Sustainable Frederick County
Fall 2018
|
|
County Council Passes Executive Gardner's Food Waste Composting Program
|
|
On October 16, 2018, the
County Council adopted County Executive Gardner's legislation
to allow limited food waste composting on agricultural land that will decrease the amount of waste that is sent to the county's landfill by making it easier for the private sector to compost food waste. "This is a good first step to facilitate food composting in Frederick County", commented Executive Gardner. "
Composting extends the life of landfills,
conditions soil, reduces the need for irrigation, improves water and air quality, and creates jobs on a commercial level."
T
he Agricultural Activity designation allows food waste composting as a principal permitted use (no site plan required) for processing activities in an area between 5,000 square feet and 5 acres of land. The Commercial Activity designation allows food waste composting, with site plan approval, in an area between 5,000 square feet and 10 acres.
County residents and businesses throw away an estimated 137,000 tons of waste each year. Of that total, 24,000 to 25,000 tons are from food waste.
|
|
Congratulations Elected Officials!
|
|
The Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources would like to congratulate all of our newly elected and re-elected government officials! We look forward to working with you over the next four years!
|
|
There is no doubt that
Autumn is a beautiful time of year in Frederick County! It's a great time to enjoy
pumpkin-
everything, hot cider and football games! It's also a good time to tackle some projects around the house that will help you to prepare for the
colder weather
to come.
Here are a few things you can do to
make sure you are ready for the winter season:
- Clean out gutters and downspouts
- Check for drafts
- Drain outdoor faucets, and rain barrels
- Change filters on HVAC equipment
- Test winter equipment
- Change batteries on safety devices like smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
- Care for trees and shrubs, and prune when necessary
- Add weather stripping around doors and windows
- Schedule chimney cleaning and heating maintenance appointments.
|
|
OSER Project and Program Updates
|
|
Creek ReLeaf
The residential properties from the first round of
Frederick County's Creek ReLeaf
program are being planted in November with a total of
148 acres
of reforestation. An additional 17 acres will be planted at the Monocacy River Park property in Frederick, MD.
The application period for the
second round
of the program
was conducted in August 2018. The program received
15 applications with just over 200 acres of interest
for reforestation. OSER is currently gathering information and conducting site visits at each applicant property. The anticipated planting dates for accepted properties is fall 2019.
|
|
|
Capital Improvement Projects (CIP)
The CIP group has been extremely busy with the construction of
19 stormwater pond upgrades
(retrofits) which will capture more pollutants in the ponds rather than allowing them to continue into the receiving waterways. These projects under construction are located in the
Urbana, Frederick, Green Valley, and Adamstown
areas. Additionally, proposed stormwater management projects are proposed or in design for the
Middletown, Jefferson, Point of Rocks, Mt. Airy, Adamstown, Clover Hill, and Frederick areas.
There are also proposed stream restorations for over
7,500 linear feet of deteriorating streams
in the Point of Rocks, Mt. Airy, Clover Hill, and Pinecliff areas. The CIP group also performed three Watershed Assessments in Double Pipe Creek, Catoctin Creek, and Potomac Direct Watersheds to identify the most cost-effective restoration projects to assist in improving water quality in Frederick County. Keep an eye out as you see our projects in your daily travels!
|
|
Recently upgraded stormwater pond in the Clearview area. The temporary goose protection fencing will ensure the aquatic plants are protected while growing.
|
|
Septic System Pump-Out Program
The
Septic System Pump-Out Program
i
s a rebate program for residents who have their septic tanks pumped out by a licensed hauler every five years. Rebates will be available for homeowners who pump out their septic systems starting in 2018
in the amount of $75
regardless of the amount billed for the pump-out service. The program received additional funding of $50,000 on July 1, 2018. The program funding is based on first come, first served. To learn more about the Septic Pump-Out Rebate Program or to download an application, visit our
website
or contact
Linda Williamson
.
|
|
As a best management practice, residents are recommended to inspect their septic system yearly, and to pump out their system every five years. Inspecting and pumping septic systems promotes their effectiveness and longevity.
|
|
Monocacy and Catoctin Watershed Alliance
|
|
Master Gardener Deb Keimig gave an overview of upcoming Master Gardener seminars and events, as well as information on the Bay-Wise landscaping program, which many Frederick County households have participated in. Don and Jeremy gave a presentation on
County stormwater projects
including several that are being done at the Extension Services location through a grant from the
Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund
.
Don also gave guests a tour of the future project locations on site. Thank you Don, Jeremy and Deb for your wonderful presentations!
|
|
OSER Project Manager Don Dorsey shows MCWA members the location of a future micro-bio retention facility (rain garden) that will be installed.
|
|
Frederick County Sustainability Commission
|
|
The
Frederick County Sustainability Commission hosted
Laura Collard,
the Executive Director of the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education, at its meeting on October 17
th. A study at Towson University showed that students in schools with green programs see 2-12% increases in their test scores. Schools can see operating cost savings from energy, water, and waste disposal.
Frederick County has 7 MAEOE-certified Green Schools
, which is a small number compared to other jurisdictions in the state. New schools in 2018 include: Centerville Elementary, Frederick Adventist Academy, Myersville Elementary, Yellow Springs Elementary. Mother Seton, St. John Regional Catholic, and Wolfsville Elementary recertified in 2018. Congrats to these schools! Visit
www.maeoe.org
to learn how you can help your school to obtain green certification and get resources for environmental literacy!
|
|
|
Best Wishes, Callie!
The OSER team bid farewell to our intern,
Callie Fishburn in September. Callie is currently attending the University of Saskatchewan where she is continuing her environmental studies.
Callie helped the OSER team with many outreach events and with the Pet Waste and Septic Pump-Out Rebate Programs. She also created a series of
Sustainability Lunch & Learn
presentations on the subjects of
Green Volunteering and Community Engagement
and
Sustainability at Home.
Thank you, Callie! We wish you the best of luck in all of your future endeavors!
|
|
|
8th Annual Green Homes Challenge Recognition Event
|
|
The
8th Annual Green Homes Challenge Recognition Event
will be held on
March 28, 2019.
The Green Homes Challenge guides, rewards, and recognizes households for saving energy, adopting environmentally-friendly lifestyle practices, and using renewable energy.
Since Frederick County launched its
Green Homes Challenge
in January 2011, more than 750 households have met one or more of the three Green Homes Challenges:
Be a Power Saver, Be a Green Leader, or Be a Renewable Star.
If you haven't certified yet, it's not too late! Click
here
to get started! Contact
Suzanne Cliber
if you need additional information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
