Curbside Collection (Bag and Tag)

City to transition to toter-based collection on July 1, 2027

Beginning on July 1, 2027, curbside solid waste and recycling collection will be through a toter system. Dover's current bag-and-tag system will be phased out on that date. The exact details of the program are still being worked on by city staff and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, along with its ad-hoc subcommittee. Details will be released once finalized. 

Residential curbside solid waste and recycling

The City of Dover provides a weekly bag-and-tag residential curbside solid waste and recycling collection program through its third-party contactor, Waste Management, Inc. Dover Bags are specially marked trash bag sold by the city and retail outlets. Dover Tags are specially marked adhesive tags used for bulky items, also sold by the city and area retail outlets. 

Bag and Tag Information

• 15 gallon bags $2.34 each 
• 30 gallon bags $3.91 each 
• Bulky item tags $10 each

Trash acceptable for bags: Only acceptable solid waste contained in City of Dover trash bags will be collected by the contractor. All bags must be securely tied and not exceeding 20 pounds for a 15-gallon bag, and 35 pounds for the 30-gallon bag.

Acceptable solid waste includes all organic and nonorganic materials capable of placement in a Dover bag, including alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, 6V).  Not acceptable: Universal or hazardous waste, construction and demolition debris, special wastes, oil-based paint containers, yard waste, brush and solid woody waste will be accepted. It is illegal and dangerous to dispose of Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries in curbside trash, as they are fire and explosion hazards. Lithium-ion batteries may be disposed in the correct bin at the Recycling Center.

Trash acceptable for tags (bulky waste): Used to dispose of non-metal items not exceeding 50 pounds that are too large to fit in a Dover trash bag, such as furniture, toilets, mattresses, box springs, carpets (rolled/folded/tied in 3-foot lengths), couches, chairs, and other large non-metal items. Each bulky waste item must Dover bulky tag attached to it. Not acceptable: Construction and demolition debris, and special, universal, and hazardous.

• Talking Trash Brochure is the City of Dover guide to trash and recycling and bag and tag programs. 

All items for collection must be curbside by 7 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day to ensure its collected. Residents shall not place materials for collection along the curb or edge of the street earlier than 4 p.m. on the evening before the scheduled collection day. This provision shall apply to materials placed for collection by the City contractor and private contractors.

What's my trash/recycling collection day? The city's interactive GIS map displays the trash/recycling schedule.

Bags (and tags**) are available at the following locations:

Tags can also be purchased at the City Clerk’s Office, the Public Works Facility, and the Recycling Center.