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Recycling
When and where to put out your recycling containers:
Recyclables are collected at the public right-of-way (curb) one day per week on your designated day. Recycling must be put out for collection by 6 a.m. For your convenience, you may put out your containers the night before collection. However, containers must be removed from the public right-of-way curb within 24 hours after collection.
Preparation:
Do not place regular refuse in your recycling bin. When putting out your recyclables, it is important to remember to keep your regular refuse separate from your recyclables. Mixing recyclables with regular refuse may cause recyclables to become contaminated and unusable. Also, different trucks collect different items at different times, so it is important to keep specified items separated for more efficient collection.
Special Collections
Pickup of metal items (i.e., washer, dryer, stove, refrigerator, metal shed, metal swing set, propane tank) will be collected BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.Call 240-314-8568 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday-Friday. Please do not place items at the curb unless you are instructed to do so.
Recycling WILL NOT be collected
You MUST HOLD your recycling until the next collection. |
What we collect on your RECYCLING day and how to prepare it:
| What We Collect | How to Prepare It & Examples |
Aluminum foil | Rinse clean; place in City-provided recycling bin |
| Cardboard/cardboard boxes (Corrugated cardboard) | Place in City-provided recycling bin. Items should be broken down and flattened to no larger than3 feet wide or 3 feet long. Acceptable items include: cereal boxes (liner removed), milk cartons, detergent boxes, tissue boxes, gift boxes, shoe boxes, pizza boxes, toilet/ paper towel rolls, etc. |
| Furniture, plastic | Place at the public right-of-way (curb). Plastic lawn furniture. |
Glass bottles and jars | Rinse cans; lids may be included; paper labels may stay on. Place in City-provided recycling bin. No mirrors, window glass, plates, cookware, pottery, ceramics, crystal, or light bulbs. No broken glass. |
| Paper | Newspapers (including inserts); magazines; catalogs; telephone books, computer paper; books (including paperbacks, textbooks, and hardbacks); unwanted mail; computer, office and other clean and dry paper. |
| Plastic bottles (with #1, #2, #3, #5, and #7 recycling symbols stamped on the bottom). | Includes milk, soft drink, juice, detergent, bleach, salad dressing, and cooking oil bottles; margarine, yogurt, cottage cheese, deli-type containers; plastic wrap or bags (place in one bag for collection; includes store produce bags, newspaper bags, bread bags, and food wraps). Lids and paper labels may stay on. NO automotive product containers (oil, anti-freeze, brake fluid); styrofoam containers; pesticide containers; microwave plates |
| Rigid Plastics | Includes plastic milk/soda crates, plastic buckets with metal handles, plastic laundry baskets, plastic totes, plastic drums, plastic coolers, plastic flower pots, plastic drinking cups/glasses, plastic 5-gallon water bottles, plastic pallets, plastic toys, plastic gadgets, straws, plastic utensils, hard plastic packaging, and empty plastic garbage/recycling bins. |
| Seasonal Collections (holiday trees, leaves) | Holiday trees (collected in January): Remove metal base stands, nails, and all decorations (including tinsel). Place the whole tree at the public right-of-way (curb) without a plastic disposal bag. Wire-bound wreaths should be set out with your regular refuse. |
| Leaves | Crews using vacuum equipment collect leaves raked to the public right-of-way (curb) in the spring (April) and in the fall (October-December) See Rockville Reports, Rockville Cable, or view the leaf collection schedules. For other times, place leaves in biodegradable paper bags or easily emptied 32-gallon containers See map on page 12 for areas for pick-up |
| Sheds, swing sets | Dismantled with concrete footings removed; placed at the public right-of-way (curb). Call 240-314-8568 for special collection. |
| Yard trimmings | Rockville residents DO NOT NEED Montgomery County stickers for yard waste collection |
| Grass cuttings (weeds, flowers, and garden waste with dirt removed)
| The City recommends that grass cuttings be left on the lawn for “grasscycling,” which helps make your lawn healthier, or placed in backyard composting bins. Grass Cuttings: Place in a biodegradable paper lawn bag available for purchase at local stores and City Hall OR place in easily emptied 32-gallon rigid refuse containers (with combined weight of less than 50 pounds) placed at public right-of-way (curb). Grocery and plastic bags should not be used Branches: Place trimmings (less than 6 inches in diameter) in easily-emptied 32-gallon rigid refuse containers OR cut into lengths of not more than 8 feet. Place at public right-of-way (curb). Do not place in plastic or paper bags or boxes. For removal of whole or parts of fallen trees, contact a private hauler. Following a storm with many downed branches, call 240-314-8700 to notify the City. The City will then determine if collection of unprepared branches or branches larger than 6 inches in diameter or more than 10 bundles will be collected by the City |
Unacceptable recycling items include: