One of Baltimore County’s biggest trash collection weeks each year follows the Memorial Day holiday. This year we’re asking residents to make an extra effort to lessen the loads headed to the landfill from every corner of the county next week. The best way to reduce waste is not to create it in the first place. If waste is prevented, there is no need or cost for collection, processing and disposal. Green your Memorial Day holiday with these tips to reduce waste and save energy.
THROWING A COOKOUT?
Use a meal planning app to help you determine how much food to serve. Choose several menu items that require little to no cooking by offering a charcuterie board or crudités (fresh fruits and vegetables) and other selections like salads, dips and nuts. Buy locally-produced food and drink. Try to buy products with minimal packaging. Choose reusable kitchenware, tableware and linens. If reusable products are not an option, seek compostable products. Serve beverages like iced tea, lemonade and water in reusable drink dispensers. Don't over-serve food and offer guests leftovers. Put out a recycling bin and recycle all you can. Store remaining leftovers in reusable containers and eat them. Compost the food scraps and leftovers permitted in your home compost.
GOING TO A PICNIC OR PARTY?
Walk, bike, carpool or take public transit. Take a reusable cup, straw and container for leftovers. If you spot abandoned recyclable cans, bottles and cups sitting around, empty them and put them in a recycling bin. Bringing a dish? Choose locally-sourced ingredients. And don't litter—that includes cigarette butts and masks!
MARKING THE HOLIDAY AT HOME?
Get some green time instead of screen time—power down your televisions, computers and mobile devices and spend time outside in the fresh air. If you’re not throwing or attending a cookout, consider conducting a quick litter cleanup in your neighborhood, doing some gardening, or taking a walk in the park. Turn down the air conditioner, or better yet, turn it off and open up some windows.
Don’t forget that the County has a new sliding holiday collection schedule. All trash, recycling and yard material curbside collections scheduled on or after Memorial Day will shift and be made one day later that week. For addresses on a twice-per-week trash schedule, the first trash collection after Memorial Day will follow the rules outlined below, and the second trash collection will not occur. Please visit the County’s website for more information.