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Cleanup instructions for fallen tree limbs

Thursday, July 4, 2013: Independence Day - No County-provided recycling or trash collections on July 4; Thursday and Friday collections that week shift by one day.
See holiday details
. Get holiday reminders as email and/or text messages.

Talking Trash


Thursday, March 26, 2009

Electronics recycling at the Go Green Expo, March 28 + 29, 2009

Have electronics you've been meaning to recycle?  This is the weekend to do it!  We're having two afternoons of electronics recycling at the Go Green America Expo!  Not only will you get those items out of the house, but you'll get some Expo tickets in return. 

Here's the scoop:

  • Please use the Perry Parkway entrance to the fairgrounds.
  • A parking attendant will direct you to either go left to the Expo or go right to the electronics recycling. 
  • You will not need a ticket to drop off electronics!  In addition, the Go Green organizers are generously offering one free ticket to the Expo for each item dropped off at the electronics recycling area.  Electronics recycling staff will pass out the tickets.  If you drop off a computer, you get one ticket; if you drop off a computer and a television you get two tickets, etc.

March 28 and 29, 2009, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
at the Go Green America Expo
Montgomery County Agricultural Center
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Directions to the event

-- posted by Susanne

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CATEGORIES: Computers / Electronics
POSTED: 11:30:00 PM |

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Our "Paint Store" is back open for the season

Paint cans on shelves in Transfer Station's Paint Store

Look at all of those cans of paint, just waiting to be taken for use on an upcoming project!  This morning, our "Paint Store" reopened at the Solid Waste Transfer Station.  It closes for the winter because freezing temperatures can damage paint.  Now that the temperatures are on the rise again, we've restocked the shelves, and organized them by paint type.  Come and "shop" - all paint is available at no charge!

All of the paint we (re)offer is usable paint which residents have brought to our Household Hazardous Waste Program for disposal.  Rather than throwing it away as waste, we give it back to the community for painting needs large and small.

-- posted by Susanne

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CATEGORIES: Hazardous Waste , News
POSTED: 7:11:00 PM |

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Air pollution control retrofit at County’s Resource Recovery Facility reduces nitrogen oxide emissions up to 500 tons a year

From today's news release:

"In support of County Executive Isiah Leggett’s public commitment to use state-of-the-art technologies to improve air pollution control at the County’s Resource Recovery Facility (RRF) in Dickerson, the Division of Solid Waste Services (DSWS) of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced completion of a retrofitting project that has reduced nitrogen oxide (NOx) to about half of the amount designated by regulatory standards.

Previously, the RRF recorded concentrations of about 170 parts per million (ppm), compared to the federal and state daily average limit of 180 ppm. With the newly installed technology, DSWS expects daily average concentrations of NOx to be not more than 110 ppm and 90 ppm on an annual basis."

-- posted by Susanne

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CATEGORIES: News
POSTED: 4:39:00 PM |

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

How may I replace my cracked or broken recycling bin?

The photo in my last blog post had a badly cracked recycling bin in the foreground.   If you have one in similar condition, how do you get a replacement bin?

You may order a new bin at no charge through our "web store", or by calling our Customer Service staff at 240-777-6410.

If you'd like us to take your broken bin when we deliver your new bin, just let us know during the ordering process.   We send the broken bins we pick up to a recycler.

The bin deliveries and pickups are made by our staff, not the recycling collection crews.  Therefore, while your new bin may arrive on your recycling day, it is possible that it will happen on another day.

-- posted by Susanne

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CATEGORIES: Recycling
POSTED: 11:26:00 AM |

Monday, March 23, 2009

Why are trash can lids replaced upside down?

Recycling and trash containers placed at the curb after being emptied by crew.We invite residents to share their comments via a survey about our recycling and trash collection service to them.

One recent survey respondent wrote:

Do not like that the can tops are "stuffed" inside -- but I guess that takes less time that putting them back on. Perhaps the crews should just leave the tops flat on the ground rather than stuffing them inside.

 After collection, crews are not supposed to jam lids down into your containers.  They are, however, supposed to place the lids back upside down.

Why upside down?

When crews replace the lids upside down, this signals their supervisors that the containers have been emptied.  This way, the supervisors don't need to stop at a container, lift the lid, and check inside, which would be very inefficient, given that daily routes cover several hundred addresses, and many more containers.

Similarly, emptied wheeled paper carts are replaced with their handles facing the street, and recycling bins are replaced upside down after being serviced.

And regarding that badly cracked recycling bin in the photo and what to do about it, that's the topic of my next post!

-- posted by Susanne

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CATEGORIES: Mailbag , Trash
POSTED: 10:02:00 AM |

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

It's National Poison Prevention Week

This week -- from March 15 to March 21, 2009 -- is National Poison Prevention Week.

Did you know these facts about poisons?

  • Most poisonings involve everyday household items such as medicines, cleaning supplies, cosmetics and personal care items.
  • 93 percent of all poison exposures occur in the home.
  • 51 percent of poison exposures occur in children under the age of six.
  • Over 70 percent of all poison fatalities occur in adults ages 20 to 59.

Where should you turn for help? The National Capital Poison Center serves our area.  Have a poison emergency?  Call 1-800-222-1222 immediately for help at no charge!

Some resources for poison prevention information:

If you find no-longer-needed or wanted poisons in your home, garage or garden, bring them to our Hazardous Waste program.  Prevention is better than the cure!

-- posted by Susanne

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CATEGORIES: Hazardous Waste
POSTED: 3:45:00 PM |

Monday, March 16, 2009

May I put this plastic tub in my recycling bin?

#1 plastic tub and lidA friend brought me this warehouse-store-sized plastic tub, made from plastic resin #1. She knew it wasn’t recyclable in our Montgomery County program, but hoped that maybe I’d have a (re)use for it.
 
I tried, but a few weeks later, it was still gracing the same spot in my office, untouched. Before I tossed it out, though, I had one more thing to do: photograph it for our plastics do’s and don’t gallery.
 
We do accept plastic containers, tubs and lids pails and buckets; we can’t take non-bottle items made from resins #1 (polyethylene terephthalate) -- like this tub and lid -- or #6 (polystyrene and Styrofoam™ products). 
Are you unsure about whether to toss a plastic item into your recycling bin or trash can?  Write to us with a description, and we'll share the answers here.
-- posted by Susanne

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CATEGORIES: Plastic , Recycling
POSTED: 4:53:00 PM |

Monday, March 02, 2009

Transfer Station closed @ 5 p.m. today - March 2, 2009

Our Solid Waste Transfer Station closed at 5 p.m. today, due to icy conditions.

-- posted by Susanne

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CATEGORIES: News , Transfer Station
POSTED: 6:05:00 PM |

Monday, March 02, 2009

It's snowing! - Normal recycling / trash schedule today

Snow falling on trash can and recycling bin

What a start to the month of March, which is roaring in like a lion!  Snow is contining to fall as I write this.

If today is your recycling and trash collection day, please have your items out at the curb.  We are aiming for our normal recycling and trash collection schedule. 

Please have your items visible from the street and at the curb, so that they are not hidden by snow banks or parked cars.

Trucks may begin their rounds with a delay. If a hill or street is not passable, the crew will make another attempt later in the day or tomorrow.

-- posted by Susanne

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CATEGORIES: News
POSTED: 6:36:00 AM |
Person carrying recycling bin to the curb
 
Last edited: 10/27/2011