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Your guide to green living in Montgomery County, MD |
Montgomery County is expanding its curbside recycling program! The County now collects electronics and household batteries, making it easier for residents to recycle these materials safely. This phased-in service will be available to all county residents who receive County-provided recycling services. Full implementation will be by the end of 2025.
Over the past few years, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has gradually introduced this service in select areas. Now, all eligible residents will receive a bilingual informational postcard detailing how to schedule collection for electronics and batteries, along with instructions on how to set out materials for pick-up.
County Executive Marc Elrich emphasized the importance of this program, stating that from 2022 to 2024, the county recycled over 3,700 tons of electronics and batteries. This effort helps reduce waste, supports the county’s goal of zero waste, and contributes to a cleaner, greener environment.
Once available in their area, residents can call MC311 to schedule curbside collection. Since this is an on-call service, residents must book a collection in advance of their regular recycling day. To ensure safety, do not place electronics and batteries in curbside bins or mixed with regular trash as that can lead to fires.
DEP Director Jon Monger explained that the new service responds to the growing number of electronics and batteries in households. By offering curbside pick-up, the county makes recycling easier and safer for residents, while also protecting the environment.
This initiative is part of Montgomery County’s broader waste reduction goals. The expansion of electronics and battery recycling will keep these materials out of landfills and reduce environmental risks.
Since its launch in April 2022, more than 2,500 requests for curbside collection have been made in areas where the service is already available.
For more details on the expanded recycling program, visit the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection’s website or contact MC311.
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Does this service apply also to condominiums?
Hello Olga,
Thank you for your question.
The County does not provide refuse or recycling collection services to multi-family properties (apartments or condominiums).
Residents are encouraged to ask their property owner or property manager if their property has recycling collection services for electronics and batteries.
I hope this information helps.
Happy Earth Month!
Could you please point us to the rationale for this?
Montgomery County does not provide refuse or recycling collection services to multi-family properties. The property owner or property manager of these properties contracts refuse and recycling collection services directly with private refuse and recycling collection service providers.
Montgomery County does not provide refuse or recycling collection services to multi-family properties. The property owner or property manager of these properties contracts refuse and recycling collection services directly with private refuse and recycling collection service providers.
Love the expansion of recycling services—especially batteries and electronics! It would be great to see more options for food waste.
Hi Cynthia,
Thank you for your interest and support in our County’s recycling programs!
We are working on a County-wide implementation of food scraps recycling.
In the meantime, community members can drop off food scraps for recycling at four local farmers markets in the County.
Please see this blog for more information on the locations of these farmers markets and types of food scraps that are accepted.
https://mygreenmontgomery.org/2024/food-scraps-recycling-drop-off-program/
Thank you again for recycling more!
How will these items be collected? I save my expired batteries plus electronics that I no longer use for an occasional trip to your recycling center. Do I now add them into the plastics/glass bin or is there another procedure?
Hello Mary Jo,
Thank you for your question and your diligence in recycling electronics and batteries safely!
This service is being phased-in and will be available to all County residents who receive County-provided recycling collection services by December 1, 2025.
Residents will receive a postcard in the mail when this service begins in their area. Please do not call MC311 to schedule an on-call recycling of electronic items and batteries until you receive notification in the mail.
Residents are reminded that electronics and batteries should never be placed in curbside recycling bins or mixed with regular trash, as doing so could pose a fire risk or interfere with safe processing.
Here is the link to the information with a map and schedule for when service will begin in areas of the County.
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DEP/trash-recycling/recycle-at-home/service-details.html
Hi,
Thanks for this new e-waste service. It’s certainly needed. I just called for my first pick-up. I was asked for a list of what I’m having picked up. I already taped up the box so I couldn’t recall items for a precise accounting. Neither the letter nor the card I received in the mail mentioned having to list items. I will do so next time.
And would you please clarify this from the mail card:
“Small electronic items and loose batteries will only be accepted as part of a larger quantity pick-up of these items.”
How much is “larger quantity”? Can one package batteries in a labeled container and then combine them in a larger container with electronics? It’s not clear on the mail card.
I would like to see an online scheduler also, such as the one for bulk trash pickups.
Thank you for your response, David. We will share this information and make corrections. We appreciate you sharing your feedback.
Thank you for your comment.
A list of items is helpful so that our recycling collection contractor has an idea as to the quantity of materials that have been set out for recycling collection.
A larger quantity is considered multiple electronic items placed inside of one cardboard box (no smaller than a file folder box) or an electronic item scheduled at the same time as a scrap metal recycling collection.
Please keep containers of household batteries separate from boxes of electronics.
At this time, the recycling collection for electronic items and household batteries must be scheduled by calling MC311.
We expect that residents will also have the opportunity to schedule recycling collection of electronics and batteries on-line after the phase-in of service county-wide is completed at the end of this year.
Will separate bins be provided for the recycling of the electronics and batteries?
No, the county will not provide separate containers for electronics and batteries.
How do I know if my neighborhood is included and, if so, which day of the week these collections will be made?
A bilingual postcard mailer will be sent to residents in the remaining areas approximately two (2) weeks prior to the start of this service.
We currently have Montgomery county’s recycling program, Derwood, 20855, but I do dot see our area shown on the map for your new batteries/electronics program. Please advise if we will be offered the service. Thank you
Residents in the Derwood area are eligible for this service. Please call MC311 to schedule a collection if needed.
What is the reasoning for not providing refuse or recycling collection services to multi-family properties? Isn’t collection more efficient when collecting from those communities, as opposed to single family homes?
Montgomery County does not provide refuse or recycling collection services to multi-family properties. The property owner or property manager of these properties contracts refuse and recycling collection services directly with private refuse and recycling collection service providers.