About
Residents who receive County collections are eligible for bulk trash and scrap metal pickups. For useable items, please consider donation first. Bulk trash items can be set out on regular trash collection days. Scrap metal pickups must be scheduled.
Bulk Trash Collection
Rules & Restrictions
- Items must be placed at the curb within 5 feet of County roadway by 6am alongside trash containers on your trash collection day.
- Do not block mailboxes, fire hydrants or cars.
- Maximum of 4 bulk trash items per pickup.
- Items must be less than 6 feet in width.
- Items too large to be lifted by two workers will be tagged and left for resident's disposal
No, we can't accept
- Aquarium tanks
- Batteries*
- Drum containers
- Carpet/rugs
- Chairs with electric plugs
- Compressed gas tanks*
- Computer monitors*
- Construction & demolition debris
- Fuel & oil tanks
- Medical Waste
- Mirrors/plate glass
- Moon bounces
- Motorized toys*
- Pallets or pressure-treated wood
- Picnic tables (wooden)
- Playhouses/swing sets (wooden)
- Sleeper sofas
- Stumps and logs*
- Tires*
- TVs*
*These items can be recycled at Alpha Ridge Landfill. Visit our Know Before You Throw page for other disposal options.
Plastic Items
Bulk plastic items such as playhouses & play sets (disassembled), totes, sheds (disassembled), lawn furniture and coolers can be recycled at the curb on your regular recycling day. Unlimited amounts of recycling will be accepted.
Scrap Metal Collection
Rules & Restrictions
- Bulk scrap metal items must be scheduled*.
- No items with batteries are accepted. Batteries must be removed from any lawnmowers, scooters, or other battery-operated devices. See below for all prohibited items.
- Items must be less than 10 feet in length or width.
- Only two collections may be scheduled per year.
Please contact the Bureau of Environmental Services to schedule. Bulk metal items include metal swing sets, file cabinets, appliances, lawn mowers, exercise equipment, etc. Please remove doors from refrigerators and drain oil and gas from lawn mowers.
NOTE: It is illegal for anyone except Howard County's contractors to pick-up scrap metal at the curb (Howard County Code 18.610)
No, we can't accept
- Aquarium tanks
- Batteries*
- Drum containers
- Chairs with electric plugs
- Compressed gas tanks*
- Computer monitors*
- Fuel & oil tanks
- Medical Waste
- Mirrors/plate glass
- Motorized toys*
- Sleeper sofas
- Tires*
- TVs**
*These items can be recycled at Alpha Ridge Landfill.
Donation
Remember: Bulk trash items collected by the County will be sent to a landfill. Consider donating useable items before disposing of them. One person's trash is another's treasure!
We've compiled a list of drop-off and pick-up services available to Howard County residents. For non-useable items, try searching our Know Before You Throw table for other recycling options.
FAQs
When is my collection day?
Bulk trash is collected on your trash collection day between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Pickup time may vary. Items must be placed out after 6 p.m. the day before collection or before 6 a.m. the day of collection. Contact us or use our online tool to check your collection days.
Scrap metal collections are scheduled. If you need to reschedule, please contact us.
How should I place materials out for donation?
Residents putting out items for donation (Purple Heart, Freecycle, etc.) should be sure to clearly mark those items and keep them close to the house to avoid accidental trash collection.
Which holidays affect curbside collections?
Collections slide for certain County holidays. Visit our Holiday & Inclement Weather page for details. Sign up for our e-newsletter for slide schedule reminders.
What should I do with...?
Not sure about an item? Visit our Know Before You Throw page for recycling and disposal assistance.