Public Unloading Facility Regulations (for trash drop-off)

How much solid waste may I bring?
What materials are not allowed?
Which vehicle types may use the Public Unloading Facility if their trash load is under 500 pounds?
May I use my trailer?
May I bring waste from locations outside Montgomery County?
May I take materials from the Transfer Station?
May I smoke?
What if I have a child or a pet with me?
What happens if the radiation detector activates?

How much solid waste may I bring?

Each vehicle may dispose up to 499 pounds of solid waste per visit at no charge.

If your waste load appears close to or over this amount, you must use the Truck Entrance on Shady Grove Road to have your vehicle weighed at the Scale House. The Truck Entrance and Scale House are open Monday through Saturday 7:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m, and are closed on Sundays.

If you arrive to drop off waste outside normal Truck Entrance/Scale House operating hours and the County personnel or the County’s representatives at the facility believe your load is 500 pounds or more, we will ask to return to the facility during normal Scale House operating hours to be weighed at the Scale House.

Facility staff has the right to determine questionable weights, perform load inspections, and direct any person to the Scale House at the Truck Entrance if needed.

What materials are not allowed?

Disposal of any liquid (for example: oil, antifreeze, etc.), metal, tires, other recyclable materials or hazardous waste is not permitted at the Public Unloading Facility.

These materials are accepted at the Recycling drop-off area of the Transfer Station. See facility staff for assistance.

Which vehicle types may use the Public Unloading Facility if their trash load is under 500 pounds?

passenger cars
passenger vans
multi-purpose vehicles
pickup trucks
panel vans
commercial vans
other vehicles bearing truck tags

Larger vehicles and panel vans must have their loads inspected to verify weight is under 500 pounds, and may be accepted at the discretion of the facility staff.

Facility staff has the right to determine questionable weights and direct any person to the Truck Entrance scales if needed.

May I use my trailer?

Passenger cars with small trailers may use the Public Unloading Facility as long as the trash in the trailer is less then 500 pounds.

Pickup trucks with trailers may not use the Public Unloading Facility because of their size.

May I bring waste from locations outside Montgomery County?

Only material that originates in MontgomeryCounty may be disposed of at our facility.

Facility staff reserves the right to ask for proof of residency

May I take materials from the Transfer Station?

No, materials may not be taken from the Transfer Station.

From the Code of Maryland Regulations 26.04.07.03: "Scavenging or salvaging may not be conducted at any system of refuse disposal for public use..."

May I smoke?

No, you may not smoke on our site.

What if I have a child or a pet with me?

Children under the age of 12 and pets must remain in your vehicle at all times.

What happens if the radiation detector activates?

We have radiation detectors at our entrances. If the detectors activate, we must locate and identify the radiation source.

If you have recently undergone a medical procedure involving radioactive material, it is likely that the detectors will activate.

Please wait for a Montgomery County representative to assist you. He or she must scan both your load and your person, and then determine a response.

Transfer Station

Last edited: 5/3/2010