Brooks Road resident Bob Bosse watched as Bel Air Department of Public Works staffers picked up the parts of a bed – mattress, box spring and the wooden bed frame – that he had placed out by the curb for bulk trash pickup.
The crew fed each part into the hopper at the rear of their yellow garbage truck, and then crushed them with the hydraulic compactor.
“I think it’s convenient, and it also helps keep the Town looking nice,” Bosse, who has lived in Bel Air for about eight years, said of the bulk pickup service provided by DPW.
“People are happy to live here because of that service,” he added.
Bulk trash is typically picked up in Bel Air on Wednesdays, unless the weekly trash and recycling pickup schedule is changed because of a holiday. DPW officials stress that collection of bulk trash is by appointment only.
Residents must call the department at least 24 hours in advance at 410-638-4545 to ensure sanitation crews have the location on their list for pickup. Before scheduling a pickup, residents should refer to the 2024-25 recycling and special collections calendar, which indicates scheduled days for pickup of household trash, recycling and bulk items. The Town is divided into four sections for bulk pickup, and collection days differ depending on the residents’ assigned section.
Having all pickup spots in advance “helps with our ability to pick up in a timely manner,” according to Charlie Dawson, Deputy Director of Public Works.
Morning pickup
The five-person DPW crew, driving two trash trucks plus a flatbed to carry items that could not go into the trash trucks, made their way through residential neighborhoods on Bel Air’s west side on a hot morning in late August. They made regular stops to grab piles of bulk items that had been placed on the curb. In the case of the English Country Manor apartment complex, the items were stored in the fenced-off Bulk Trash Depository on the property.
The workers picked up an array of bulk items, including mattresses, scrap lumber, appliances, outdoor furniture, even children’s battery-powered cars. They had to remove the lead-acid battery from the car. Batteries should not be put out with bulk trash since they can start fires if crushed in the trash compactor.
Batteries should be disposed of separately – contact the Harford County Waste Disposal Center at 410-638-3018 for more information on disposing of lead-acid rechargeable batteries. A hot-water heater put out for bulk pickup at English Country Manor also was separated from the rest of the items and placed on the flatbed.
In at least one case, the crews did not pick up bulk items that were left at a curb – the staffers emphasized that if a location is not on their list, the items will not be picked up.
Dumpster services
Public Works also offers Dumpsters for residents who want to dispose of construction waste, such as waste generated as they complete a renovation project at their home. The 10-yard receptacles are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be reserved by calling DPW at 410-638-4545. The Dumpster will be delivered on a Friday, left at the property over the weekend and then picked up on Monday.
DPW officials stress that these Dumpsters are only available for residents carrying out their own home improvement projects. Contractors who are working at a property must make their own arrangements to remove debris; it cannot be left out for Town sanitation crews to pick up.
Contact Media and Public Relations Specialist David Anderson at 410-838-7181 or danderson@belairmd.org.