Weekly recycling pickup to resume in Baltimore City - WBAL TV Baltimore

Weekly recycling pickup to resume in Baltimore City

Weekly recycling pickup is set to return in Baltimore City, 11 News learned Tuesday.According to the mayor's office, the Department of Public Works confirmed that weekly recycling services will return the first full week of March.Officials said the resumption is possible thanks to new hires, an upgraded fleet of "load packer" trucks, and optimized pickup routes. New technology has allowed DPW to reduce the number of stops per crew to 1,800, down from 2,600.The city has ordered 80 new load packers. Of those, 13 have arrived and are undergoing inspection and customization by the Baltimore City Department of General Services."Our city of Baltimore has very specific needs with old infrastructure and tight alleys, which means our teams have to do some extensive uplifting and custom modifications to the trucks to get them road ready," Mayor Brandon Scott said on Wednesday. "Much like the trucks, not all of these new hires are road ready. They have to be trained, they have to learn their routes."The mayor also said DPW is testing new digitally optimized routes for pickup. Until recently, the city was still using paper maps for pickup routes.Recycling service was suspended altogether in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Crews eventually began biweekly pickup, but residents reported it being inconsistent.Some residents went as far as filing a court petition in 2023 demanding a return to weekly services."It's about time. They need it," resident Loretta Matthews said. "All this trash up and down the sidewalks. I mean, it's ridiculous."Baltimore City Councilman Isaac "Yitzy" Schleifer, D-District 5, was one of the most vocal advocates in support of weekly pickup."We've seen a lot of people over the last couple years stop recycling and just putting recyclables in the trash. So, what we're really hoping is that those folks will reconsider now that we're back to weekly," he said.Schleifer said increased litter is another reason he pushed for weekly service to return. Biweekly pickup was also tough for the DPW, picking up two weeks worth of waste.Some residents remain skeptical."I'll wait until I see it, as long as they stick up to their word," resident Javodah Peterson. "Everybody should (recycle). We'd have a cleaner Maryland."Officials said residents' usual recycling pickup day will remain the same.

BALTIMORE —

Weekly recycling pickup is set to return in Baltimore City, 11 News learned Tuesday.

According to the mayor's office, the Department of Public Works confirmed that weekly recycling services will return the first full week of March.

Officials said the resumption is possible thanks to new hires, an upgraded fleet of "load packer" trucks, and optimized pickup routes. New technology has allowed DPW to reduce the number of stops per crew to 1,800, down from 2,600.

The city has ordered 80 new load packers. Of those, 13 have arrived and are undergoing inspection and customization by the Baltimore City Department of General Services.

"Our city of Baltimore has very specific needs with old infrastructure and tight alleys, which means our teams have to do some extensive uplifting and custom modifications to the trucks to get them road ready," Mayor Brandon Scott said on Wednesday. "Much like the trucks, not all of these new hires are road ready. They have to be trained, they have to learn their routes."

The mayor also said DPW is testing new digitally optimized routes for pickup. Until recently, the city was still using paper maps for pickup routes.

Recycling service was suspended altogether in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Crews eventually began biweekly pickup, but residents reported it being inconsistent.

Some residents went as far as filing a court petition in 2023 demanding a return to weekly services.

"It's about time. They need it," resident Loretta Matthews said. "All this trash up and down the sidewalks. I mean, it's ridiculous."

Baltimore City Councilman Isaac "Yitzy" Schleifer, D-District 5, was one of the most vocal advocates in support of weekly pickup.

"We've seen a lot of people over the last couple years stop recycling and just putting recyclables in the trash. So, what we're really hoping is that those folks will reconsider now that we're back to weekly," he said.

Schleifer said increased litter is another reason he pushed for weekly service to return. Biweekly pickup was also tough for the DPW, picking up two weeks worth of waste.

Some residents remain skeptical.

"I'll wait until I see it, as long as they stick up to their word," resident Javodah Peterson. "Everybody should (recycle). We'd have a cleaner Maryland."

Officials said residents' usual recycling pickup day will remain the same.

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