Baltimore County’s New Initiative to Boost Recycling Rates in Apartments
In an effort to promote recycling and reduce contamination in the recycling stream, Baltimore County has launched a new pilot program in collaboration with several apartment communities. The Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPWT) has taken the lead in installing large educational decals on recycling dumpsters at these communities and distributing reusable recycling tote bags to residents.
The pilot program, which has already been implemented in four communities totaling more than 3,100 apartment units, is set to expand to a total of 10 communities with over 10,000 units. The program began with 410 units at the Twin Ridge Apartment complex in Pikesville and has since expanded to include Carriage Hill Apartments in Randallstown, Gwynn Oaks Apartments in Windsor Mill, and Morningside Apartments in Owings Mills.
Nicholas Rodricks, Chief of the Bureau of Solid Waste at DPWT, emphasized the importance of educating residents about recycling, stating, “This pilot program helps us overcome some of the operational hurdles of recycling in multi-family housing communities. Not everyone has the ability to simply place their recyclables in a bin and wheel it out to the curb. This program allows us to meet people where they are and improve recycling in Baltimore County.”
Residents were recently surprised when the county’s annual trash and recycling guide arrived without the traditional pickup schedules. Instead, a QR code was provided, which the county explained was a cost-effective and sustainable alternative. A county study from last year revealed that residents in multi-family housing communities were less satisfied with trash and recycling services compared to those in single-family homes, citing limited space for recyclables and restricted drop-off access as key issues.
The Bureau of Solid Waste-funded pilot program aims to increase recycling awareness and educate residents on proper recycling procedures. Recyclable items include papers, cardboard, metal, glass bottles, plastic bottles, and rigid plastics, among others. Items such as plastic bags, foam, food waste, and batteries should not be included in regular recycling.
Kristen Centeno, assistant property manager at Twin Ridge Apartments, shared her enthusiasm for the program, stating, “When Baltimore County approached us about this program and we announced it to our community, there was a renewed and increased interest in recycling. We’ve had such a great response that we are adding on an additional day of recycling pick-ups.”
In addition to reducing recycling contamination, the pilot program also aims to decrease the amount of trash entering the Eastern Sanitary Landfill in White Marsh, Baltimore County’s only active landfill. The Bureau of Solid Waste handles nearly 1 million tons of trash or recyclables annually from both Baltimore County and Harford County, serving over 240,000 single-family homes and 82,000 multi-family units.
Baltimore County processes more than 75,000 tons of recyclable material annually through the Central Acceptance Facility in Cockeysville. For more information on residential recycling collection, visit Baltimore County’s website.
Marcus Dieterle, the managing editor of Baltimore Fishbowl, shared insights on the initiative, highlighting the importance of environmental efforts in the community.
