Yard waste is picked up at curbside on Wednesdays in Bowie.

As of January 1, 2014, yard waste can no longer be accepted in plastic bags.

This change includes:

• Grass
• Leaves
• Branches
• Christmas trees

Why is this change happening?
The City of Bowie brings its yard waste to the Prince George’s County Yard Waste Facility for recycling. In the interests of better protecting the environment, the County has decided that it will no longer accept yard waste at the facility in plastic bags. All County residents, including Bowie residents, are subject to this change.

As of January 1, 2014, in order to have your yard waste collected at curbside, you must:

• Use large, heavy duty paper bags that can be purchased at local stores.
  (We’ve found them at BJs, Giant, Home Depot; Lowe’s, Safeway, and Target.); or
• Use reusable containers, such as trash cans (not blue recycling carts or bins); or
• Bundle and tie branches that are up to 3 inches in diameter and no longer than 4 feet in length.

Branches can also be placed in paper bags or cans. Cans should weigh no more than 50 pounds when filled.

Larger limbs should be stacked at the curb. They must be cut into 18-24 inch long sections and must be no greater than 24 inches in diameter and weigh no more than 50 pounds each.

Please remember that yard waste cannot be included with your regular trash. Yard waste is not allowed in Maryland landfills and including it could cause an entire truck load of trash to be rejected.

Christmas trees will be picked up at the curb every Wednesday in January.

Have questions?  Please contact the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department at 301-809-2344 or email publicinfo@cityofbowie.org.