Recycling - What Can Be Recycled

The chart below is a handy reminder of what can and cannot be recycled.

PDF version of chart

CITY OF BOWIE RECYCLING 301-809-2344
Recycling Bin Items
COMMODITY	ACCEPTABLE	NOT ACCEPTABLE
GLASS Please rinse; plastic rings and labeling may remain	ALL BOTTLES AND JARS	CERAMICS , CRYSTAL, MIRRORS, LIGHT BULBS, WINDOW GLASS, DRINKING GLASSES
METALS Please rinse; cans may be crushed;labeling may remain	ALUMINUM, STEEL/BI-METAL FOOD & BEVERAGE CANS; EMPTY AEROSOL CANS, ALUMINUM FOIL, ALUMINUM FOOD CONTAINERS	PAINT CANS
PAPER May be placed either beside or inside recycling bin. If placed beside bin, please tie or bundle or place in bags. If placed in bin, please don't set loose papers on top.	ALL PAPER: NEWSPAPERS, WHITE PAPERS, MAGAZINES, CATALOGS, TELEPHONE BOOKS, JUNK MAIL, CARDBOARD, PAPERBOARD, WRAPPING PAPER, HARD AND SOFT COVER BOOKS; CLEAN MILK AND JUICE CARTONS
PLASTICS All narrow and wide mouth containers; soft or rigid; caps & lids included; glasses, cups; bags secured in a bag	BOTTLES, TUBS, CUPS, MILK JUGS, SODA BOTTLES, SHAMPOO, LAUNDRY BASKETS, DETERGENT, COAT HANGERS, LAWN FURNITURE, TOYS, PLASTIC WRAP AND BAGS SECURED IN A BAG	MOTOR OIL OR CHEMICAL BOTTLES, PLATES, UTENSILS; NO STYROFOAM
Items in the categories above can be placed together in a blue recycling bin or any other container marked “Recycle”.

Special Pickup
COMMODITY	ACCEPTABLE	NOT ACCEPTABLE
METAL ITEMS & TIRES Call 301-809-2344 before noon on Tuesday for a Wednesday pickup.	WASHERS, DRYERS, GRILLS, BIKES, WATER HEATERS, AIR CONDITIONERS, ETC. - ANYTHING 98% METAL and TIRES	AUTO PARTS GALVANIZED METAL FENCING, PROPANE TANKS, FENCE POSTS, GARDEN STAKES
Items in this category require a Special Pickup.

Weekly Wednesday Pickup
COMMODITY	ACCEPTABLE	NOT ACCEPTABLE
YARD WASTE Branches must be no larger than 3 inches in diameter or no longer than 4 feet and must be tied securely, Thicker branches are regular trash.	BAGGED GRASS, LEAVES, TWIGS, BRANCHES MUST BE TIED SECURELY IN BUNDLES WEDNESDAYS ONLY	BAMBOO, DIRT, ROCKS, STUMPS, APPLES, MULCH, PUMPKINS, 2 X 4s, LANDSCAPE TIMBERS
Yardwaste that meets the specified size limits will be picked up on Wednesdays. There is no need to schedule a pickup.

Recycling is collected once weekly. All items for recycling can go in a single container. There is no longer a need to sort recycling. Residents may obtain a recycling bin at City Hall between 8:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. Recycling may also be placed in any container marked "Recycle".

The following items are accepted:

Metals

Empty aerosol cans
Food and beverage containers made from aluminum, bimetal, ferrous and steel
Aluminum foil, aluminum food containers
Coat hangers

Plastics

Bagged grocery bags, shrink wrap and stretch film (insert all bags into one bag - no loose bags)
Bottles and other narrow neck containers
Wide mouth containers such as peanut butter, yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, margarine and prescription bottles
Coat hangers
Cups
Flower pots

Glass

Food and beverage containers (clear and colored)

Mixed Paper/Corrugated Cardboard

All paper (copier paper, looseleaf, drawing paper, wrapping paper)
Newspapers
Junk mail
Magazines and catalogs
Paper board (cereal boxes, cracker boxes, etc. )
Cardboard
Telephone books
Hard and soft-covered books
Clean gable-top milk and juice cartons

All recycling should be placed at curbside no later than 7 a.m. on your scheduled recycling day listed below. For further information please call the Public Works Department, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 301-809-2344.

When your recycling day falls on one of your refuse days, please place your recycling on one side of your driveway and your refuse on the other.