D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 1309
1309.1 District-owned solid waste facilities transfer roughly 450,000 tons of solid waste per year, which is collected by both public and private solid waste collectors. Municipal solid waste consists of everyday items, such as product packaging, food waste, furniture and other household items, clothing, and larger bulk items, like household appliances. DPW solid waste management administration is responsible for waste collection services from all government entities and approximately 105,000 single-family homes and residential buildings with up to three living units. Private solid waste collectors handle solid waste from commercial establishments and multi-family residential buildings containing four or more units. The Department of General Services (DGS) is responsible for managing solid waste generated at District government facilities. Approximately 63 percent of the solid waste received by the two District-owned solid waste transfer stations is from commercial sources and multi-family residences, while 37 percent is generated from DPW-serviced residential uses and the government sector.
1309.2 DPW provides trash collection, recycling collection, leaf and yard waste collection, and dead animal removal in the District. At the Fort Totten transfer station, DPW manages residential drop-off of household hazardous and electronic waste as well as paper shredding services; DPW is also responsible for street and alley cleaning. The Solid Waste Education and Enforcement Team at DPW is responsible for education, technical assistance, outreach, and all sanitation regulations in the District. The DPW Office of Waste Diversion is responsible for District-wide waste diversion policy and planning.
1309.3 The Mayor’s Office of the Clean City is the central point of contact and champion for preventing and reducing litter and trash pollution in Washington, DC. The office collaborates with other District agencies to ensure cleanliness of Washington, DC, encouraging businesses, neighborhoods, and visitors to help reduce trash, pick up litter, sweep sidewalks, and discourage graffiti. It works to strengthen existing laws aimed at improving procedures and enhancing regulations to keep the District clean.
See the Environmental Protection Element for information and policies on recycling, composting, and reducing the solid waste stream.
Residential and commercial recycling is required in the District. DPW residential recycling includes a pickup on the same day as trash pickup. Commercial recycling is required by law. Any premise not authorized to receive municipal trash and recycling collection services, or containing a unit used for non-residential purposes, is considered a business or commercial establishment. Under District
law, all commercial properties are required to implement a recycling program. In January 2018, a new list of materials required to be recycled was published. For the first time, the same items will be required to be recycled in all commercial and residential properties across the District.
SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).