Multi-Family Food Scraps Recycling
The Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Recycling and Resource Management Division’s (RRMD) Waste Reduction and Recycling Section is providing technical assistance and education to multi-family properties to implement a food scraps recycling collection program. This supports the County’s efforts toward reducing waste, reusing items and materials, and recycling more while aiming for Zero Waste.
Food scraps resources
Food scraps recycling checklist
Download the food scraps recycling checklist (PDF) to help you initiate a food scraps recycling program at your multi-family property.
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Get informed about food scraps recycling.
- Learn about the environmental and financial benefits of starting a food scraps recycling program and see examples of case studies of multi-family properties in Montgomery County.
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Measure interest in your community.
- Share this survey (WORD) with residents to measure their overall interest in participating in a food scraps recycling collection program.
- Present best practices and benefits to property management, the board and board members, residents and other individuals who may want to get involved to support the program. Contact the Multi-Family Recycling Program Manager, Ruth Carbonell, at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.
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Get approval and quotes.
- Request quotes from local licensed food scraps recycling collectors. View a list of food scraps recycling collectors.
- Review and sign the food scraps recycling collection contract with the private hauler/collector you have chosen.
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Start, maintain and grow your food scraps recycling program.
- Contact the Montgomery County, Maryland, Multi-Family Recycling Program Manager, Ruth Carbonell to set up a kick-off food scraps recycling training for your residents. Be sure to let us know how many units have expressed interest in participating at your multi-family property.
- During this Kick-off meeting, DEP will provide in-unit food scraps recycling containers and certified compostable bags to program participants.
- Survey participants to get their feedback on how the program is working. The survey will be provided by RRMD and tailored to your property.
- RRMD will provide labels, posters, and other educational materials as needed. You can also order materials at our webstore.
- Measure and share the successes of your program with your neighbors and community!
- Add the total amount of food scraps recycled to your Annual Recycling Report to get credit for all your recycling efforts!