Baltimore has contracted WIN Waste Innovations to staff and operate eight recycling drop-off centers as the Department of Public Works remains on a bi-weekly schedule for collection, officials said. The company will staff the centers Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The drop-off locations will serve communities on the weeks they are not scheduled to have their recycling picked up. Meaning on “A Weeks,” when DPW crews are collecting recycling in neighborhoods north of North Avenue, the centers will be open in Southeast and Southwest Baltimore. On “B Weeks,” when recycling is being picked up in the southern neighborhoods, the centers will be open above North Avenue.
DPW opted for the new schedule for recycling collection following weeks of service disruptions due to a rise in COVID-19 cases among staff. “This change to bi-weekly recycling collections will help the Department manage for the long-term. These modifications are essential to stabilize operations and ensure consistent, predictable, and sustainable services for residents,” said Director Jason W. Mitchell.
In a statement, Mayor Brandon Scott said Monday the city is trying to maintain its sustainable practices in the face of the staffing shortages. “We are drawing upon every available resource, including our private-sector partners, to ensure we provide the residents of Baltimore with essential public services and promote responsible waste management policies,” he said. WIN Waste Innovations, formerly known Wheelabrator Technologies, operates the BRESCO incinerator in South Baltimore, the subject of protests from residents who said pollution from the facility leads to health issues.