Baltimore Restarts Regular Trash Collection After January Storm, but Icy Alleys Leave Backlog in Brooklyn

Trash pickup returns to schedule, but access remains uneven across alley-served blocks

Baltimore’s Department of Public Works (DPW) has resumed regular trash and recycling collection in the weeks following a major January winter storm, as crews continue to clear snow and ice that made many residential alleys unsafe for sanitation trucks. In parts of the Brooklyn neighborhood, residents reported that trash had not been collected for roughly two weeks after the storm, forcing some to move bags and bins to locations trucks could reach.

In the 400 block area near Fourth and Jack streets, residents described trash accumulating at curb corners and behind homes where alley access was limited by compacted snow and ice. With trucks returning to the area as conditions improved, some residents said they were able to get at least part of their waste picked up by carrying it to the end of the block.

Alley conditions drove the operational changes during the storm response

City winter-storm operations included a temporary shift away from normal alley-based trash collection, reflecting the reality that many alleys were expected to remain impassable after snow and freezing rain. During that period, residents who typically receive alley collection were directed to move trash to the end of the alley or to the front of their homes to help crews reach it while roads and alleys were being treated and cleared.

The city’s winter-storm status updates described the approach as a public-safety adjustment intended to keep collections moving while snow and ice removal remained underway. Recycling service was temporarily paused during part of the response period, while trash collection was prioritized using the modified set-out method.

Clearing alleys is central to restoring consistent collection

DPW’s winter operations have centered on reopening alleys, which serve as the primary access point for collection in many Baltimore blocks. City updates outlined an alley-clearing plan tied to the regular weekly collection sequence, with salt treatment applied after clearing to reduce refreezing risks. Even with those efforts, city communications have indicated that not all alleys could be fully cleared in time for scheduled collections during early February, requiring continued use of modified set-out guidance in some areas.

• Residents were instructed to place trash and recycling in front of the residence or at the side/end of the alley when alley access was limited.
• Missed collections were directed to be reported through the city’s 311 system for follow-up as conditions allowed.
• Street sweeping remained suspended during freezing conditions cited in city winter operations updates.

Neighborhood impacts highlight the logistical limits of winter recovery

While regular collection has resumed citywide in principle, conditions at the block level remain a determining factor in how quickly service normalizes. In alley-served neighborhoods like Brooklyn, snow and ice can produce uneven recovery, with some streets seeing trucks return sooner than others depending on access and safety. Residents in the hardest-hit blocks reported trash stacking up behind homes where trucks could not safely navigate.

Residents described trash in some alleys as having accumulated to shoulder height, reflecting the combined effect of missed pickups and restricted access during prolonged freezing conditions.

City winter operations have emphasized that service restoration depends on clearing routes, maintaining safe working conditions, and coordinating ongoing snow and ice management with sanitation operations.