ALPHA RIDGE LANDFILL
RESIDENTS' CONVENIENCE CENTER

The following materials are accepted from Howard County residents. Residents using the landfill are required to show their driver's licenses as proof of residence in Howard County each time they enter the landfill.

See MAKING YOUR VISIT EASIER for loading/unloading instructions.

See a diagram of the Convenience Center.

Antifreeze

Uncontaminated antifreeze only (not mixed with oil or other substances).
Please leave container for attendant to empty. DO NOT EMPTY YOURSELF.

Appliances

Air conditioners and refrigerators contain freon and must be placed in their designated area. Other appliances, such as dishwashers, ovens and microwaves can be placed in the scrap metal dumpster for recycling.

Batteries wet cell

Acceptable batteries include auto, boat and motorcycle, GM and Gel Cell, commonly found in ATVs and kid's powered vehicles.

Rechargeable batteries - see Household Hazardous Waste.

Visit our Batteries webpage for more information.

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: 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.

For a tax receipt, please bring material the 1st Saturday of each month 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

NOTE: 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)

Items Accepted: Moving boxes, appliance boxes, storage boxes, and shipping boxes, etc. Please flatten. NO pizza boxes or waxed cardboard.

Carpet (deposit in Carpet container)

$50 per ton tip fee applies - Residential or Commercial Loads

NOTE: Residents are responsible for lifting and moving their carpet at the Convenience Area. It is recommended that carpet be cut into smaller sections (2’ wide) to facilitate transport.

Items Accepted: Indoor carpeting made from nylon 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.

Items Not Accepted: Wool or cotton area rugs, indoor-outdoor carpeting and small accent rugs that may be made from nylon or PET.

Christmas Trees, Wreaths and Garland

Artificial: Undecorated artificial trees, wreaths and garland can be dropped off for recycling at the Convenience Area year-round.

Live: Undecorated live Christmas trees, wreaths and garland can be recycled at the Alpha Ridge Landfill woodwaste area.

Clothing or Textiles (deposit in Textile Trailer)

Items Accepted: Clothing, curtains/drapes, sheets, blankets, towels, tablecloths, handbags, hats, belts, and paired shoes and socks.

Must be clean and dry. Items are donated to a local non-profit organization.

Compressed Gas Tanks

Propane and helium tanks. Helium tanks must be empty.

Cooking Oil - Used (leave container with Guardhouse Attendant)

Any type of liquid vegetable oil (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.

Visit our Used Cooking Oil webpage for more information.

Electronic Equipment

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

Visit our Electronics webpage for more information.

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 (rechargeable) 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....

Visit our Household Hazardous Waste webpage for more information.

Metal Items (deposit in Scrap Metal Container)

Items Accepted: 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, fencing, cable.

*Please place refrigerators and air conditioners in designated area, not in scrap metal container.

Oil & Filters

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

Paint Latex or water soluble

Liquid latex or water soluble paint is accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Area from April 1 through November 30, on Saturdays only.

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).

Did You Know? Paint can be solidified in the can at home by adding an absorbent material such as cat litter, shredded newspaper, leaves, sawdust or dirt. Or if there isn't much paint left in the can, leave the lid off to air dry the paint. Once solidified, the paint can be disposed with your normal household trash, but remember the 40 pound limit for trash containers.

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

Polyurethane Foam (deposit in Foam Trailer)

Items Accepted: 100% soft foam mattresses, cushions, and carpet padding (all colors).

Items Not Accepted: Styrofoam or rigid foam.

Rigid Plastics (deposit in Rigid Plastics Container)

Items Accepted (include but are not limited to): Plastic toys, playhouses, 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.

Items Not Accepted: PVC pipe/tubing, vinyl siding, styrofoam or polystyrene, plastic medical waste, and plastics that have been contaminated by petroleum products and/or hazardous waste.

Visit our Rigid Plastics webpage for more information.

Roofing Shingles

Paper and nails may be mixed with roofing shingles.

Items Not Accepted: Trash, wood, miscellaneous paper or metals.

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.

Single Stream Recycling

The following items can be mixed together in the blue "All Together Now" recycling compactors. You do not need to remove lids, caps or labels, but please rinse items lightly.
Glass Bottles & Jars (all colors)
Beverage bottles, mayonnaise jars, ketchup bottles, juice bottles, etc.
Cans & Aluminum Foil
Food and drink cans, EMPTY aerosol cans, aluminum foil and foil bakeware.
Plastic
Plastic bottles, tubs, jars and trays. Remember you do not have to remove lids or caps. Please place large plastic items in the Rigid Plastic containers
Paper
Milk cartons, juice boxes, newspapers, magazines, junk mail, office paper, food boxes, books, etc.

NO plasticized or food-coated paper

Visit our Recycling webpage for more information.

Tires

Items Accepted: automobile and truck tires only. (Commercial haulers see Landfill Fee Schedule)


Items Not Accepted: tires on rims, tires over 4' in diameter or over 15" in width. NOTE: Rims can be recycled in the scrap metal container.

Limit of 4 tires per visit.

Trash

Howard County residents may dispose of UNLIMITED QUANTITIES OF HOUSEHOLD TRASH. Residents disposing of unusually large quantities of household trash using a greater than 3/4 ton vehicle, or disposing of waste for someone else, may be required to obtain a Special Exception Permit.

Residents disposing of construction, demolition, and home improvement waste will be charged the commercial tip fee ($65/ton). This includes deliveries mixed with household waste.

Items Accepted: Upholstered furniture, non-recyclable paper, heavy metal cable, styrofoam, pizza boxes, broken toys, and other household items.

Items Not Accepted: Recyclable materials such as rechargeable batteries, bottles, cans, paper, cardboard, usable building supplies, etc.

Wood and Yardwaste

Items Accepted: 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 the wood waste disposal area. Items must be debagged unless yardwaste is contained in paper bags.

We ask that you take a few minutes to SORT your waste, since much of the household waste can be recycled or reused by placing it in one of the many recycling containers or trailers at the Center.

Remember, one person can make a difference!

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