Maryland County Recycling Programs
Solid waste management in Maryland is driven by the Maryland Recycling Act (MRA), which requires counties and Baltimore City to meet recycling goals—35% for larger jurisdictions and 20% for smaller ones. The Act supports environmental protection and resource conservation through waste diversion, source reduction, and increased recycling. Overseen by the Maryland Department of the Environment, local governments implement tailored recycling programs such as curbside pickup, composting, and hazardous waste collection.
Maryland also addresses modern waste challenges through initiatives targeting food waste reduction, composting, and restrictions on single-use plastics. By combining legislation, community engagement, and innovative practices, the state continues to strengthen its commitment to sustainable solid waste management and a cleaner environment.
Legend
| Allegany [p] | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | — | — | — | — | batteries, tire, propane tanks, stretch wrap, and vinyl siding |
| Anne Arundel [cs] | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ | cooking oil, wood pallets, tires, propane tanks, rubble, vinyl siding, scrap metal, oyster/clam shells, empty fuel containers; food scraps. Police stations accept medications and sharps 24/7; Anne Arundel Medical CTR pharmacies (Annapolis & Arnold) accept medications; Hg° and fluorescent lights accepted at HHW events |
| Baltimore City [cs] | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | tires, oyster shells, rigid plastics, scrap metal, plastic bag take-back events, wood waste |
| Baltimore County [cs] | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | cooking oil, propane tanks, usable building material |
| Calvert | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | cooking oil, printer cartridges, oil filters, tires, propane tanks, Freon units, oyster/clam shells, rigid plastic, scrap metal, rechargeable batteries |
| Caroline | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Mid-shore program, eCycling event, paint on HHW Day |
| Carroll [~] | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | scrap metal, vinyl siding, cooking oil, usable building material, #6 Styrofoam |
| Cecil [cs] | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — | Rechargeable batteries, oil filters, scrap metal, tires, fluorescent lamps |
| Charles [cps] | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Cooking oil, household batteries, oil filters, propane tanks, and tires are accepted at recycling centers; fluorescent lights accepted only at HHW events; no latex paint |
| Dorchester | — | — | ✔ | ✔/✔ | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | — | No books |
| Frederick [cs] | — | — | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | — | — | — | ✔ | pesticide containers, scrap metal, tires, flexible foam, wood pallets |
| Garrett [m] | — | — | — | ✔/✔ | ✔ | — | — | — | — | #1 & 2 plastic only, inkjet & toner cartridges, oil filters |
| Harford [cps] | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | scrap metal, ecycle, mattresses, agricultural plastics, tires, fluorescent lamps, gasoline, pesticide containers, oil filters, propane tanks, inkjet cartridges |
| Howard [cs] | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | propane tanks, scrap metal, reusable building materials, vegetable oil, polystyrene, mattresses, flags, bicycles, food scraps |
| Kent | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Mid-shore program, eCycling event, pesticide containers, boat shrink-wrap; auto tires, cooking oil, Freon units, scrap metal |
| Montgomery [c] | — | — | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | bicycles, cooking oil, scrap metal, oil filters, propane tanks, tires, reusable building materials, rubble recycling (concrete, asphalt, brick, block, stone, and soil), bulky rigid plastic |
| Prince George's [cs] | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | Scrap metal, propane and helium tanks, CFLs, cooking oil, batteries, bulky materials such as furniture, tires, rigid plastics, CFC’s |
| Queen Anne’s | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Mid-shore program, eCycle event; boat shrink-wrap, passenger tires; gasoline collection and vegetable oil recycling |
| St. Mary’s [s] | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ | oil filters, eyeglasses, cooking oil, rechargeable batteries, propane tanks, tires, scrap metal, oyster shells |
| Somerset [s] | — | — | ✔ | ✔/✔ | — | — | — | ✔ | — | pesticide containers, oil filters, tires |
| Talbot | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Mid-shore program, eCycling event, pesticide containers |
| Washington | — | — | ✔ | ✔/✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | — | eCycle event; propane tanks, cooking oil, tires, polystyrene, rechargeable batteries |
| Wicomico [c] | — | — | ✔ | ✔/✔ | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Oyster/clam shell, scrap metal, tires, wood pallets, propane tanks, Freon units |
| Worcester | — | — | ✔ | ✔/ | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | propane tanks, tires, wood pallets, scrap metal |