grocery and hardware stores also carry the bags.
GHI Homes: Since GHI Homes do not receive leaf vacuum collection, they may pick up 10 free bags each fall at the GHI Maintenance Facility.
Prince George's County offers residents the opportunity to dispose of refuse and special trash at the Brown Station Road Landfill in Upper Marlboro at no charge. Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics for recycling may also be taken here. You must be able to show proof of residency in Prince George's County. For further information, hours and days, call the Brown Station Landfill at 301-883-5045. or visit the website.
Note: Different hours/fees apply to commercial customers. You will be considered a commercial customer if you use a company work truck to haul your residential debris.
Buddy Attick Park (entrance is located just below the parking area): You can the recycle any of the "YES" ITEMS listed above ANYTIME at the Buddy Attick Park Recycling Center.
Also collected here: Oil, Antifreeze, and Auto batteries
East Greenbelt Recycling Center: Located at the end of Hanover Dr.
(just off Hanover Parkway by the Dog Park)
You can the recycle any of the "YES" ITEMS listed above ANYTIME at the East Greenbelt Recycling Center.
All comingled materials at these sites can be put in the blue rolling carts.
The yellow and green ABITIBI containers are for paper and cardboard only.
If the City of Greenbelt directly services your home for trash and recycling you are provided one recycling bin. Call 301-474-8308 if you need a new one.
If the City of Greenbelt does not service you directly you can still pickup a recycling bin at the Public Works building located at 555 Crescent Road at a cost. (Currently $8 and subject to change.)
