Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich Announces Expansion of Residential Curbside Recycling Collection Program to Include Electronics and Household Batteries

For Immediate Release: Friday, April 4, 2025

County Executive Marc Elrich joined the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to announce the expansion of the single-family residential curbside recycling program to include the on-call collection of electronic items and household batteries. This service will be available to all residents who receive County-provided recycling collection services, with full implementation County-wide by the end of 2025.

DEP’s Recycling and Resource Management Division has phased in this enhanced recycling collection service in select areas of the County over the past few years. The recycling includes alkaline and rechargeable batteries.

“The expansion of the recycling collection service to include electronics and household batteries is a benefit to our residents,” said County Executive Elrich. “From 2022 to 2024, the County recycled more than 3,700 tons of electronics and batteries, removing them from the waste stream. Making the collection easy will encourage people to recycle more and that brings us closer to achieving our goal of aiming for zero waste and help to create a cleaner, greener Montgomery County.”

Residents who do not currently have this service will receive a bilingual informational postcard and letter, which will include details on how to schedule a recycling collection of electronic items and household batteries, how to set out the materials for collection and when the service begins.

 

 

"By providing convenient curbside pickup for electronic items and batteries, we’re not only making it easier for residents to recycle, but we’re also protecting the environment from the dangers these materials can pose when not properly disposed,” said DEP Director Jon Monger. "This program recognizes the large and growing presence of batteries and electronics today and expands County services to help meet the moment sustainably."

Once service begins, residents can call MC311 to schedule a curbside recycling collection of electronic items and household batteries. This will be an on-call service, so residents must schedule the collection in advance of their regular recycling day. Electronics and batteries should never be placed in curbside recycling bins or mixed with regular trash, as doing so could pose a fire risk or interfere with the safe processing of recyclables.

This enhanced recycling service is a critical part of Montgomery County’s broader efforts to increase recycling and move closer to its ambitious goal of reducing waste and recycling more, aiming towards zero waste. Expanding access to safe and convenient recycling options for electronic items and household batteries will help ensure that these materials are diverted from the waste stream and handled in a way that reduces the risk of fires and protects the environment.

The program began its phase-in process in April 2022. Since then, the County has received more than 2,500 requests from residents in eligible areas to schedule curbside recycling collection of electronic items and batteries.

To find out when the service will be available in your area, visit the DEP website or call MC311. More information about the County’s recycling collection program is also available on the DEP website.

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Release ID: 25-147
Media Contact: Cindy Peña 202-875-1563
Categories: Environment