Trash Sent to County Dump Increases by 15% During Quarantine

It’s been almost a full year since Gov. Larry Hogan’s stay at home order went into effect March 30, 2020. Since then, Montgomery County residents apparently have been eating a lot more take out and creating piles of trash.

“[T] he County has seen an average 15 percent increase in residential trash and recycling for the period March 2020 thru January 2021,” according to the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection.

“Based on scales information at the Montgomery County Transfer Station at Shady Grove, the County has seen an average 15 percent increase in residential trash and recycling for the period March 2020 thru January 2021,” according to DEP.

Some of that trash that used to be thrown away at work apparently is being added into homeowners’ trash cans. While residential trash has risen 15%, there has be an approximate 15 to 20% decrease in commercial trash, according to DEP.

While county trash and recycling officials aren’t able to directly attribute the spike to the pandemic, spokesperson Cindy Pena told MyMCM  that it seems fair to assume it “is related with people staying at home.”

During this pandemic, front-line workers keep everything running. We salute our Transfer Station staff, collections crews, and inspectors who are out there every day providing essential services. THANK YOU!!! pic.twitter.com/ntXkZKVPHp

— Montgomery County Dept of Environmental Protection (@MyGreenMC) January 19, 2021

About Suzanne Pollak

Suzanne is a freelance reporter with Montgomery Community Media. She has over 35 years professional experience writing for newspapers, magazines, non-profit newsletters and the web.

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