Town of Berlin Maryland > Department & Services > Public Works/Trash & Recycle

Public Works/Trash & Recycle

Michael Gibbons
Public Works Director
mgibbons@berlinmd.gov
410-641-4001

The Public Works Department is divided into two divisions: Streets and Sanitation. The Streets Division is responsible for the maintenance of Town owned streets and roadways and sidewalks. The Sanitation division is responsible for trash and recycling collection. The Public Works Department is also responsible for the maintenance of Berlin's three municipal parks as well as other town-owned properties.

Trash/Recycling must be at the curb no later than 7 AM on collection day. For more information about Trash/Recycling or Special Collections, please click on Sub Services below. Please click here for holiday collection schedule.

Show Sub Services

Sanitation Department

The Sanitation Crew is responsible for the Town's refuse and mandatory recyclable collection. Refuse collections are performed 2 days per week with half the Town being covered on each day. A second collection of recyclables is made in each of the two zones each week as well. The Town instituted mandatory curb-side separation of recyclables in April of 1992 and since that time has reduced its general refuse stream by nearly 40%. For information regarding when collection is done in your area, and what items must be recycled, please contact Public Works at 410-641-4001 or email the Public Works Director with any questions.

Street Department

The Street Department is responsible for the maintenance of Town-owned streets, the grounds and equipment in the three public park areas owned by the Town with the direction of the Berlin Parks Commission.

Trash Collection

The Town of Berlin Sanitation Department collects trash for each residence/business one day per week, and recycling for residences one day per week. Regular Household trash must be placed in the provided container; recycling does not need to be placed in a special container, but must be seperated by type and easily identifiable.

WHEN ARE COLLECTIONS SCHEDULED? If your general refuse is collected on Tuesday, then your recyclables will be collected on Monday, if your general refuse is collected on Wednesday or Thursday, then your recyclables will be collected on Friday.

If you are unsure what your scheduled collection day is, or have any other questions regarding collection, please email the Public Works Department, or call them at 410-641-4001.

Recycling Collection

RECYCLING GUIDELINES

In July of 1992, the Town of Berlin implemented a mandatory recycling program. There were many reasons for implementing this program - primarily economic, environmental, and resource conservation.

WHAT CAN BE RECYCLED?

* GLASS-bottles and jars only. Preparation: Rinse , remove lids, rings and metal attachments. Paper labels may be left on the jar or bottle. It is NOT necessary to separate by color.

* PLASTIC-any plastic container with the recycling symbol 1 thru 7 (no plastic bags). Preparation: Rinse, remove caps, lids, rings or other attachments and crush to flatten. Paper labels may be left on the container.

* ALUMINUM-drink cans and clean aluminum food containers or foil. Preparation: Rinse.

* FERROUS, TIN, OR BI-METAL-cans only (will stick to a magnet). Preparation: Rinse.

* PAPER-newspapers and magazines, office paper, "junk mail", etc. Preparation: Keep clean and dry, bundle with string or place in disposal bags in stacks of twelve (12) inches or less.

* CARDBOARD-CORRUGATED ONLY. Preparation: Same as paper above.

No special container is required for recyclable materials, however all items must be in separate containers as outlined above. Recycle containers need only be sturdy enough to be handled without bursting, and easily identifiable as containing recyclables. Designate your recyclable containers by marking them, or by providing a container with a visual means of identifying the materials inside without opening the bag or lid. Metal drums are not acceptable, and neither are plastic cans larger than thirty (30) gallons of capacity. Factory-made recycling containers are also available at many area merchants.

WHEN ARE COLLECTIONS SCHEDULED? General refuse (regular household garbage) will be collected once per week and recyclables once per week. If your general refuse is collected on Tuesday, then your recyclables will be collected on Monday, if your general refuse is collected on Wednesday or Thursday, then your recyclables will be collected on Friday.

There are also recycling containers located at the entrance to the Municipal Power Plant on William Street for drop-offs.

In the event of a holiday, or other Town office closure, general refuse and/or recyclables will be collected on the next regularly scheduled day, unless otherwise scheduled. Any change in scheduling will be published in local newspapers, on the Public Access Channel (cable channel 4) and/or in the Berlin Community News. If you should have any questions regarding the collection routes or the separation of recyclables from general refuse, please call the Public Works Department at 410-641-4001.

Spring Yard Waste Collection

Dates:

Wednesday, April 25, 2012 (if regular collection is on Tuesdays or Wednesdays)

Wednesday, May 2, 2012 (if regular collection is on Thursdays)

Residential customers only. Residents must have items for collection set out by 6:00 a.m. Materials placed for pick up at any other time will not be collected.

DO:

DO place leaves, grass clippings, pine needles and cones, and garden waste in a paper bag, plastic bag, or (maximum) 30 gallon container.

DO cut brush into 4 ft. lengths and bundles no larger than 18 inches in diameter.

DON’T:

DON'T use the Town-provided wheeled trash cans.

DON'T mix in stones, rocks, metal, other inorganic matter, dirt, sod or other encumbrances

The curbside pick up of yard waste is intended for occupied residentially improved properties only.

Commercial and Industrial properties are not included in the collection program.

For further information regarding acceptable types of yard waste, please email the Public Works Department or call them at 410-641-4001.

Spring Bulk Collection

Dates:

Wednesday, May 9, 2012 (if regular collection is on Tuesdays or Wednesdays)

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 (if regular collection is on Thursdays)

Regulations:

¨ DO NOT USE Town-provided trash cans ¨ Small items must be placed in a container at the curb and weigh no more than 100 lbs.

¨ Collection is for improved, occupied residential properties only.

¨ Regular household garbage and yard waste is not part of this collection.

¨ Commercial and industrial properties are not included in this collection.

¨ Do not place items in the Town-provided, wheeled trash cans.

Items to be collected:

Bulky items such as:

Furniture
Mattresses
Toilets & Sinks
Refridgerators, Washers & Dryers
Carpet
Tables & Chairs
Televisions
Computer Components & Printers

Items not collected:

Hazardous Waste
Construction Materials
Yard waste/brush
Paint
Propane tanks
Tires

For more information regarding acceptable items for collection, please email the Berlin Public Works Department or call them at 410-641-4001.

Fall Bulk Trash Collection

Dates:

Wednesday, November 7 (if regular collection day is Tuesday or Wednesday)

Wednesday, November 14 (if regular collection day is Thursday)

Residential customers only. Residents must have items for collection set out by 6:00 a.m. Materials placed for pick up at any other time will not be collected. For more information see News & Announcements.

Fall Yard Waste Collection

Dates:

Wednesday, December 5, 2012 (if regular collection is on Tuesdays or Wednesdays)

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 (if regular collection is on Thursdays)

Christmas Tree Collection

The Town of Berlin Public Works Department will hold curbside collection of live-cut Christmas Trees on Wednesday, January 2 and 9, 2013. Trees must be free of ALL decorations and at the curb by 7:00 AM.