Talking Trash

Monday, July 27, 2009

Behind the scenes of biological monitoring

We often refer to our Solid Waste staff being "out in the field" when they are working in neighborhoods, apartment and condominum properties, and businesses.

In other parts of the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, our colleagues are literally in fields collecting data.  Sometimes, they are in the water, too!

In today's Biological Monitoring for MoCo post, learn about some of the 53 items that aquatic biologists in the Department take with them to help keep tabs on habitat conditions, water chemistry, and critters large and small in our local streams.

To get updates as they come in, subscribe to the biologists' field reports.

-- posted by Susanne

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CATEGORIES: Notes from the field
POSTED: 2:41:00 PM |

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Leafgro® featured in gardening video

Ever wonder what happens to the leaves and grass we set at the curb for yard trim pickup? It gets composted, and the end product is sold as Leafgro®.

The University of Maryland's Home and Garden Information Center recently uploaded a YouTube video on No Till Gardening. It shows how easy it is to turn lawn into garden, and... features Montgomery County's very own Leafgro® as the compost used for the project!

-- posted by Susanne

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CATEGORIES: Composting , News
POSTED: 11:52:00 AM |

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Today's weather is...

Warm or chilly?  Still or windy?  Dry?  Rainy?

These tools measure and record weather data at our Compost Facility and Resource Recovery Facility in Dickerson, Maryland:

What does weather data have to do with turning leaves and grass into compost, and trash into electricity at our facilities?   While knowing if you should grab an umbrella or an extra layer of clothing for the day is a handy side benefit, having a record of the weather at our specific location helps us operate more efficiently.

Learn more and see today's Dickerson weather station data

-- posted by Susanne

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CATEGORIES: Notes from the field
POSTED: 9:29:00 AM |

Monday, July 06, 2009

A summer morning at our Compost Facility

During the week, our Compost Facility bustles with activity.  It receives deliveries of the yard trim you've set out at the curb for collection, and workers are busy turning and processing leaves and grass in various stages of becoming LeafGro.

But, early in the morning, before the Facility's workday begins, things are much quieter.  Here's a photo taken by a colleague on her way to an assignment:

In addition to the beautiful compost-in-progress within the Compost Facility itself, staff and visitors are greeted by a cheerful patch of wildflowers near the entrance, complete with industriously buzzing bees:

--posted by Susanne

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CATEGORIES: Composting
POSTED: 11:46:00 AM |