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Recycing and Economic Devlopment in Maryland
Contact Information:
David Mrgich, Chief, Recycling and Marketing Division
Maryland Department of the Environment
WAS/Recycling and Operations Program
1800 Washington Boulevard
Suite 610
Baltimore, MD 21230-1719
Telephone: 800-633-6101 x3314
Fax: 410-537-3321
E-mail: dmrgich@mde.state.md.us
Website: www.mde.state.md.us/recycling
Through the efforts of its citizens, businesses and government agencies, Maryland achieved a statewide waste diversion rate of 38.8% in Calendar year 2004. The 38.8% was composed of a 35.8% Maryland Recycling Act (MRA) recycling rate and a 3.0% source reduction (SR) credit. This exceeds the requirements of the MRA and is just shy of the 40% waste diversion goal targeted for 2005.
In 2004, Maryland residents and businesses recycled nearly 36% of the municipal solid waste they generated (MRA recycling rate). While this rate is good news, it continues the national trend toward the stabilization of recycling rates. To combat this, states across the country are seeking new ways to ensure that recycling continues to increase its slice of the waste management pie. Like Maryland, many states are investigating new commodities to bring into the recycling stream, while continuing to increase their outreach efforts.
One of the new commodities Maryland is concentrating its efforts on is a long-term solution to the disposal of electronic equipment. Computers and other consumer electronics are a rapidly growing part of the waste stream. The potential environmental and health threats posed by computers and other consumer electronics that may contain toxic materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium, continue to raise concerns about disposal of these items. In 2005, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. signed into law the Statewide Computer Recycling Pilot Program that requires computer manufacturers to register with and pay a registration fee to Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) in order to sell their products in Maryland. Registration fees collected can be used by MDE to provide grants to local governments to assist in the recycling of computers. Since Maryland’s electronics recycling efforts began in October 2001, through December 2004, 58 collection events have been held in 19 Maryland jurisdictions. A total of 845 tons of electronic equipment were collected from these recycling events. An additional 2,558 tons were collected through 6 permanent collection programs.
MDE encourages the recycling of all materials because of the environmental and economic benefits that recycling provides. Business and local governments continue to seek recycling opportunities above and beyond those that apply toward the MRA rate. In fact, over 2.7 million tons of other Non-MRA materials, which do not count towards Maryland’s 36% recycling rate, were reported as being recycled in 2004.
In 2004, fourteen of Maryland's jurisdictions were able to add from 1% to 5% to their waste diversion rate by emphasizing source reduction (SR) activities as a waste reduction strategy. They accomplished this utilizing Internet resources, demonstration sites (e.g., backyard composting), and publications on reuse practices and yard waste reduction. A complete list of available SR activities and the breakdown of Maryland SR activities in calendar year 2004 is available here.
MDE provides assistance to businesses that are interested in participating in Maryland's recycling program by guiding them through the State regulatory framework, consulting on recycling program implementation, and locating markets for recyclable materials. The MDE Customer Service Center is the initial point of contact for information and assistance on permitting issues. The Customer Service Center may be reached by accessing the "Business" section on MDE's web page at www.mde.state.md.us or by phone at 800-633-6101 extension 3772. Assistance in locating markets for recycled materials can be found through the Maryland Recycling Market Directory at www.mde.state.md.us/recycling. The web site is designed to promote commercial recycling in Maryland and is searchable by commodity.
MDE stakeholders include Maryland's citizens and businesses, State, Federal, local government, and elected officials. MDE works to "close the loop" and promote products made of recycled materials by promoting a Buy Recycled training manual and program developed by the Maryland Environmental Service (MES) for local and state government purchasing agents, distributing a Buy Recycled brochure, and displaying recycled content items on MDE's exhibit panels that travel to school fairs, conferences, and outreach events. MDE encourages State government to increase the use of products made with recycled materials by supporting procurement initiatives and working cooperatively with the Maryland Department of General Services (DGS) to promote government purchasing of materials with recycled content.
For a complete overview of how solid waste is managed in Maryland, refer to the annual "Solid Waste Managed In Maryland" report available each Fall on MDE’s web site.
Web Resources
www.mde.state.md.us/recycling
- State, County, and Recycling Information (local services, contact information, waste diversion statistics)
- Recycling Market Directory (markets for recycled materials)
- Special Projects (e.g., electronics recycling, mercury, construction and demolition debris, household hazardous waste, etc.)
- Scrap Tire (general tire recycling information)
- Recycling at Work and School (how to start a recycling program at work and school)
- State Agency Recycling (Maryland State government recycling information)
- Education and Outreach (school presentations, America Recycles Day, waste diversion fact sheets, activities)
- County Coordinator Resources (materials for completion of annual MRA report)
Available Publications on MDE's web site include:
- Maryland Waste Diversion Activities Report
- Solid Waste Managed in Maryland Report
- Maryland's Scrap Tire Program Report
- Commercial Waste Diversion Implementation Guide
- Solving the Permit Puzzle in Maryland
- All StAR News
Contact Information
Ms. Jackie King, Associate Director
Maryland Recyclers Coalition (MRC)
King Stringfellow Group
2105 Laurel Bush Road, Suite 200
Bel Air, Maryland 21015-6185
Telephone: 443-640-1050 x105
Fax: 443-640-1031
E-mail: recycle@ksgroup.org
Website: www.marylandrecyclers.org
The Coalition is dedicated to promoting partnership and cooperation between private and public sectors and strengthening recycling enterprise in Maryland. Membership is open to public, private, not-for-profit recycling entities and the general public. MRC seeks to create a viable and sustainable recycling system for Maryland by decreasing the amount of waste that is disposed, through prevention, reduction, and reuse and by increasing demand for recycled-content products. MRC publishes a regular newsletter, (The Voice), sponsors the annual Maryland Recycling conference, and is the state coordinator for America Recycles Day.
Mr. Richard Keller, Recycling Manager
Maryland Environmental Service (MES)
259 Najoles Road
Millersville, MD 21108
Telephone: 800-I Recycle (473-2925)
Fax: 410-729-8220
Email: rkell@menv.com
Website: www.menv.com
MES (www.menv.com/) recognizes that recycling is an element of effective waste management. MES offers a full range of recycling services to State and local governments including program planning and implementation, facility management and operation, and marketing of materials. MES administers the Maryland Used Oil Recycling Act on behalf of MDE.
Mr. Chris Skaggs, Senior Project Manager
Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority (NMWDA)
100 South Charles Street
Tower II, Suite 402
Baltimore, MD 21201
Telephone: 410-333-2730
Fax: 410-333-2721
Email: cskaggs@nmwda.org
Website: www.nmwda.org
The NMWDA (www.nmwda.org/) provides solid waste and biosolids management to its members – Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Harford, Howard, and Montgomery Counties. The Authority manages three waste-to-energy facilities, and a facility that converts sewage sludge into compost.
Robert L. Hannon, Assistant Secretary
Division of Regional Development
Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED)
217 East Redwood Street, 10th Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Telephone: 410-767-0095
Fax: 410-333-1836
E-mail: rhannon@choosemaryland.org
Website: www.dbed.state.md.us
DBED is the State agency responsible for economic development programs for recycling businesses. Services include technology development, training, financing, and site location.
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