Yard Waste Recycling

DID YOU KNOW...
that yard trimmings collected for recycling are turned into compost at a regional facility?

How can I get rid of all my YARD TRIMMINGS?

Choose the option that's best for YOU!

• Curbside Recycling Collection
• Grasscycling
• Home Composting
• Rake and Take Program
• Drop-off at Alpha Ridge Landfill Resident's Convenience Area

CURBSIDE RECYCLING COLLECTION
(April 1, 2008 through January 21, 2009)

Once a week curbside collection of UNLIMITED amounts of grass, leaves and light brush is provided to residents living in single family homes, most townhomes and trailer parks in eastern Howard County.
This area includes...

• Columbia
• Elkridge
• Eastern Ellicott City
• Laurel
• Savage
• Other metropolitan areas

In these areas, Howard County will be collecting grass, leaves and small brush ONLY on your scheduled recycling day from April 1, 2008 - January 21, 2009. These items will not be picked up on your TRASH collection day, but instead will be tagged with a sticker explaining that yard waste is collected on your recycling day. Many western Howard County residents are already solving the BACKYARD CHALLENGE by grasscycling or backyard composting (see SEASONAL SOLUTIONS.) To see if you are in the service area, call (410) 313-6444.

YES we accept...

• leaves
• grass
• small brush
• small limbs
• hedge clippings
• dry seed pods (such as pine cones or sour gum balls)

NO we can't accept...

• dirt
• sod
• stones
• fruit or vegetables
• man made or miscellaneous materials mixed with yard trimmings
  (such as paper, plastic, glass, stones, metal wire, or pottery)

HOW TO prepare yard waste for curbside collection...

• Place in paper or plastic bags. Leave bags open, or
• Use open containers such as trash cans, etc. (No cardboard boxes as containers) and remove lids, or
• Tie or bundle light brush with string

GRASSCYCLING

Leave your grass clippings on the lawn, returning nutrients to the soil and improving lawn quality. Grasscycling will not cause thatch, damage your lawn or spread disease; in fact, lawn care professionals recommend grasscycling for a greener, healthier lawn! Grasscycling helps our streams and even the Chesapeake Bay!

See GrassCycling for more information.

HOME COMPOSTING

Mix leaves, grass clippings and vegetable refuse together and watch the natural decomposition process turn waste into black gold. Call 410-313-6444 for a free composting instruction kit ( compost bins available while supplies last). Classes on composting sponsored during Spring and Fall.

See Home Composting for more information.

RAKE AND TAKE PROGRAM

Match yourself (RAKER) with someone who needs more material for their compost bin (TAKER). RAKERS (residents who will rake and bag their leaves and grass) are matched with TAKERS (people who want leaves or grass for composting and volunteers who will collect materials for use at our compost demonstration site at Alpha Ridge Landfill). Call Howard County Master Gardeners at 410-313-2707.

DROP-OFF AT ALPHA RIDGE LANDFILL

You can also recycle GRASS, LEAVES and LIGHT BRUSH in the yard waste recycling bin at our convenient ALPHA RIDGE LANDFILL RESIDENTS' CONVENIENCE CENTER, Monday through Saturday from 8 am - 4 pm. Proof of Howard County residency required.

PLEASE -- no plastic bags in drop off bins.

Inclement Weather

During inclement weather, every effort will be made to continue to provide for scheduled collections. If collections are cancelled due to snow, ice, or other severe weather, pick-up will be made the following week on your scheduled recycling day, if possible, or when road conditions permit. Call 410-313-6444 for cancellation and makeup information.

Holidays

Recycling collections are not made on the following six (6) holidays:

• New Year's Day **
• Memorial Day *
• Independence Day *
• Labor Day *
• Thanksgiving Day *
• Christmas Day **

* If your regular recycling day falls on one of these days, collections will be made the following week on your scheduled recycling day.

** If your regular recycling day falls on one of these days, collections will be made on the following day. When either of these holidays falls on Saturday, collections will be made the following Monday.

PLEASE remember your 4's

when placing recyclables and trash
out for collection...

• UNLIMITED RECYCLABLES
  (however, 4 item per week limit for TRASH.)
• Each item under 40 pounds.
• Each item less than 4 feet long.
• Put out beFORE 6 a.m

Other sources of recycling information

Television: Cable Station GTV
White pages of your Bell Atlantic Phone Book explains Howard County's Recycling program
Local library: look in the reference section and at fliers stocked at information racks.