How to recycle/dispose of building materials

Curbside collection: No
County facilities accepting building materials:
 Solid Waste Transfer Station

Building materials in usable condition are accepted by our "Don't Dump. Donate!" program.

• The Habitat for Humanity ReStore, located very near the Shady Grove Transfer Station, accepts usable building materials, too.
• Builders' Guide to Reuse & Recycling, a directory for construction and demolition materials, compiled by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

Don't Dump. Donate!

Accepted materials | Unacceptable materials | How to participate | Why use Don't Dump Donate | How donated items are used

"Don't Dump. Donate!" (DDD) is Montgomery County's program for collecting building and construction materials for reuse. You no longer need to throw out unused or used building materials. You can give them away! In cooperation with The Loading Dock, the Division of Solid Waste Services offers residents and businesses the opportunity to donate used building and construction materials as an alternative to sending them to the waste-to-energy facility. Through "Don't Dump. Donate!" the County also gives these materials to other non-profit, charitable organizations who can prove their non-profit tax status.

Acceptable materials

The materials that are collected are to be reused. Therefore, the Division of Solid Waste Services reserves the right to refuse any items deemed unfit for reuse. Not sure whether your materials are in reusable condition? Ask yourself whether you'd give them to a friend! If you have any questions about what is acceptable, contact The Loading Dock via http://www.loadingdock.org/ or 410-558-DOCK (3625).

If you are a wholesaler of building materials or any other group that has a large quantity of materials to donate, special collection arrangements may be made through The Loading Dock.

Items DDD cannot accept:

• Lumber under 4 feet long or with nails
• Carpets
• Single pane windows
• Items with peeling paint
• Items with lead paint
• Paint
• Appliances
• Storm windows
• Broken items
• Partial packs of shingles

How to participate

Bring your "Don't Dump. Donate!" items to the Public Unloading Facility at the Solid Waste Transfer Station.

If bringing "Don't Dump. Donate!" items by truck:

• Enter the Transfer Station from the Shady Grove Road truck entrance. (Note that this entrance is closed on Sundays.)
• Tell the scale-house attendant that you have materials for the "Don't Dump. Donate!" program. Also tell the attendant if you also have waste to dispose. (If you bring donations and waste, be sure to put the donations where they may be unloaded first.)
• Follow the signs to the donation site and drop off donated materials.
• If you have waste to dispose, return to the scale house to have your vehicle reweighed before driving to the Transfer Station building.

Why use the DDD Program?

Save money: Avoid all tip fees and disposal costs for usable materials by donating! Your donation may be tax-deductible, and receipts verifying your donation are provided.

Conserve waste management capacity: the amount of material converted from waste-to-energy can be reduced by reusing building and construction materials.

Help others: Reused building materials help provide decent, affordable, low-income housing in Montgomery County and throughout Maryland.

How donated items are used

The Loading Dock is a nonprofit organization that gathers all types of usable building supplies and makes them available to nonprofit organizations and low income families at minimal cost. Located in Baltimore, MD, The Loading Dock serves the entire state as a clearinghouse for surplus building materials. For more information, contact The Loading Dock via http://www.loadingdock.org/ or 410-558-DOCK (3625).

"How to recycle/dispose of..." Index

This information last updated 8/5/2008.