Carroll County Maryland Office of Recycling

Today, in honor of International Plastic Bag Free Day, so no thank you to any merchant offering you a plastic bag.
Did you know that it is said to take 1000 years for a plastic bag to degrade in landfills? Or that as a bag degrades, it breaks down into microplastics that contaminate the soil and groundwater? Or that animals on land and in the water mistake plastic bags for food and can die from eating them? These scary facts are a few of the reasons the City of Westminster banned single-use plastic bags in July 2021. Thank you for setting the stage, Westminster! Let us all follow your lead!

As you get ready to for the 4th of July, here’s a friendly reminder:

Spent fireworks are NOT recyclable. Please be mindful this holiday weekend and dispose of those sparklers and fireworks responsibly! 🎆

Plastic Free July® is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. Will you be part of Plastic Free July by choosing to refuse single-use plastics?

https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/take-the-challenge/ (link in bio)

Despite the label, berry boxes are NOT RECYCLABLE in our program! Keep reading to find out why...

Not all #1 plastics are created equally; plastics like clamshells, produce containers (bins), takeout containers, and bakery trays are created using a mold or form which gives the plastic a different density than blown plastics like water bottles and detergent bottles. Differing densities mean differing melting points; items like berry boxes turn to ash when melted with sturdier plastics. Too much ash doesn’t make for a high-quality recycled product so manufacturers don't want recycling bales filled with this kind of plastic. Recycling is a business based on demand.

Please keep these items out of your recycling. These items are very difficult to sort out resulting in wasted time and expense. Too many of these items like this can spoil the whole load of recycling, undermining your recycling effort!

Before you toss that can, remember this fact! Make sure your can hits the recycling bin and not the landfill. 🌍♻️

For even more recycling tips, visit https://kab.org/recycling.

Waste & Recycling Workers Week is a week-long celebration honoring the individuals in the waste and recycling industry for their hard work and dedication. Take a moment this week to thank those who haul your trash and recycling away. !

Balloons Blow--Don't Let Them Go! Remember it is illegal to intentionally release balloons in Maryland (and other states) because, when they fall back down, they can harm wildlife or get tangled in power lines causing outages. Find alternatives for your event at preventballoonlitter.org

Save the Date! Our next Household Hazardous Waste Takeback Event is slated for Saturday, October 19, 2024.

🚫🧼There is no need to break out the dish soap for your recyclables.

A quick rinse is enough to make sure that the container is empty, but if there’s only a smear, you’re in the clear!

Learn more about what and how to ♻️ at recyclecheck.org.

Donate a vehicle to Cars for Homes, Humanity of Carroll County’s car donation program, to help support local families.
Your car donation is one more way that you can support our work in Carroll County. When you donate to Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County with Cars for Homes, we make it quick and easy. Your donation may also be a tax deduction.

We accept cars, trucks, RVs, vans, SUVs, boats, and motorcycles whether they are running or not. Towing is free!

https://cchabitat.org/cars-for-homes/

Do you have electronic junk around the house? We have a solution! Please stop by Liberty High School on June 15, and share with friends and family!

Recycling varies by county and sometimes even by neighborhood. You can check with your local coordinator to make sure you are recycling right. https://bit.ly/CoRecycleCord

COMPOSTER & RAIN BARREL PICK-UP IS TOMORROW! Come to the Carroll County Government Office Building, located at 225 North Center Street, Westminster, MD 21157 any time between 8 am - 1pm to pick up your order. Orders must be picked up on Saturday, we do not have a place to store them.

Stewardship in action! We love to see it!

This Earth Day consider doing a trash audit! Take stock of what you throw away and consider ways to implement the 6Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle, Rot. One way to do this is to make a list for each room in your house (don't forget the office and school) and write down the waste items typically generated; this will help you grasp the extent of waste you're generating and identify ways to reduce it. Recycling is only one part of managing the waste crisis, the "greenest" solutions prevent waste to begin with!

THE DEADLINE TO ORDER IS APRIL 17! Available items include compost bin, rain barrel, compost turner, compost thermometer, mesh composter base, and kitchen scrap collection pail. Orders must be completed online https://enviroworld.us/carrollcountymd
Orders must be picked up on Saturday, April 27, 2024, between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Carroll County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster, MD 21157

The Carroll County Health Department is partnering with Solid Waste Management and the Carroll County Sheriff's Office to hold a Drive Thru Take Back event. Medication, sharps, e-Liquid, and household hazardous waste disposal will be available. Document Shredding and Health on Wheels Services including; Smoking/Vaping Cessation, Naloxone Training/Distribution, Peer Support, and HIV and Hep C Testing will be offered as well.

The deadline to order online is April 17, 2024; available items include compost bin, rain barrel, compost turner, compost thermometer, mesh composter base, and kitchen scrap collection pail. Orders must be completed online https://enviroworld.us/carrollcountymd
Orders must be picked up on Saturday, April 27, 2024, between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Carroll County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster, MD 21157

Don't throw out your eclipse glasses, they can be reused!

Here is a great way to reuse/recycle your eclipse glasses when you finish with them today.

Reminder- Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste, Shred Documents Event slated for October 21, 2023.

Reminder- Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste, Shred Documents Event slated for October 21, 2023 Reminder- Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste, Shred Documents Event slated for October 21, 2023 Carroll County MD Government sent this bulletin at 10/17/2023 07:00 AM EDT --- PRESS RELEASE --- For Immediate Release Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste, Shred Documents Event slated for October 21,....

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MDCARROLL/bulletins/373e387?reqfrom=share

Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste, Shred Documents Event slated for October 21, 2023 Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste, Shred Documents Event slated for October 21, 2023 Carroll County MD Government sent this bulletin at 10/03/2023 09:42 AM EDT --- PRESS RELEASE --- For Immediate Release Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste, Shred Documents Event slated for October 21, 2023 Westm...

I won't be here to greet you as you come through the line but here is the information for the October 21st Household Hazardous Waste/Shredding Event:

Carroll County Government | Carroll County, Maryland

RECYCLING FACT: Making paper from recycled paper reduces the contribution to air pollution by 95%.

Recycle your paper to be part of the solution! Learn more about the impact recycling can have at https://ow.ly/7XBl50Pveh9.

Thanks to everyone who took advantage of our Citizens Tire Amnesty Event Sunday July 16, 2023. Not sure when the State will have more funds available for a new event.
We had 251 vehicles come and we took in about 2,045 scrapped tires.

Small changes in our daily habits can have a HUGE impact on the environment! Do your part to reduce waste by choosing more sustainable options in your daily life. Learn more: https://ow.ly/9x4Y50OXr2q

Citizen Scrap Tire Drop-Off Event on July 16th Citizen Scrap Tire Drop-Off Event on July 16th Carroll County MD Government sent this bulletin at 06/13/2023 07:30 AM EDT --- PRESS RELEASE --- For Immediate Release Citizen Scrap Tire Drop-Off Event on July 16th Westminster, MD, Tuesday, June 13, 2023 – Carroll County will hold a citizen, One-Day...

RECYCLING FACT: Making paper from recycled paper reduces the contribution to air pollution 95%.

Recycle your paper to be part of the solution!