Montgomery County Has Highest Waste Diversion Rate in State

For the calendar year 2012, Montgomery County again led all other jurisdictions in the state in waste diversion with a rate of just under 60 percent, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment.  The waste diversion rate primarily reflects recycling efforts but also credits waste reduction efforts.

County Executive Ike Leggett said, “Leading the state is encouraging, because it shows that although my goal to have the County recycling 70 percent of our waste by 2020 may seem ambitious, it is by no means beyond the reach of our residents, businesses and organizations. Time and time again they all have eagerly embraced actions that improve our environment and quality of life.  The credit and thanks surely goes to them.

“This accomplishment is particularly satisfying as I look back and recall the early days when I was on the County Council and fellow council member Bruce Adams and I worked hard to shape the vision for recycling in the County,” Leggett noted.  “Bruce was instrumental back then in setting very ambitious goals for our program.  I am especially pleased to see how far we’ve come and to carry forward this tradition of aiming high.”

Under the Maryland Recycling Act all counties and Baltimore City are required to recycle 15 or 20 percent of their municipal solid waste, depending on population, and report annually to the state. Results are tabulated and published by MDE.

Montgomery County provides comprehensive waste reduction and recycling programs that enable single-family residents, multi-family (apartment and condominium) properties and residents, and businesses and employees to reduce waste, reuse and recycle many materials generated.

More information about the County’s recycling programs can be found at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/recycling.

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