December News from Howard County Recycling

Have you tried our virtual tour?  To celebrate America Recycles Day, we introduced our NEW Virtual Tour of our Residents' Convenience Center at Alpha Ridge Landfill. Learn about everything you can recycle at our landfill--from the comfort of your couch! Please use the latest version of Chrome, Firefox or Safari to view. Did you know we offer tours of the Residents' Convenience Center and our Composting Facility? Visit our website for more information.

Where Does it Go? Part 3 - HDPE Plastic

Once  HDPE plastic containers  (typically milk jugs and bottles used for detergent labeled with the #2 recycling emblem) are collected from the curb, they are sent to Waste Management Recycle America in Elkridge, where plastic items are separated from other recyclable materials. From Elkridge, the plastic items are sent to a Mauser Packaging Solution facility in Reidsville, NC. In this facility, screens separate out the HDPE containers before shredding and washing the material several times to remove any labels and residue. The shreddings are then processed into very small pellets or melted bricks to be sold to processors who make drainage piping, lumber, plastic parts and dumpster lids. Do you know the most valuable commodity in the recycling stream today? 1- Metal 2- Aluminum Cans (no foil) 3- HDPE (milk jugs) 4- Cardboard Stay tuned for the answer at the bottom of this newsletter.

Christmas and New Year's Day Schedule

There will be NO CURBSIDE COLLECTIONS on Wednesday, December 25 or Wednesday, January 1, 2020. Wednesday through Friday curbside collections of recycling, yard trim, food scraps and trash will slide and be made one day later the week of Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The Alpha Ridge Landfill: Tuesday , December 24 - Closed at 2pm Wednesday, December 25 - Closed Wednesday, January 1 - Closed County offices will be closed on Wednesday, December 25 and Wednesday, January 1, 2020. Check out our handy holiday schedule graphic to print and save.

HHW Drop-Off Days Done for 2019

Household Hazardous Waste drop-off days at the Alpha Ridge Landfill have ended for 2019. There will be a special drop-off day on the first Saturday in January, February and March. Regular Saturday HHW days reopen in April.

Merry Mulch - Holiday Tree Recycling

Remember to remove all tinsel, garland, ornaments, lights, tree stands, plastic bags, etc.  Your participation in the Merry Mulch program keeps thousands of trees out of the landfill. Christmas trees are taken to a compost facility to be recycled into compost and mulch. County residents with curbside yard trim collection can place their tree out for pickup on their yard trim collection day. Or, take your tree to one of the following drop-off sites. Clarksville  - Kendall Hardware (12260 Route 108) Columbia  - Cedar Lane Park (5081 Cedar Lane) Elkridge  - Rockburn Park (5400 Landing Road) Ellicott City  - Small Circuit Court parking lot on upper Court House Drive (just past Ellicott Mills Drive, on the right) Highland  - Schooley Mill Park (12975 Hall Shop Road) Marriottsville  - Alpha Ridge Landfill Wood Waste Area (2350 Marriottsville Road). NOTE: ARL will be CLOSED Wednesday, December 25, 2019 and Wednesday, January 1, 2020. Savage  - Savage Park (8400 Fair Street) Woodbine  - Western Regional Park (14800 Carrs Mill Road) Learn more about the Merry Mulch program.

Yard Trim Collection Ending Soon

Yard Trim collection is available April 1 through the third week in January. For 2020, the last day of yard trim collection will be Friday, January 17th. Remember, County residents can take yard trim items year-round to the Alpha Ridge Landfill Woodwaste Area for recycling. Households participating in our Feed The Green Bin program receive year-round collection of food scraps and yard trim.

What is the most valuable commodity in the recycling stream today? Milk Jugs.  Typically aluminum cans are the most valuable, however due to current market conditions, HDPE or milk jugs are more valuable and currently sell for over $1,000 a ton. Too bad milk jugs only represent 0.8% of the total recycling stream. Everybody be sure to drink your milk!

Play our KBYT Game and Win!

How well did you drag and drop? If you have or haven't already, test your skills and play our FUN game . Drag and drop the items into the correct place. Then, print your certificate and bring it to our main office (9801 Broken Land Parkway) to receive a FREE indoor recycling collection container (Limit one per household, while supplies last) . We've already had over 100 winners! Play it again for new items and check out our recycling resource center to learn more.

Is it recycling or trash?

Howard County Recycling 9801 Broken Land Parkway Columbia, MD 21046 Open Monday-Friday, 8am to 5pm

Alpha Ridge Landfill 2350 Marriottsville Road Marriottsville, MD 21104  Open Monday-Saturday, 8am to 4pm

(410) 313-6444 help@HowardCountyRecycles.org HowardCountyRecycles.org

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