Baltimore Residents Frustrated by Trash Collection Delays After Snowstorm

City struggles to catch up on collection schedule weeks after January storm

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Residents in Baltimore are growing increasingly frustrated as the city's Department of Public Works struggles to resume normal trash and recycling collection following a major snowstorm in January. The delay has left piles of garbage accumulating in alleys and neighborhoods, impacting residents' ability to receive home heating oil deliveries and attracting pests.

Why it matters

The trash collection backlog highlights the challenges cities face in recovering from major winter storms, which can disrupt essential services and leave residents dealing with unsanitary conditions for weeks. It also raises questions about the city's preparedness and responsiveness in addressing such disruptions.

The details

After the January snowstorm, heavy machinery and dump trucks have been working to remove the mountains of snow that blanketed the city. This has delayed the Department of Public Works' regular trash and recycling pickup schedules. One East Baltimore resident, John Bryant, said the piled-up garbage in his alley has prevented oil delivery companies from accessing his home, leaving him low on heating fuel.

  • The snowstorm hit Baltimore in early January 2026.
  • As of mid-February, the city was still working to catch up on trash and recycling collection.

The players

Baltimore City Department of Public Works

The city agency responsible for trash and recycling collection in Baltimore.

John Bryant

A 78-year-old East Baltimore resident who has been impacted by the trash collection delays, unable to receive home heating oil deliveries due to the piled-up garbage in his alley.

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What they’re saying

“The recycling, it's not coming. The trash truck, it's not coming. Nobody came to pick it up. My trash can is full. Can't put it out.”

— Juan Machado, Nearby Resident (98online.com)

“Pick up the trash so I can get my fuel, my oil.”

— John Bryant, East Baltimore Resident (98online.com)

What’s next

The city has said it is working to catch up on trash and recycling collection, and a sanitation crew was dispatched to Bryant's alley after the news outlet contacted the city for comment. Bryant is hopeful he will be able to receive his home heating oil delivery soon.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the need for cities to have robust emergency preparedness plans in place to ensure essential services like trash collection can be quickly restored following major weather events. It also underscores the impact that such disruptions can have on vulnerable residents, like the elderly, who rely on uninterrupted access to basic necessities.