emde logo 

List of State Officials - Martin O'Malley, Governor; Anthony Brown, Lt. Governor; Shari T. Wilson, MDE Secretary 

Volume III, Number 5

 December 2007

eMDE is a monthly publication of the Maryland Department of the Environment. It covers articles on current environmental issues and events in the state. 

The Smell of Success

By David Mrgich, Waste Management Administration

Back to this issue's cover page 

The sweet smell of success is in the air. In 2006, Maryland set new records for the amount of waste recycled and credits earned on activities designed to reduce the amount of solid waste entering the waste stream. The result was, for the second straight year, a waste diversion rate that exceeded Maryland’s 40 percent waste diversion goal.

In 1988, the Maryland General Assembly passed the Maryland Recycling Act (MRA) that requires Maryland’s 23 Counties and Baltimore City to divert waste by recycling either 15 percent or 20 percent of their waste, depending upon their population. In addition to the MRA, recognizing the importance that producing less waste has on a healthy and clean environment, in 2000, the Maryland General Assembly established a voluntary statewide waste diversion goal of 40 percent by 2005.

The waste diversion goal is comprised of the recycling rate plus a source reduction (SR) credit of up to 5 percent that counties can earn on activities that are designed to reduce the amount of solid waste generated. Maryland was the third state to recognize the benefits of SR and offer jurisdictions the opportunity to earn credit for these activities that include conducting ongoing, multi-faceted, public education program promoting grasscycling and/or home composting of yard trimmings and implementing a SR curriculum or ongoing activity in schools.

Click here to view Waste Diversion Graphic

In 2006, Maryland exceeded the 40 percent voluntary waste diversion goal with a 44.7 percent waste diversion rate. The waste diversion rate was comprised of a 41.2 percent recycling rate and a 3.5 percent SR credit. The 2006 waste diversion rate is up by 2.1 percentage points from the 42.6 percent rate reported in 2005. “The real heroes are those Maryland residents who recycle or compost,” said Horacio Tablada, director, Waste Management Administration. “Government can mandate recycling and promote source reduction, but it wouldn’t make a difference if Marylanders didn’t care about doing the right thing.”

County Waste Diversion Totals for 2006

County/City MRA Recycling Tons MRA Recycling Rate (%) SR Credit (%) MRA Waste
Diversion Rate (%)
Allegany 24,686 29.10 3 32.10
Anne Arundel 343,593 46.26 3 49.26
Baltimore City 289,494 42.04 0 42.04
Baltimore County 724,484 45.25 5 50.25
Calvert 66,428 49.85 2 51.85
Carroll 45,811 27.72 2 29.72
Cecil 61,040 35.40 2 37.40
Charles 56,244 39.68 5 44.68
Dorchester 9,047 18.32 0 18.32
Frederick 119,069 36.02 3 39.02
Garrett 24,177 51.13 1 52.13
Harford 178,319 52.80 4 56.80
Howard 178,226 42.28 5 47.78
Mid-Shore1 119,293 48.29 0 48.29
Montgomery 422,371 37.47 5 42.47
Prince George’s 320,217 41.03 5 46.03
Somerset 7,612 27.50 0 27.50
St. Mary’s 28,955 31.93 4 35.93
Washington 41,933 28.88 1 29.88
Wicomico 31,904 20.59 0 20.59
Worcester 35,998 32.00 0 32.00
STATE TOTALS 3,128,901 41.2 3.5 44.7

 
In support of Maryland law, and to continue to reduce waste disposal and the adverse effects it may have on the environment, MDE promotes and encourages waste diversion across the State. This is accomplished by building partnerships that work to develop markets for recyclable materials and reduce waste at its source. Click here for details regarding Maryland’s waste diversion activities.

Subscribe/Unsubscribe

©2007 Copyright MDE

 
Editorial Board
Maryland Department of the Environment
1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21230
http://mde.maryland.gov/
​​​​​​​​​​​​​