Aiming for Zero Waste

Task Force Recommendations on County’s Waste Strategic Plan
This document summarizes the work and recommendations of Montgomery County’s "Aiming for Zero Waste" Task Force. The Task Force was formed in May, 2018 to "provide advice and guidance on how best to maximize waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and sustainable management of all materials across the entire integrated waste management system, including all programs, facilities, operations, initiatives and services.".
Options for Collection and Disposal of "What’s Left"
This report is the fifth of a series of reports, developed as part of Task 9 in Montgomery County’s “Aiming for Zero Waste” Master Plan. The purpose of this report is to identify collection, processing, and disposal options for “what’s left” after the short-listed waste reduction and diversion options are implemented. The report presents the implementation timelines for the short-listed options for the Zero Waste Plan that impact the tons of waste managed in the County. Projections for the tons of waste managed until 2040 are presented.
Report: Identify collection, processing, and disposal options for "what’s left" (Google Drive, 3MB)
Presentation: Identify collection, processing, and disposal options for "what’s left" (PDF, 403KB)
Review of Existing Processing Facilities
The purpose of this report is to assess the existing physical and operating condition of each of Montgomery County’s four primary solid waste Processing Facilities. The facilities assessed are the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station, the Resource Recovery Facility (RRF), the Montgomery County Yard Trim and Composting Facility (MCYTCF) and the County’s Yard Trim Grinding Operation. The report includes recommendations for operations and maintenance improvements and best practices to operate the Processing Facilities through 2025, 2030, 2035, and 2040.
Proposed Enhancements/Expansions to the Current Diversion/Recycling System
This report presents proposed improvements to the current diversion/recycling system and is the third in a series of reports developed in support of the project. The purpose of this report is to document potential options for the County to consider which may improve diversion or recycling and assist the County in aiming for Zero Waste.
Aiming for Zero Waste Survey
The results are in! View your feedback!
Benchmarking and Best Practices
There are many jurisdictions in North America that have innovative features as part of their waste management programs, services and how these are delivered. The intent of this benchmarking exercise was to select five communities that have some similarities to Montgomery County and also utilize best practices that might be of interest to the County. Read the full report or the executive summary.
Informational Poster Boards
You may download the Aiming for Zero Waste information poster boards, which were displayed at the Community Open Houses.
Stakeholder Engagement Plan
So how do we get input? See our stakeholder engagement plan for more details on the County's outreach to residents and businesses in Montgomery County.
Current State Assessment
Montgomery County’s existing integrated solid waste management system: a detailed and concise overview of the current system, from which future system changes can be evaluated and their potential impact assessed. You may also read the executive summary.
Zero Waste Task Force
To aid in the planning efforts, County Executive Ike Leggett appointed a seven member Task Force to work closely with DEP. In addition, the County Council appointed a representative as a non-voting member to this Task Force (see: County Executive Press Release).
Contact Us
Send us an email at AskDEP@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov.
Agendas & Minutes
- April 15, 2020
Agenda (PDF 140 KB) - April 2, 2020
Agenda (PDF 140 KB) | Minutes (PDF 128 KB) - March 12, 2020
Agenda (PDF 104 KB) | Minutes (PDF 156 KB) - July 10, 2019
Agenda (PDF 11 KB) | Minutes (PDF 153 KB) - June 10, 2019
Agenda (PDF 42 KB) | Minutes (79 KB) - May 29, 2019
Agenda (PDF 11 KB) | Minutes (PDF 124 KB) - May 8, 2019
Agenda (PDF 11 KB) | Minutes (PDF 101 KB) - March 28, 2019
Agenda (PDF 11 KB) | Minutes (98 KB) - March 13, 2019
Agenda (PDF 12 KB) | Minutes (129 KB) - February 13, 2019
Agenda (PDF 14 KB) | Minutes (174 KB) - January 9, 2019
Agenda (PDF 86 KB) | Minutes (150 KB) - December 5, 2018
Agenda (PDF 10 KB) | Minutes (312 KB) - October 25, 2018
Agenda (PDF 9.5 KB) | Minutes (118 KB) - July 18, 2018
Agenda (PDF 34 KB) | Minutes (239 KB) - July 5, 2018
Agenda (PDF 50 KB) | Minutes (PDF 113 KB) - June 6, 2018
Agenda (PDF 35 KB) | Minutes (PDF 83 KB)
Presentations
- Task Force Kickoff Meeting (PDF 418 KB)
- Solid Waste Services Overview (PDF 6.3 MB)
- Pay as You Throw by SERA (PDF 1.18 MB)
- Pay as You Throw by WasteZero (PDF 1.38 MB)
- Food Waste Collection by Takoma Park (PDF 673 KB)
- Waste Reduction Model by US EPA (PDF 527 KB)
- Life Cycle Analysis for Disposal of MSW (PDF 665 KB)
- Aerobic Composting by Sustainable Generation (PDF 3.72 MB)
- Aiming for Zero Waste Summary - April 2, 2020 (PDF 112 KB)
Resources
- Adopted Solid Waste Plan 2020-2029
- Studies and Assessments of Resource Recovery Facility (RRF) Operations
- Food Waste (Organics)
- Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC)
- Scope of Work (PDF 437 KB)
- Solid Waste Services Operating Budget FY19
T&E Committee Packet (PDF 27.6 MB)
Full Council Packet (PDF 27.2 MB) - Maryland State: County Source Reduction (SR) Credit Report (PDF 153 KB)
- Montgomery County CY2016 Source Reduction Credit Report and Supporting Documentation and Information - MDE Approved (PDF 6.5 MB)
- Briefing: Strategic Plan to Advance Composting, Compost Use, and Food Scraps Diversion in Montgomery County, Maryland (PDF 53 MB)
- Waste Reduction and Recycling Section Overview July 2018 (PDF 7.8 MB)
- Waste Composition Study 2017 (PDF 214 KB)
- Montgomery County Climate Mobilization Report (PDF 880 KB)
Anaerobic Digestion
- Biogas Handout by American Biogas Council (PDF 617 KB)
- Blue Line Biogenic CNG Facility by American Biogas Council (PDF 214 KB)
- Milwaukee Biogas Facility by American Biogas Council (PDF 433 KB)
- The Future of Anaerobic Digestion in Minnesota by American Biogas Council (PDF 1.9 MB)
- University of Wisconsin Urban Dry Digester by American Biogas Council (PDF 155 KB)