Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection Offers Free Reusable Bags (PHOTO)

The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is encouraging residents to bring reusable bags when holiday shopping in an effort to reduce waste and litter in the community.

According to a news release, plastic bags are one of the top four litter items found in County streams. Reusable bags are eco-friendly and are a way that residents can help reduce the amount of waste and keep local waterways clean. In the news release, the department notes that Montgomery County has one of the highest waste diversion rates in Maryland. Waste diversion rates are the combination of source reduction activities and recycling rate.

DEP will be working with partners to handout free reusable bags to County residents. You can pickup a bag at any of the following locations:

County Public Libraries: Aspen Hill, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Damascus, Davis, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Long Branch, Little Falls, Marilyn J. Praisner, Olney, Poolesville, Potomac, Quince Orchard, Rockville Memorial, Silver Spring, Wheaton, White Oak

Department of Health and Services offices:

• Germantown, 12900 Middlebrook Road, 2nd floor
• Rockville Regional Office, 1301 Piccard Drive, 2nd floor
• Silver Spring Regional Office, 8818 Georgia Avenue, 1st floor
• TESS Community Service Center, 8513 Piney Branch Road
• Gaithersburg Neighborhood Opportunity Network, 200 Girard Street, Suite 203
• Wheaton Neighborhood Opportunity Network, 12247 Georgia Avenue

Manna Food Center:
9311 Gaither Rd. Gaithersburg, MD 20877

About Maureen Chowdhury

Maureen Chowdhury is a multimedia journalist with Montgomery Community Media. She can be reached at mchowdhury@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter at @MediaMaureen. Maureen authors the blog Sound Check on MyMCMedia.

View all posts by Maureen Chowdhury