Baltimore's DPW Launches 'Oops!' Recycling Education Campaign

New initiative aims to reduce contamination in city's recycling bins

Mar. 30, 2026 at 8:37pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen-style illustration of a repeating grid of blue recycling bin icons overlaid with a bold 'Oops!' tag graphic, conceptually representing Baltimore's new recycling education initiative.Baltimore's 'Oops!' recycling education campaign aims to reduce contamination in the city's blue bins through clear visual cues and public outreach.Baltimore Today

Baltimore's Department of Public Works has launched a new 'Oops!' recycling education campaign to inform residents about what can and cannot be recycled. The goal is to reduce contamination in the city's recycling bins, which can clog up recycling machinery and undermine the entire recycling program. As part of the initiative, sanitation workers will place 'Oops!' tags on bins with improper items, providing guidance on acceptable recyclables.

Why it matters

Reducing recycling contamination is crucial for Baltimore's recycling program to operate efficiently and cost-effectively. Contaminants like plastic bags, electronics, and food-soiled containers can damage recycling equipment and lead to entire loads being rejected, undermining the city's sustainability efforts. The 'Oops!' campaign aims to educate residents and improve recycling habits across Baltimore.

The details

The 'Oops!' initiative focuses on informing residents about what can and cannot be recycled in the city's blue bins. Acceptable items include bottles, cans, and paper, while contaminants like plastic bags, cords, hoses, and food-soiled containers are not recyclable. Sanitation workers will place 'Oops!' tags on bins with improper items, explaining what should and should not go in the recycling. The city has seen a drop in contamination rates from 21.11% to 15.09% over the past year, but aims to continue improving through this educational campaign.

  • The 'Oops!' recycling education campaign launched in March 2026.
  • Contamination rates dropped from 21.11% (June 2024 to July 2025) to 15.09% (August 2025 to present).

The players

Sean Crockett

Recycling supervisor for Baltimore's Department of Public Works.

Baltimore City Department of Public Works

The city agency responsible for managing Baltimore's recycling program and launching the 'Oops!' initiative.

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What they’re saying

“Well, it's easy. Bottles, cans, paper. That's what's recycled.”

— Sean Crockett, Recycling supervisor

“It clogs up the machines that recycle, and it destroys the efficiency of the whole, entire program. So, most of it is considered contamination at that point — the whole load is lost.”

— Sean Crockett, Recycling supervisor

“Most people want to put their recycling in plastic bags. You can't do that.”

— Sean Crockett, Recycling supervisor

“The ultimate message is education. We all try to get better. Read the tag. Get better. On one side, it's what you can't use. On the other side is what you can use.”

— Sean Crockett, Recycling supervisor

What’s next

The city plans to continue monitoring contamination rates and expanding the 'Oops!' education campaign to further reduce improper items in recycling bins.

The takeaway

Baltimore's new 'Oops!' recycling initiative demonstrates the importance of public education and clear guidelines to improve recycling habits and reduce contamination. By informing residents about acceptable items and tagging bins with improper contents, the city aims to boost the efficiency and sustainability of its recycling program.