The Garrett County Department of Solid Waste & Recycling is proud to announce a recycling rate of 41.45% for 2022.
The (un)official recycling rate comes from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), after a complete review of the 2022 Maryland Recycling Act (MRA) Tonnage Report submitted for Garrett County. The OFFICIAL rates will be released by MDE once they have verified all the information submitted by the counties in Maryland.
In 2012, the Maryland General Assembly passed the Recycling Rate and Waste Diversion – Statewide Goals Act. The act revises the Maryland Recycling Act (1988) and requires that all Counties and Baltimore City recycle wastes and meet an overall percentage of materials recycled which is based upon the population of residents that reside in that county. Since Garrett County’s population is under 150,000 residents, tjherefore the State of Maryland requires the County to reach and maintain a 20% recycling rate, which includes certain designated recyclables.
“It is our goal to continue to educate and encourage the residents and businesses to not only recycle, but to also reduce waste at the source,” stated Kimberly Madigan, Recycling Coordinator.
Source reduction means the design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials or products that reduce the amount of waste generated. It includes reuse, waste elimination, package reduction and substitution. Examples would include using rags instead of paper towels, packing lunches in reusable containers, and donating usable items to those in need.
Recycling is offered in Garrett County FREE of charge; a refuse sticker is never required to recycle at any of the seven convenient refuse and recycling sites. Please recycle newspaper, telephone books (with covers removed), corrugated cardboard, magazines, office paper, glass bottles and jars (clear, green, and brown), aluminum cans, #1 and #2 plastic bottles (with a neck), used motor oil, oil & transmission filters, anti- freeze, electronics, and mixed metal. Toner & ink cartridges, cell phones and aluminum pop tabs can also be recycled and brought to any refuse & recycling site for collection. They are picked up every two weeks.
American flags are also collected at every site. They are taken to the Deer Park VFW where they are properly disposed of by ceremony.
For additional information on recycling in Garrett County, please contact Kimberly Madigan, Recycling Coordinator, at 301.334.7492, kmadigan@garrettcounty.org, or visit our website at www.garrettcounty.org/solid-waste-recycling.
2023 Recycling Reports
2023 Recycling Reports will be available after January 1, 2024
