Everything You Need to Know: Frederick County’s Recycling

In Frederick County, we try to do everything we can to help save the planet by going green. We encourage saving energy with our Green Homes Challenge, and we hold public Frederick County Sustainability Commission meetings every third Wednesday of the month. If you want to be a part of our initiatives, you can always begin by simply recycling. Here is Ryan Homes at Brunswick Crossing’s basic guide on everything you need to know about Frederick County’s recycling:

There is no recycling (or trash) collection on holidays. Frederick County recycling pick-ups depend on your location. To find out when your collection day is, follow these steps: 

  1. Visit At A Glance

  2. Click Info At a Glance

  3. Click “I agree” to the disclaimer

  4. Click on the green Recycling Calendar button at the top of the page

  5. Select your location on the large map provided

  6. The small window will say: “Your curbside collection day is: ______________”

  7. Click the Print/PDF button in the small window to receive a printable calendar

Disclaimer: Frederick County’s recycling company does not collect recycling bins on certain holidays and observances, including New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If your home’s collection day falls on any of these holidays, you should expect your recycling to be collected one day later, which is labeled on the PDF calendar. 

Recycling days can be canceled. A lot of homeowners do not know this, but your recycling collection can be postponed due to inclement weather such as severe thunderstorms, snow, hail, and/or tornado warnings. Listen to the local radio station or call the recycling office for weather related cancelations.

Recycling requires an early wake-up call. The Frederick County government provides biweekly curbside recycling collection for residents of single-family households. In order to receive collection, your blue recycling bin or cart is required to be out by 6 in the morning on the designated collection day. It should be within 3 to 6 feet of the street, facing the road, on level ground if possible. IT should be at least 4 feet away from other trashcans, mailboxes and other obstructions.

Though Frederick County does not provide the same service for businesses or multi-family housing units, these entities may contract for individual service and can receive assistance from Frederick County. For more information, visit Frederick County Workplace Recycling.

Do not call the government for recycling inquires. Frederick County’s recycling collection is provided by Allied Waste Services. This company provides service to more than 75,6000 households in 10 collection regions across the county as of fall 2014. For any questions or concerns, call AWS at 301-694-6498, or call The Office of Recycling at 301-600-2960.

You can recycle way more than just plastic. Download this list to see which items you should and should not leave inside your bin mixed together. Aside from the basic cardboard, glass and plastic, Frederick County offers several other recycling programs available to all residents, such as yard waste, wood pallets, used motor oil, antifreeze, large appliances, scrap metal, tires, electronics, lead-acid batteries, foam padding and bulkier plastics. However, the city does not collect tires and Styrofoam. For more information about these programs and their services, visit the Frederick County Department of Solid Waste Management’s website.

Now that you know what to recycle, where to put your bins or carts, and when to place it on the curb, you are practically a Frederick County recycling expert. For more information or if you have any questions, contact Frederick Recycles or visit their Facebook page.