One area we must address to achieve a sustainable lifestyle is managing our "waste" in a responsible way.  More than 2 billion pounds of materials are generated in our County each year, and the County’s only operating landfill, Eastern Sanitary Landfill, is about half full. 

One of the best ways residents can prolong landfill life is to recycle as much as possible.  Recycling is much more cost-effective, energy saving, and pollution reducing than disposing of material as trash.  Everyone creates "waste" and everyone must take his or her share of responsibility to deal with it! 

The Challenge: Recycle All You Can!

In 2008 Baltimore County residents recycled more than 39,000 tons of paper and bottles & cans.  We estimate that Baltimore County residents only recycle approximately 25 percent of what could be recycled in our program.

Take the challenge, recycle all you can, and help us increase our residential recycling tonnages above 40,000 tons in 2009!

Below you can see our 2008 residential recycling tonnages compared to where we are in 2009.  Do your part, recycle all you can, and let's increase these numbers!  Check back often for updated recycling tonnages.

Learn More

What Can You Recycle?
Information on what materials you can recycle in Baltimore County and how to set them out for collection.

How Our Program Conserves Tax Dollars
Learn more about how recycling avoids throwing tax dollars away.

How Baltimore County Achieved #1 Recycling Rate in the State (2007)
In 2007, Baltimore County businesses contributed heavily to the County's overall recycling rate.  Learn just how much, and why it's important for residents to increase participation!

Revised January 11, 2010