Mission

The Public Works Department will provide our community with the highest quality of public service that continually enhances the quality of life for all residents, businesses, property owners, civic organizations and visitors. This commitment will be accomplished through cooperation with other Town departments and the proper utilization of all our allotted resources in the most cost-effective and efficient ways possible.

Services

• Residential and commercial waste and bulk trash collection
• Maintenance and repair of Town streets, signs and parking lots
• Groundskeeping and landscaping on Town property
• Snow and ice removal of Town Streets and parking lots
• Lending the Town truck to residents over the weekend
• Maintenance of Town buildings
• Other duties as required

Collection Schedule

• Monday - Residential trash
• Tuesday - Commercial non-food-handling trash
• Thursday - Residential trash
•        "       - Residential bulk trash
•        "       - Residential recycling
• Friday - Commercial non-food-handling trash
• Daily - Commercial food-handling trash

Ordinance 02-5 requires that all businesses have trash collection, whether privately contracted or provided by the Town. There is currently no Town bulk trash or County recycling services for businesses.

"Bulk trash" includes yard waste or larger household items, such as appliances and furniture. This excludes construction materials from ?do-it-yourself? and contracted projects, such as lumber, gutters, carpeting, etc.

Please set out all trash by 7:00 a.m. to ensure pickup. If the regular collection day falls on a holiday, pickup will occur on the following work day (see a list of Town holidays).

The Town contracts out recycling to Prince George's County Waste Management Division (WMD). Contact WMD for any questions or issues with service at (301) 952-7630. You can call WMD to request a recycling bin or fill out their online order form. In general, the County collects the following recyclables:

• Newspaper, magazines, small catalogs, telephone books and glossy inserts - need to be put in a paper bag or bundled and placed beside your recycling bin on collection day.
• Cans (aluminum, steel and bi-metal) - rinse and remove lids.
• Aluminum pie plates - please clean well..
• Glass can be clear, brown or green - rinse and remove caps/lids.
• Only glass food and beverage containers are accepted (not perfume bottles, etc.).
• Narrow-neck plastic containers such as milk and water jugs; beverage containers; detergent bottles; and bleach bottles are acceptable - rinse and remove caps/lids.
• You don't need to peel labels or separate your non-paper recyclables by material type.
• Remember... rinse all items thoroughly and remove caps or lids before placing them in your recycling bin.

Hazardous Materials and Electronic Equipment

The Town does not accept electronic equipment and household hazardous waste, such as:

• TVs, VCRs, radios and stereos, CD/DVD players, cell phones
• fax machines, copiers, printers, ink toners and cartridges
• desktop and laptop computers, any computer components, monitors, scanners
• oil-based paints, paint thinners and solvents, cans from oil-based and latex paint
• photographic chemicals
• car parts
• used motor oil, brake fluid and antifreeze, unwanted fuels (gasoline, diesel, kerosene)
• batteries of any type, including from cars/boats and laptops, acid
• pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, poisons
• explosives and ammunition, propane tanks, fire extinguishers
• medical waste materials*

* Includes old prescription medications, as well as unused over-the-counter medications. Scientists have recently discovered everything from pain killers to anti-depressants to antibiotics in our water supply. These drugs can harm the wildlife that rely on our rivers and lakes, as well as kill the beneficial bacteria in our septic systems. Therefore, please do not flush away old and unused medications in your sink or toilet.

Brown Station Landfill accepts these hazardous waste materials every Sunday from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The landfill is located at 11611 White House Road and the phone number is (301) 952-7625. If you have questions during the weekdays, contact Desmond Gladden at Prince George's County's Household Hazardous Waste Office, (301) 883-7163 TDD (301) 985-3894 or dwgladden@co.pg.md.us.

Special Needs Assistance

We also assist elderly or disabled residents with picking up their trash. If your household is unable to move a trash can to the curb for collection, please contact the Town Hall and request assistance. The Public Works Department will contact you and arrange for a place next to your house to pick up the trash.

Reminders

The Town operates a street sweeper to keep our streets and gutters free of debris. Please do not place leaves or branches in the road, but up on the curb. Branches need to be cut into four-foot lengths and bundled together.

In general, trash cans should be no larger than 32 gallons and have handles for lifting and a lid that seals. If you are concerned about whether your trash can meets Town requirements (as described in Ordnance 02-5 and Amendment 12/13/06), please contact the Town Hall. The Public Works Department will come out to view your trash can and let you know if it is suitable.