Friday, August 22, 2008

Old refrigerators doors from Montgomery County become art at the National Building Museum

poster for Art of Recycling ExhibitWhen the folks planning the U.S. Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR® Recycle My Old Fridge Campaign Art Exhibition needed refrigerator doors earlier this summer, they came to us. Specifically, they turned to our Solid Waste Transfer Station, the facility which receives refrigerators for recycling. And, our Transfer Station staff was happy to assist with their request.

The refrigerator door art has been created, and the show, titled "The Art of Recycling: The Coolest Show in Town", opens this coming Monday! It runs from August 25 through September 2, 2008, at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC.

Calculate the amount of energy used by your refrigerator, learn about ENERGY STAR® models, and more at the Recycle My Old Fridge Campaign. If you decide it's time to replace your refrigerator, remember that we provide curbside pickups at no charge through our scrap metal recycling program.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Labor Day Holiday 2008 - modified schedule

Monday, September 1, 2008 - Labor Day - is a recycling and trash collection holiday. After the holiday, all County-provided recycling and trash collections will be one day later than normal.

If you have any questions or concerns about your County-provided collection, please contact our Customer Service staff online or call 240-777-6410.

Note: if you (or your community) have a private contract for your trash collection, or if you live in a municipality, these schedule announcements may not apply to your trash service -- check with your hauler or community manager.

Solid Waste Transfer Station Holiday Closings

Solid Waste Transfer Station hours and other details

  • Monday, September 1, 2008: closed
  • Tuesday, September 2, 2008: will reopen with normal hours
Beauty Spot Holiday Closings

Beauty Spot locations, hours and other details

  • Saturday and Sunday, August 30 and 31, 2008: closed

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

On Chocolate Zucchini Bread and plastics recycling

Cocoa container and lidI was looking forward to the arrival of the season's first zucchini, so that I could use it in a batch of Chocolate Zucchini Bread. This past weekend, I got that zucchini, whipped out my recipe, and set to work.

In the process, I used the last of my baking cocoa. Typically, I would have stood there in the kitchen, considering whether I had any possible uses for the empty cocoa container, generally decided that I already had more than enough empty plastic containers awaiting reuse, and then gently placed it into the trash.

This time, I cheerfully rinsed the container and lid, and put them into my recycling bin (after taking this photograph for you!) for collection in our expanded plastics recycling program. And, yes, the bread turned out well also.