ALPHA RIDGE LANDFILL RECYCLING CENTER
AT THE RESIDENTS' CONVENIENCE CENTER

The following recyclable materials are accepted at the Alpha Ridge Landfill Residents' Convenience Center in unlimited quantities. Residents using the landfill are required to show their drivers licenses as proof of residence in Howard County each time they enter the landfill.

See MAKING YOUR VISIT EASIER for loading/unloading instructions.

Aerosol Cans (MIX TOGETHER in the "All Together" Container)

Such as: cooking spray (like Pam), hair spray, spray paint, bug spray, shaving cream and oven cleaner.

Antifreeze (look for signs for automotive recyclables: located in one area)

Uncontaminated antifreeze only. (Not mixed with oil or other substances)

Batteries wet cell (look for signs for automotive recyclables: located in one area)

Such as: auto, boat, and motorcycle.
Household batteries - see Household Hazardous Waste.

Building Materials (deposit in Loading Dock Trailer)

The Loading Dock, a nonprofit organization which serves as a clearinghouse for building materials used in revitalizing low-income housing projects, collects new and reusable building materials.
Items accepted include: banisters, bathtubs, cabinets, counter tops, doors, hardware, lighting fixtures, lumber, molding, plumbing fixtures, shelving, stairs, toilets, windows and other building materials.

Please donate reusable materials only.

Collections are:


1st Saturday of each month 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (for tax receipt)


REMEMBER: the materials that are collected are for REUSE. Howard County and the Loading Dock reserve the right to refuse any materials deemed unfit. If you have any questions about what is acceptable, please call THE LOADING DOCK at (410) 558-3625.

Cardboard corrugated (deposit in Cardboard Container)

Such as: moving boxes, appliance boxes, storage boxes, and shipping boxes.

Carpet (deposit in Carpet container)

Acceptable material includes: all indoor carpeting made from nlon and polyethylene (PET). Most wall-to-wall carpet is made from nylon or PET. Carpet is accepted with or without foam padding; residents are asked to remove as much foam padding as possible and place it in the foam trailer. Small amounts of nails, nailstrips and carpet tape are acceptable with the carpet as well.

Carpet not included in the recycling program includes wool or cotton area rugs, indoor-outdoor carpeting, and small accent rugs that may be made from nylon or PET.

Computer and Electronic Equipment

Items include: Computer monitors, CPUs, televisions, mice, keyboards, miscellaneous computer wires, cords, and cables, cell-phones, printers, small electronic appliances, laptops, scanners; miscellaneous circuit boards, chips, and cards, radios, VCRs, and other computer and electronic related accessories.

Cooking Oil - Used (leave container with Guardhouse Attendant)

Any type of liquid vegetable oil (i.e., peanut, corn, canola, olive etc.) is accepted. Please make sure that the cooking oil is not mixed with other fluids (water, petroleum products, soaps, etc.). Place the cooking oil in a container with a tight-fitting lid, metal or plastic containers are preferred. Vegetable oil that is mixed with small amounts of animal fats can be recycled as long as the amount of added animal fat has not caused the liquid to solidify.

Gas Grill Tanks

Tanks do not have to be empty.

Glass Bottles & Jars all colors (MIX TOGETHER in the "All Together" Container)

Such as: beer bottles, mayonnaise jars, ketchup bottles and juice bottles.

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

The HHW area is for Howard County residents only. The following HHW material is collected only on Saturdays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm the first Saturday in April to the last Saturday in November:

All Purpose Cleaners Batteries (Household) -including button batteries Bathroom Cleaners Brake Fluids Degreasers Drain Cleaners Finishing Strippers Furniture Polish & Wax Fungicides Gasoline

Herbicides Metal Polish Mildew Removers Nail Polish Remover Oil Based Paints Oven Cleaners Paint Thinners Pesticides Photography Chemicals Rug Cleaners

Rust Removers Scouring Powders Solvents Spot Removers Swimming Pool Chemicals Transmission Fluids Upholstry Cleaners Wood Preservatives ...and other household chemicals....

Metal Food & Beverage Cans (MIX TOGETHER in the "All Together" Container)

Such as: pet food cans, canned food cans, soda and beer cans.

Metal Items (deposit in Scrap Metal Container)

Such as: appliances, furnaces, air conditioners, auto parts, bicycles, swing sets, mowers, window frames, copper piping, brass fixtures, aluminum siding, tire chains, light fixtures, microwaves, refrigerators, sheet metal, tire rims.

Mixed Paper(deposit in the "All Together" Container)

Such as: newspapers, magazines, telephone books, carbonless paper, paper bags, junk mail, office paper, cereal boxes, cookie boxes, text books, paperback books, hardback books, file folders, envelopes.

Oil & Filters (look for signs for automotive recyclables: located in one area)

Motor oil, oil filters and hydraulic oils (brake, transmission or power steering).

Old Clothing or Textiles (deposit in Textile Trailer)

Such as: clothing, curtains/drapes, sheets, blankets, towels, tablecloths, handbags, hats, belts, and paired shoes and socks.

Paint Latex or water soluble

Collections from April 1 through November 30, on Saturdays only.

Liquid latex paint is accepted at the Alpha Ridge Landfill Residents' Convenience Center Household Hazardous Waste Area.

To determine if your paint is acceptable:

1. Look for the term "latex" on the label. This type of paint is water soluble.

2. Shake the can to determine if the paint inside is still in liquid form (solidified paint of any kind may be disposed with your household trash).

All other types of paint such as oil based (alkaline) paint, marine paint, automotive paint, primers, etcetera are not accepted for recycling. The paint can be solidified in the can at home by adding an absorbent material such as: cat litter, shredded newspaper, leaves, sawdust, or dirt; just stir and open air dry. Once solidified, the paint can be disposed with your normal household trash. Care should be taken, however, to not overload your trash can, since trash collectors will not pick up containers which weigh over 40 pounds. Non-latex paint may also be delivered to the Alpha Ridge Landfill Residents' Convenience Center Household Hazardous Waste area on Saturdays April 1st - November 30th.

Please direct your questions concerning the recycling or disposal of paint to the Howard County Department of Public Works, Bureau of Environmental Services at (410) 313-6444.

Polyurethane Foam (deposit in Foam Trailer)

100% soft foam mattresses, cushions, and carpet padding (all colors).
NO styrofoam or rigid foam.

Plastic Bottles, Tubs, Jars and Trays (MIX TOGETHER in the "All Together" Container)

Acceptable plastics for recycling include all narrow neck bottles and plastic tubs, jars and trays with a number 2 or 5 in the recycling symbol. Items include: soda bottles, milk jugs, shampoo bottles, detergent bottles, salad dressing bottles, cooking oil bottles, margarine tubs, yogurt containers, peanut butter jars and plastic trays.

Rigid Plastics (deposit in Mixed Rigid Plastics Container)

The types of plastics that WILL be accepted include (but are not limited to): plastic toys - including playhouses and swimming pools, plastic buckets - including those with metal handles, plastic milk/soda crates, plastic laundry baskets, plastic lawn furniture, plastic coolers, plastic totes and sweater boxes, plastic drums, plastic pet carriers, plastic flower pots and trays (clean, no soil or plant material), plastic 5-gallon or larger water bottles, plastic garbage cans, plastic recycling bins, plastic shelving, plastic automotive parts - bed liners, bumpers, grills, etc., and plastic pallets.

NOT ACCEPTED: PVC pipe/tubing, vinyl siding, plastic film - grocery bags and stretch film, styrofoam or polystyrene, plastic medical waste, and plastics that have been contaminated by petroleum products and/or hazardous waste.

Roofing Shingles (look for sign)

Roofing shingles may be put into the shingles area.

Effective July 1, 2006 - A tipping fee of $50/ton will be charged for all deliveries of shingles to the recycling center. Shingles mixed with other waste will be charged at the Solid Waste rate.

Tires (look for signs for tires)

Automobile and truck tires only. (Commercial haulers see Landfill Fee Schedule)

NO rims (rims may be recycled in the scrap metal container).
NO tires over 4' in diameter or over 15" in width. Limit of 4 tires per visit.

Trash

Howard County household generated waste only.
Attendant will direct you to disposal area.

Wood and Yard Waste

Such as: brush, small tree branches, pine cones, grass, leaves, untreated construction lumber (no nails), pallets, crates and Christmas trees.

A landfill employee will direct residents to disposal area.

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