Waste Management Services provides convenient and safe disposal services for as many different types of items as possible. Some products require special handling for safe disposal. County departments other than Waste Management Services may dispose of other items. Unfortunately, there are some types of products that cannot be disposed of or accepted by any County agency.

Abandoned Vehicles

Abandoned vehicles, trailers, etc. without tags or with expired tags on private property should be reported to the County Office of Inspections and Permits. The Zoning Enforcement Division will require that the car be disposed of, properly tagged, or garaged. Requests are taken in writing only. Include a description of the vehicle, locations of the vehicle or ownership of the property where the vehicle is located. Send information to: 

Abandoned vehicles, trailers, etc. without tags or with expired tags on public streets should be reported to the County police district station serving your community.

Ammunition

Ammunition may be turned in to the Police Department. Call (410) 222-8610.

Animal Waste

Animal waste, such as used kitty litter and dog waste, must be double bagged before being placed at the curb on your regular trash collection day.

Asbestos/Asbestos Shingles

Asbestos shingles are not accepted at our facilities, however small quantities of asbestos shingles may be brought to the County's Hazardous Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Days. Residents must double bag securely, and limit the weight of the overall bag to 40 lbs. Residents are limited to 4 bags per event, for a total of 160 lbs. maximum per event. 

Coals and Ashes

Compressed Gas Tanks

Oxygen tanks used in the home for medical reasons should be returned to the supplier or manufacturer. Look for an address on the neck of the tank. Helium tanks must be emptied and the "knock-out" removed before they can be disposed of at our facilities. Dive tanks used for recreational purposes can be sold back to the dive shop or through classified advertisements. Tip: Before purchasing compressed gas tanks, ask the supplier about disposal alternatives.

Cooking Oil (Liquid) and Grease (Solid)

Liquid cooking oil is accepted for recycling at all Convenience Centers.  It may be disposed as trash curbside only after it has been absorbed and solidified (with newspaper, kitty litter or another absorbent). As a rule, liquids are not accepted at the curb due to the mess often created by collecting and transporting liquids, and landfill regulations which prevent land disposal of liquids. 

Solid cooking grease is accepted curbside and at all Convenience Centers for disposal as trash.

NEVER pour used cooking oil or grease on the ground or down garbage disposals, sinks, toilets, drains or storm sewers. It leads to blocked sewer pipes, clogged drain fields, increased maintenance costs, and contaminated waterways.

Dead Animals

For deceased household pets, contact a local veterinary clinic for disposal services.

For hunting carcasses, contact a licensed deer salvager at DNR’s Nuisance Animal Hotline
1-877-463-6497 or search DNR's Wildlife and Heritage Service online.

Explosives

The fire investigation section of the County Fire Marshal's Office will pick up explosive items such as gunpowder, hand grenades, blasting caps, fireworks, etc. Call (410) 222-7884, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. For disposal outside of those hours call 911 and request the fire investigation section.

Household and Commercial Hazardous Waste

Unless used or disposed of according to directions, household and commercial chemicals present a threat to the surface water and ground water that we drink. Special handling is required to dispose of them properly. Commercial companies should contact the Maryland Department of the Environment for handling requirements at (410) 537-3400. County residents may safely dispose of Household Hazardous Waste on designated drop-off days.

Human Waste

Human waste, such as used diapers, must be double bagged before being placed at the curb on your regular trash collection day.

Latex Paint

Emptied or dried out latex paint cans will be accepted in your trash. Latex paint is not hazardous, but leaves a sticky mess on employees, equipment, and your streets so please dry it out, place at the curb on your regular trash collection day. Oil -based paint is hazardous and is accepted during Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Days.

Read the label. If hazardous, flammable, poisonous, or unidentifiable, dispose of at Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Days or refer to the yellow pages for private companies who also provide this service. If not hazardous, flammable, or poisonous, pour down the kitchen drain. Do not mix products to avoid potentially deadly combination. Liquids create a mess in collection vehicles, and work their way through the trash, picking up contaminants, and eventually have to be pumped out and treated at special disposal facilities.

Medical Waste

Medical waste is accepted only from residential customers.  Residential customers can place needles, syringes, lancets and other sharp objects in puncture-proof, hard plastic containers you can't see through. Or use metal containers with lids; reinforced with tape. Lids that screw on tightly are best. Then place the sealed container with your trash --- never in a recycling bin.

Residents may also find instructions on disposing of expired and unused medications on the Anne Arundel County Department of Health website.  In addition, prescription take-back programs at pharmacies are slowly becoming available.  Some pharmacies, like Walgreens, now offer the service to the public; fees may apply.  For more details, visit their website at www.walgreens.com/topic/help/pharmacyhelp/pharmacy_reference_help_main.jsp#BiohazardDisposal

Propane tanks are not accepted in the trash. One-pound and twenty-pound tanks (empty and or full) are accepted for recycling at all Waste Management Services facilities year round. In addition, some propane dealers and hardware stores will accept old larger propane tanks for recycling or reuse. Check the yellow pages for a location near you.

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors contain a small amount of radioactive material, which prevents our household hazardous waste program from accepting them. Check for the manufacturer listed on the back of the detector for alternatives. If you are unable to identify manufacturer, place in your regular trash.

Styrofoam/Polystyrene

Styrofoam packing peanuts and blocks are accepted curbside in your regular trash and at all Waste Management Services Facilities for disposal. As an alternative, please consider recycling or reusing Styrofoam through the following resources: Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers, 1298 Cronson Boulevard, Crofton, Telephone: (410) 451-8340 accepts "block" polystyrene packaging for recycling. Customers should call ahead for hours. Many mail/postal stores such as Mail Boxes, Etc. or Parcel Plus accept polystyrene "peanuts" for reuse. Check the Yellow Pages for locations.

Although Styrofoam is recyclable, it is currently not accepted within the County's recycling program.  Styrofoam is a very light material and because of this it tends to contaminate other recyclables when collected in a mixed stream.  To ensure that we receive the highest value for all other recyclables that the County currently accepts in the program, Styrofoam is excluded from the list of materials we ask residents to recycle. Should the technological or market conditions change, making it feasible to process, the County will consider including it on the list of accepted materials.