WHEATON, Md. — This spring Montgomery Parks and Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) remind residents and park visitors to help keep our parks clean and “recycle right” by properly sorting and disposing of recyclables and avoiding cross-contamination with trash and litter.
This happens when non-recyclable items are placed in recycling bins and can render entire loads of material unrecyclable. Small actions, such as placing the right items in the correct bins, can have a significant environmental impact.
Montgomery Parks provides recycling receptacles in all 11 of its recreational parks and five regional parks. Recycling receptacles are also provided for all parks’ special and permitted events.
“Our recreational and regional parks receive nearly 7 million visitors a year,” said Miti Figueredo, director of Montgomery Parks. “By focusing our resources on these high-traffic parks with centralized amenities, we can ensure that items from the recycling receptacles are actually being recycled.”
The Department of Environmental Protection echoed the importance of proper recycling habits countywide.
“Recycling works best when we all do it right,” said DEP Director Jennifer Macedonia, “Items like food waste, dog waste, and other non-recyclables can contaminate entire loads of recyclable materials, making them unusable. By paying attention to what goes in each bin, residents can help protect the integrity of our recycling system and support a more sustainable future.”
Residents and visitors are encouraged to learn more about proper recycling practices and to “leave no trace” by disposing of waste responsibly or taking recyclables with them when appropriate.
For more information on recycling in Montgomery County, visit Montgomery Parks Sustainability webpage and Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection website.
Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages 416 parks and more than 37,000 acres of parkland. Our parks, programs, and facilities promote physical activity, social connection, and environmental stewardship. As part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Montgomery Parks is committed to creating equitable, inclusive, and accessible park experiences. M-NCPPC has been stewarding public lands since 1927 and has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services.
Accessibility
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice/TTY), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Accessibility for more information.
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