Talking Trash

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Temporary traffic flow changes at our Solid Waste Transfer Station

If you've been to the Solid Waste Transfer Station lately, you noticed our big construction project!

Because of this construction, we temporarily moved our scrap metal section.   If you enter from the Frederick Road (Route 355) entrance, drive through the recycling drop-off area towards the bulk wood (yard trim) section.  At the 3-way intersection, turn left towards the Transfer Station building.  The new scrap metal section is in the lower parking lot, next to the Department of Transportation "shed."

Here's a photo of the bulk wood section...

and this is your new (and temporary) scrap metal destination.  The Department of Transportation "shed" is the structure on the right side.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Apply for a Solid Waste Advisory Committee position

We are looking for applicants for the six vacant positions we have on our Solid Waste Advisory Committee.

Committee members are: citizens-at-large, business representatives, and professional solid waste/recycling industry representatives.

They who provide us advice on issues including:

• evaluating the impacts from the Ten-Year Solid Waste Management Plan
• evaluating the effects of solid waste/recycling programs on residents, institutions, businesses, multi-family properties, and industry
• recommending public education programs
• recommending State and local legislation necessary to accomplish effective solid waste/recycling management.

View the vacancy announcement with application instructions

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Our Recycling Program Volunteers extend our message to you in our community

Wow!  A month has already flown by since 47 of our Recycling Volunteers  and many of our staff members shared waste reduction, recycling, composting, and trash information with visitors to the annual Montgomery County Agricultural Fair.  Their efforts allowed us to talk to about 4,900 Fair visitors!

To our Recycling Volunteers: thank you!

Spring and fall are always particularly busy times for our Recycling Volunteer Program.  We try to attend as many of your community fairs, festivals, and other special events as possible.  Our activity calendar for the coming weeks is no exception!

Check our activity calendar; if you see us at an event you attend, please say "hello!"

Our volunteer opportunities include events like the Fair, serving as Block Captains, helping our office, and more.  We offer periodic trainings.  And, our youth activities are approved for Student Service Learning.  We'd love to chat with you to explore our options together.

More information about our Recycling Volunteer Program

Friday, September 14, 2007

Our Vegetable Oil Exchange is open for use!

Our Vegetable Oil Exchange is now open for use!

We are excited about the Exchange, and the opportunity it offers for used vegetable oil to be reused right within our community.

The Exchange creates an electronic meeting place for generators of used vegetable oil, and folks who put that oil back into service, often as fuel for their cars.  It's an example of turning "trash" to "treasure!"

This afternoon, the Exchange was featured on WAMU Radio's "Metro Connection" show.  Listen to the Metro Connection archive to hear interviews with some local waste vegetable oil generators and users, and to learn about cars fueled by this oil.

Update, September 20, 2007: Read more and watch video of today's WUSA9 TV coverage of the Vegetable Oil Exchange

• Read our Vegetable Oil Exchange news release
• Preview our Vegetable Oil Exchange newspaper ad (PDF, 403 kb), to be run in local papers in the coming weeks