Recycling for construction and demolition businesses: Build to suit the County's recycling law!

Did you know that Montgomery County has a goal to recycle 50% of its waste stream and that recycling has been the law in Montgomery County since 1993? Did you know that construction & demolition (C&D) waste accounts for a significant percentage of all municipal solid waste generated in the United States? On February 8, 2005, Montgomery County enacted Executive Regulation (ER) 15-04AM, which is effective immediately and supersedes ER 109-92AM passed in 1993.

Under ER 15-04AM, all businesses, including construction and demolition companies must recycle the following materials:

• Mixed or sorted paper
  • corrugated cardboard boxes, white and colored paper, boxboard, newspapers, inserts, magazines, catalogs, telephone directories, paperback books, unwanted mail and all other clean, dry paper
• Commingled or sorted containers
  • aluminum cans and foil products, bi-metal cans, glass bottles and jars, and plastic narrow-neck bottles
• Scrap metal items
  • ferrous and non-ferrous items
• Yard trim and Christmas trees
  • grass, leaves, garden trimmings and brush and

In addition to recycling, businesses that use a recycling collection company must maintain copies of contracts and invoices for collection services and use a Montgomery County licensed collector. Also businesses must file a business recycling and waste reduction plan, and subsequent annual recycling reports, if required.

A second regulation, Executive Regulation 18-04 also enacted on February 8, 2005, bans the disposal of recyclable materials as solid waste and establishes responsibilities for haulers, collectors and all other persons that use County solid waste acceptance facilities.  If a collector observes recyclable materials in solid waste set out for disposal, the collector must notify the customer and Division of Solid Waste Services about the violation and provide time for the customer to remedy the situation.

Recycle to Lower Disposal Costs and Because It’s the Law

Recycling construction waste can be as good for your bottom line as it is for the environment. It allows you to minimize waste disposal costs while conserving renewable natural resources. Once construction has begun, waste materials will be generated. A new way to manage these materials may be to source-separate such materials as wood, concrete, masonry and cardboard, and take the unused or unwanted materials to recycling facilities. You may haul the materials yourself or contract with a licensed collection company that provides on-site containers. Before you begin a recycling program, it is important to:

• Evaluate your waste stream. Identify types and quantities of materials generated on-site that have the potential to be recycled in the Montgomery County area.

• Develop contract documents that include requirements for source separation and on-site recycling. This step is critical on large demolition or new construction projects. On smaller jobs, discuss waste handling requirements with your employees, subcontractors and others at the job site prior to beginning a project.

• Set up the site. Identify locations for separation of materials at the job site in the early stages of planning. Clearly designate recycling bins by color coding and/or using large signage. Bins may need to be located in a locked or supervised area to prevent contamination by the public. Recycling containers must be located near trash containers and be located in reasonable and convenient proximity to all buildings and other uses on-site.

• Reward participation. Communicate the success of the recycling project with your employees and subcontractors. Make them aware of how many tons of materials they have helped to keep from disposal. Encourage their suggestions on ways to more effectively implement a waste reduction, reuse and recycling plan. Market your firm as one which recycles; potential clients and customers are looking for green contractors, and this is becoming an important and relevant issue in C&D contract negotiations within the County.

For more information:

Non-Residential Recycling Program (SORRT)
Phone: 240-777-6400 · Fax: 240-777-6465
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