Talking Trash

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Shady Grove Transfer Station Truck Entrance

If you bring materials to the Shady Grove Transfer Station in a commercial van or a vehicle with truck tags, you must use the Truck Entrance on Shady Grove Road.  (We have additional detail in our Public Unloading Facility Regulations.)

Why?  This entrance has vehicle scales, which allow us to weigh the amount of material you bring in.

The Truck Entrance is open Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Careful -- it is not open on Sundays! 

To help you know when to turn into the Transfer Station, here is a street view of the entrance sign from Shady Grove Road.  (This photo gives you the west-bound view, as you head towards the intersection of Shady Grove Road and Frederick Road.)

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

How to recycle computers and related electronic items

Continuing our discussion about recycling electronic items...

Sorry, we do not provide curbside recycling collection for computers and related electronic items.

BUT - if you are able to bring them to our Computer Recycling drop-off at the Shady Grove Transfer Station, great things happen!   Most of the computers and related equipment we receive are recycled -- 100%! 

The items which are not recycled are... reused, which is even better!  Volunteers from a local nonprofit computer user organization wipe the hard drives clean, refurbish, and then donate the items they select from our drop-off program.

As you enter the Transfer Station's recycling area, the computer drop-off is on your right.  Here's what you'll see:

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Monday, September 3, 2007 - Labor Day - modified schedule

Montgomery County-provided recycling and trash collections

Monday, September 3, 2007 - Labor Day - is a recycling and trash collection holiday. After the holiday, all County-provided recycling and trash collections will be one day later than normal.

If you have any questions or concerns about your County-provided collection, please contact our Customer Service staff online or call 240-777-6410.

Note: if you (or your community) have a private contract for your trash collection, these schedule announcements may not apply to your trash service -- check with your hauler or community manager.

Shady Grove Transfer Station

• closed: Monday, September 3, 2007
• reopens: Tuesday, September 4, 2007
• Transfer Station hours and other details

Damascus and Poolesville Beauty Spots

• closed: Saturday and Sunday, September 1 + 2, 2007
  
• Beauty Spot hours and other details

Monday, August 27, 2007

Where is the Recycling Center?

"Knowing how to find the Solid Waste Transfer Station is nice, but... I've got items I want to RECYCLE!"

Super!  We love folks who want to recycle as much as possible!

Did you know that our recycling drop-off area is actually behind the Transfer Station?   There, we accept recyclable paper, plastic, cans, bottles, jars, clothing and textiles, computers and computer-related electronic items, and more!  The Transfer Station's hours of operation apply.

So, where is the Recycling Center?

It's located right next to the Solid Waste Transfer Station:

16105 Frederick Rd
Derwood, MD 20855

(Both the Transfer Station and the Recycling Center share the same entrance from Frederick Road.)

The Recycling Center welcomes visitors for weekday tours and self-guided visits! 

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Where is the Transfer Station?

Our Recycling Center and Solid Waste Transfer Station are located right next to each other.  They are just south of the intersection of Frederick Road (Route 355) and Shady Grove Road.

Shady Grove Transfer Station

16101 Frederick Road
Derwood, MD 20855

The Transfer Station is open every day!

To help you know where to turn as you travel along Frederick Road, here is what the car entrance looks like from the street (this photo gives you the north-bound view, as you drive towards Gaithersburg):

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Can I recycle my old TV or microwave?

From our mail bag:

Can old electronics, such as TVs and microwaves, be brought to household hazardous waste or to the transfer station?

Thanks for your question, C.!

Sorry, we do not accept small household electronic items -- such as TVs, microwaves, and phones, for example -- in either our electronics or hazardous waste programs.

If the items still work, consider offering them to a neighbor on your local Freecycle group, or using our Use It Again guide for donation ideas.

If they do not work, please dispose of them as trash or (recyclable!) scrap metal.  Depending on the size of your items, and how many you have to dispose of at one time, you may need to schedule a bulk trash collection.  For larger items that are more than half metal (like microwaves), schedule a scrap metal recycling collection.  Both of these collections must be requested at least one day before your collection day.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Can I recycle foam items?

From our mail bag:

I see the recycling symbol on styrofoams. Can I put them for recycling, if not is there anywhere else, I can recycle them?

Thank you for your question, SJ!

The only plastics we accept in our recycling program are plastic bottles with narrow neck openings. 

So, what are some options for disposing of foam packaging?  The best choice is to reuse it as packaging.  Consider offering it on your local Freecycle Network group -- someone in your community might have a use for it.  Stores providing mailing services are often happy to take your foam peanuts.

Do you have a foam cooler you'd like to rehome?  We recently learned that the Manna Food Center in Rockville accepts foam coolers for reuse in its food distribution program.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Household Hazardous Waste collection dates announced for Fall 2007

What are your options when the Household Hazardous Waste dropoff at the Shady Grove Transfer Station is too far away?  See whether one of our community collection events is more conveniently located for you!

Our community collection schedule for Fall 2007 has just been announced.  The dates and locations are:

• Saturday, October 20, 2007
  
  Silver Spring International Middle School
  313 Wayne Ave, Silver Spring
  (Dale Dr. & Wayne Ave.)
• Saturday, November 17, 2007
  
  Westland Middle School
  5511 Massachusetts Avenue, Bethesda
  (west of Little Falls Parkway)

Want reminders about these dates as they get closer, as well as updates about future collection events?  I'm glad you asked!   Subscribe to our Household Hazardous Waste newsletter.

Details about our Household Hazardous Waste program

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

How you do turn your compost pile?

Updated August 14, 2012: We no longer use biodiesel fuel for this equipment.

 How do you turn your compost pile?  A pitchfork works splendidly for backyard composting.  But, when you have 77,000 tons of leaves and grass to process, you need a tool that is a bit more robust.

The folks at our Yard Trim Composting Facility in Dickerson, MD, are delighted with their new tool, this bright blue Backhus compost turner.   Compared to the turner it replaced, the Backhus is easier to maintain, because it has fewer moving parts.  It is also more energy-efficient.  And, it cost less money.

Not only does the new machine use less fuel, but it runs on biodiesel.

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Newest version of our "Trash Collection Regulations" available

Our newest hot-off-the-press publication is our "Trash Collection Regulations" brochure.  Or, if you prefer, our "Regulaciones para la Coleccion de Basura". 

This bilingual brochure may not be the next bestseller, but we think it's a pretty handy read.  Topics covered include:

• weekly curbside trash collection
• bulk trash collection
• scrap metal recycling collection
• unacceptable materials
• Shady Grove Transfer Station hours of operation
• claims for loss or damages
• a new section on latex paint disposal

Want print copies of this brochure for your neighborhood, homeowners' association, or other group?  Just ask, and we'll be happy to supply them.

The fine print: these trash regulations apply to Montgomery County-provided trash service.  If you have privately-provided service, please check with your hauler or community manager for your service details.  Not sure about who provides your service?  Use our Collection Day Lookup to find out, or call our Customer Service staff at 240-777-6410.