Beginning in 2022, Baltimore County will require residents to separate yard material collection in paper bags and will no longer accept plastic bags for yard waste, county officials announced this week.
The new requirements are part of a series of solid waste regulation changes following recommendations from the County’s Solid Waste Work Group, the county announced on Friday.
Residents will be required to use paper bags instead of plastic bags for yard waste beginning April 1, 2022. To account for these changes, the county will also increase weight and capacity limits for trash and recycling to up to 45 pounds and allow residents to use containers compatible with mechanical cart tippers, the county said.
To help residents with this transition, free paper yard material bags will be available for residents to pick up at all county trash and recycling centers, public library branches, and senior centers.
Other changes include a “sliding” collection schedule for holidays, beginning Jan. 1, 2022, where scheduled collection days that occur on or after a holiday will be pushed back by one day. A bulk collection program is also set for early 2022.
New 2022 program guides will be mailed to county residents in December, and more information about county waste management can be found here.
–Melissa Baltimore