Yardwaste Recycling

DID YOU KNOW...
Howard County encourages residents to use paper bags or reusable containers for yardwaste? Plastic bags do not breakdown and actually reduce the quality of the composted material.

There is a separate truck that picks up yardwaste. Don't panic if your household single-stream recyclables were picked up and your yardwaste wasn't, it's a separate truck and it can come anywhere from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

*** Free Paper Yardwaste Bags ***

Visit the Recycling Division at 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 514 or the Alpha Ridge Landfill at 2350 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, for free paper yardwaste bags.
(Limit 2 free bags per family)

Click here for an information sheet, including retail locations that sell paper yardwaste bags.

How can I get rid of my YARD TRIMMINGS?

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

CURBSIDE RECYCLING COLLECTION
(April 1, 2009 through January 22, 2010)

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, 2009 - January 22, 2010. These items will not be picked up on your TRASH collection day, but instead will be tagged with a sticker explaining that yardwaste 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 sweet gum balls)
• hay
• straw

NO we can't accept...

• dirt
• sod
• stones
• fruit or vegetables
• nuts
• stumps
• bushes with root bases attached
• man-made or miscellaneous materials mixed with yard trimmings
  (such as paper, plastic, glass, stones, metal wire, or pottery)
• yard trimmings placed in County-issued recycling containers or cardboard boxes

HOW TO prepare yardwaste for curbside collection...

• Place in paper bags or reusable containers (though it is not prohibited, we encourage you to avoid plastic bags, which do not breakdown with the compost)
• You no longer have to leave bags open, you may tie them shut
• Tie or bundle light brush with string
• Please no cardboard boxes as containers

Why use paper bags for yardwaste?

• Paper bags decompose naturally with yardwaste
• Paper bags do not require the extra steps to remove plastic pieces from compost
• Paper bags hold the same as plastic bags, but won't puncture as easily
• Paper bags stay open for easier filling
• Paper bags contain a component that resists water absorption

GRASSCYCLING

Leave grass clippings on your lawn to return nutrients to the soil and improve 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

RAKERS (residents who will rake and bag their leaves/grass) are matched with TAKERS (people who want leaves/grass for home composting and also volunteers who collect materials for use at our compost demonstration site at Alpha Ridge Landfill). To participate in this program, call the 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 yardwaste drop-off area at the Alpha Ridge Landfill, Monday through Saturday from 8 am - 4 pm. Proof of Howard County residency required.

NO plastic bags are accepted at the yardwaste drop-off area.

NEED COMPOST?

Compost can be purchased at the following locations:

Alpha Ridge Landfill - Bulk
2350 Marriottsville Rd.
Marriottsville, MD 21104
(410) 313-6444

Grandfather’s Nursery - Bulk & Bags
5320 Phelps Luck Drive
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 730-3131

Kendalls Hardware - Bags
12260 Route 108
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 531-2111

Maryland Ground Covers – Bulk
3810 Ten Oaks Road
Glenelg, MD 21737
(410) 489-4820
www.marylandgroundcovers.com

Visit www.menv.com for additional compost retailers in Howard County. Please note that Howard County does not endorse vendors or products.

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

For the holiday schedule, click here.

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 that 4 feet long.
• Limbs under 4 inches in diameter.
• Put out beFORE 6 a.m