Regional Compliance Hub: Daily HHW & Electronics + Residential Bulk Drop-Off — Montgomery County, MD
This regional hub is designed to help Montgomery County apartment residents and property managers identify the
correct County-approved or otherwise lawful pathway
for materials requiring special handling—including
household hazardous waste (HHW),
electronics,
bulky household items, textiles, paint, and other materials that should not be placed in ordinary apartment trash or recycling streams.
Montgomery County maintains one of Maryland's most detailed multifamily recycling frameworks through its
TRRAC program and Executive Regulation 1-15.
The
Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station
also provides daily access to several resident recycling and special-waste programs.
[1]
[2]
[3]
Shady Grove Processing Facility & Transfer Station
Residential Household Hazardous Waste:
Montgomery County's HHW program accepts qualifying
home-generated hazardous waste from Montgomery County residents,
including materials such as pesticides, solvents, automotive chemicals, oil-based paint, and other listed household hazardous materials.
[4]
[5]
General Drop-Off Hours:
Monday–Saturday, 7:00 AM–5:00 PM
and
Sunday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.
Sunday access uses the Shady Grove Road entrance, and scale-dependent disposal services may be restricted on Sunday.
[2]
Electronics Recycling — Residents & Businesses:
Montgomery County accepts qualifying electronics from
residents and businesses
in the Recycling Area / Upper Lot.
Electronics drop-off is currently available daily during applicable facility hours.
[6]
[7]
- Facility: Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station [1]
- Address: 16101 Frederick Road, Derwood, MD 20855 [2]
- Hours: Mon–Sat 7:00 AM–5:00 PM | Sun 9:00 AM–5:00 PM [2]
- Residential HHW: Open daily during applicable facility hours for qualifying home-generated material; proof of Montgomery County residency may be required. [4] [5]
- Electronics: Residents and businesses may use the designated electronics recycling area. [6] [7]
Property Manager Warning: Residential HHW Is Not a Commercial Waste Program
Resident HHW Program:
Montgomery County's ordinary HHW drop-off program is intended for
home-generated hazardous waste from County residents.
[4]
Property-Generated Waste:
Management-shop chemicals, maintenance chemicals, contractor-generated hazardous material,
business pesticides, solvents, universal waste, and other commercially generated hazardous material
should not automatically be routed through the resident HHW program.
Action:
Property managers should use the applicable Montgomery County
business hazardous/universal-waste pathway or a qualified commercial provider
for property-generated waste.
Latex Paint: Wet-Paint Limit + Dry-Out Option
Wet Latex Paint:
Montgomery County currently limits qualifying resident drop-off of wet latex/water-based paint to
5 gallons per calendar month.
[8]
Dry-Out Option:
For paint being discarded as ordinary trash,
residual latex paint must be fully dried or hardened.
County guidance identifies absorbents such as
kitty litter, shredded paper, or paint hardener
as possible drying methods.
[8]
Property Manager Note:
Business- or property-generated paint should follow the applicable commercial program rather than being represented as resident household HHW.
Montgomery County TRRAC: The “7+ Unit” Multifamily Recycling Mandate
Mandate Type:
Mandatory Recycling
under Montgomery County's TRRAC framework and Executive Regulation 1-15.
[3]
[14]
Applicability Threshold:
Montgomery County's multifamily recycling framework applies to
multifamily residential properties containing seven or more dwelling units.
[3]
[14]
Annual Reporting:
Current DEP guidance requires covered multifamily properties to submit an
Annual Multi-Family Recycling and Waste Reduction Report by February 1
for the previous calendar year.
[9]
Five Mandatory Recycling Categories
Montgomery County's multifamily recycling program requires covered properties to provide recycling pathways for the following categories:
1. Mixed Paper
2. Commingled Materials
3. Scrap Metal
4. Yard Trim
5. Christmas Trees
[3]
[15]
Commingled Materials:
This category includes qualifying
glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles/containers/jars/tubs/lids, and aluminum/metal containers
under current County guidance.
Compliance Warning:
A property should not be characterized as fully TRRAC-compliant merely because it has paper and bottle/can recycling if required pathways for scrap metal, yard trim, and Christmas trees are absent where applicable.
Recycling Containers Required at Trash Containers & Trash Chutes
Container Placement:
Montgomery County's multifamily rules require adequate recycling containers
at each location where trash containers or trash chutes are located.
[14]
[15]
Quantity & Capacity:
Containers must be provided in adequate size and quantity to accommodate the recyclable materials generated by residents.
Identification:
Recycling containers must be clearly identified by material type.
Trash and recycling containers must be located within reasonable and convenient proximity to dwelling units and onsite facilities.
Vending Areas:
County requirements also address placement of recycling containers near vending machines that dispense products in recyclable packaging.
Waste Reduction & Recycling Plans
101+ Dwelling Units:
Executive Regulation 1-15 requires covered multifamily entities with
101 or more dwelling units
to submit a waste-reduction and recycling plan to Montgomery County.
[14]
100 or Fewer Units:
Under ER 1-15, a covered multifamily entity containing
100 or fewer dwelling units
must submit a plan within the required period after receiving a written request from DEP.
[14]
Current Operations:
Property managers should follow current DEP/TRRAC forms and instructions because administrative reporting and filing practices can be updated independently of the underlying regulation.
Annual TRRAC Report — Due February 1
Current DEP Requirement:
Montgomery County's current public-facing TRRAC guidance requires covered multifamily properties to submit the
Annual Multi-Family Recycling and Waste Reduction Report every year by February 1.
[9]
Report Information:
Current reporting addresses matters such as
recycling quantities, disposal quantities, collector information, recycling services, resident education, and program activities.
Property Manager Action:
Maintain the data needed throughout the year rather than attempting to reconstruct the program immediately before the filing deadline.
Five-Year Records + Licensed Collector Requirement
Five-Year Records:
Covered multifamily entities must maintain applicable
contracts and invoices concerning collection and disposition of recyclable materials for the most recent five years
and make them available to Montgomery County DEP for inspection/copying as required.
[16]
Licensed Collector:
When a property contracts with a collector for recycling or solid-waste collection,
the collector must hold the applicable
current Montgomery County collector license.
[14]
[16]
License Documentation:
Property management should retain evidence of the collector's current license and be prepared to provide it to DEP within the timeframe required by County regulations.
ER 1-15 provides for production within
three business days
when requested.
TRRAC Enforcement: Local Fines + Maryland State Penalties
Montgomery County Class B Violations:
Current County property-manager guidance identifies violations of Executive Regulation 1-15 as
Class B violations,
with a
$100 initial fine
and
$150 for subsequent violations,
including continuing daily enforcement where applicable.
[15]
[16]
Other Solid-Waste Violations:
Separate Chapter 48 requirements can carry different classifications and penalties.
Current County guidance identifies certain Class A violations at
$500 initially and $750 for subsequent violations.
The applicable penalty depends on the actual provision violated.
[15]
Maryland 10+ Unit Overlay:
Apartment buildings and condominium communities with
10 or more dwelling units
are also subject to Maryland Environment §9-1711.
That statute requires collection from residents and
removal for further recycling
and authorizes a
civil penalty not exceeding $50 for each day a violation exists.
[17]
Layered Compliance:
Montgomery County's stricter
7+ unit TRRAC threshold does not replace the statewide 10+ unit law.
Properties with 10 or more units must account for both frameworks.
Residential Bulk Trash: The Under-500-Pound Rule
Resident Household Loads:
Montgomery County residents may bring qualifying residential trash loads that are clearly
499 pounds or less
to Shady Grove at no charge under current County rules.
[10]
500 Pounds or More:
Loads of
500 pounds and over
are currently subject to the County's tipping fee, listed at
$70 per ton.
[10]
Sunday Warning:
Transfer Station scales are not normally operating on Sunday.
If a trash load is not clearly below the residential no-charge threshold,
the load may need to be returned during scale-house operating hours.
[2]
Property Manager Warning:
The resident household-disposal allowance should not be treated as a free property-management, contractor, unit-turn, or commercial disposal program.
Property-generated waste should follow the applicable commercial facility and fee rules.
Textiles: Use the Designated Textile Recycling Area
Textile Recycling: Shady Grove provides a designated textile recycling area for qualifying clothing, shoes, and other accepted textiles. Follow current onsite signs and County materials guidance. [11]
Glass Recycling: Yes — Part of the Commingled Materials Stream
Status:
Montgomery County requires qualifying
glass bottles and jars
as part of the multifamily
commingled-materials recycling category.
[3]
[18]
Important Terminology:
Montgomery County generally uses a
dual-stream recycling structure,
separating mixed paper from commingled bottles, jars, cans, and containers.
Do not describe the County system as universal single-stream recycling.
Property Manager Action:
Follow the property's actual collector/container setup and current County specifications for preparation and contamination.
Poolesville Beauty Spot: Saturday Residential Bulk-Trash Option Only
Location:
The
Poolesville Beauty Spot
provides a limited western-County resident disposal option.
[12]
Current Hours:
Saturday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM.
[12]
Limited Acceptance:
The Beauty Spot should not be described as a satellite recycling or HHW center.
Current County guidance indicates it does
not
accept ordinary household trash, mixed paper/cardboard, commingled recycling, scrap metal, yard trim, household hazardous waste, or commercial waste.
Its principal current function is accepting qualifying
residential bulk-trash loads within the published weight limit.
Shady Grove remains the primary County location for the broader recycling, electronics, HHW, and disposal programs.
[12]
Incorporated Municipalities: Verify Local Collection Rules
Municipal Properties:
Montgomery County contains incorporated municipalities with their own trash/recycling collection structures.
Property managers should verify the actual jurisdiction and service arrangement before relying on a County residential collection rule.
Gaithersburg & Rockville:
Montgomery County's current solid-waste planning materials state that
Gaithersburg and Rockville have adopted Montgomery County's multifamily and nonresidential recycling regulations,
with County TRRAC implementation/support applying to those sectors.
[19]
Other Municipalities:
Takoma Park, Poolesville, Garrett Park, Kensington, Somerset, Washington Grove,
the Chevy Chase municipalities, and other incorporated communities may maintain separate collection or sanitation arrangements.
Verify the municipality, TRRAC applicability, and property-specific collector before changing service.
How We Solve This For You (National Doorstep)
Compliance is operational.
For covered multifamily communities, National Doorstep can help support an inspection-ready resident-facing recycling program by standardizing set-out procedures,
improving access to designated recycling containers,
reducing contamination,
documenting service,
and helping prevent overflow.
Important Compliance Distinction:
National Doorstep's standard operating model functions
upstream from off-site hauling and recycling processing.
Porters move properly prepared resident-setout material from apartment doors to
property-designated recycling or trash containers on private property
under ownership or authorized management approval.
When a property contracts for downstream collection,
the applicable
Montgomery County-licensed collector or other lawful downstream recycling arrangement
remains responsible for off-site transportation and delivery of recyclable materials for further recycling.
National Doorstep service should therefore be integrated with—not interfere with—the property's existing
licensed collector, recycling containers, trash locations, chute configuration, TRRAC reporting system, and approved collection schedule.
CTA:
Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Montgomery County Property
Compliance Note: This page provides general operational and property-management information and is not legal advice. Montgomery County regulations, TRRAC forms, annual-report requirements, collector licenses, disposal fees, facility hours, municipal collection arrangements, and accepted materials can change. Property owners and managers should verify current requirements with Montgomery County DEP, the applicable municipality, their licensed collection provider, and qualified counsel when appropriate.
EEAT Sources: [1] Montgomery County DEP: Shady Grove Processing Facility & Transfer Station | [2] Montgomery County DEP: Drop-Off Hours & Events | [3] Montgomery County DEP: Multi-Family Recycling / TRRAC | [4] Montgomery County: Household Hazardous Waste — Resident Program | [5] Montgomery County DEP: Hazardous Waste Drop-Off | [6] Montgomery County: Electronics Recycling | [7] MC311: Electronics Recycling Program | [8] Montgomery County: Latex Paint | [9] Montgomery County DEP: Annual Multi-Family Recycling Report | [10] Montgomery County DEP: Transfer Station User Fees | [11] Montgomery County: Clothing, Shoes & Textiles | [12] Montgomery County DEP: Poolesville Beauty Spot | [13] Montgomery County Solid Waste Plan — Facilities | [14] Montgomery County Executive Regulation 1-15 — Recycling & Waste Reduction | [15] Montgomery County DEP: TRRAC Property Manager's Guide | [16] Montgomery County Code Chapter 48 — Solid Wastes | [17] Maryland General Assembly: Environment §9-1711 — 10+ Unit Mandate, Inspection & $50/Day Penalty | [18] Montgomery County DEP: What Multi-Family Properties Must Recycle | [19] Montgomery County Solid Waste Management Plan — Municipal / TRRAC Framework
Regulatory review date: August 8, 2026. Verify current TRRAC reporting instructions, collector licenses, County fee schedules, facility operating procedures, municipality-specific requirements, and Maryland statutory amendments before relying on this page for a future compliance decision.
Montgomery County property owners and community managers: simplify multifamily recycling compliance while improving resident convenience. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling program can be configured to support compliance with Montgomery County's TRRAC framework, County Code Chapter 48, COMCOR 48.00.03, and applicable Maryland law when integrated with the property's required containers, resident education, records, reporting, and lawful downstream recycling arrangement.
Montgomery County's multifamily recycling regulations apply to buildings containing seven or more dwelling units. Covered multifamily entities and residents must recycle the materials designated by the County. Apartment buildings and condominiums containing 10 or more dwelling units are also subject to Maryland Environment §9-1711, which separately requires collection of recyclable materials from residents and removal for further recycling.
- 7+ Units — Montgomery County TRRAC: COMCOR 48.00.03.03(b) applies to multifamily buildings containing seven or more dwelling units.
- 10+ Units — Maryland Overlay: Maryland Environment §9-1711 additionally requires collection from residents and removal for further recycling.
- Required Recycling Categories: Covered Montgomery County multifamily entities must recycle cardboard, mixed paper, commingled materials, yard trim, Christmas trees, and scrap metal items, plus materials later designated by DEP.
- Container Placement: Adequate recycling containers must be provided at each location where trash containers or trash chutes are located and clearly labeled for the appropriate recyclable material.
- Annual Reporting: Current DEP/TRRAC instructions direct properties in its reporting program to submit the Annual Multi-Family Recycling and Waste Reduction Report by February 1. COMCOR contains specific automatic/request-based filing triggers described below.
- Five-Year Records: Maintain applicable recycling collection/disposition contracts and invoices for the most recent five years.
- Licensed Collector: When contracting for recycling collection, use a collector holding a valid current Montgomery County Collector's License.
- Regional Jurisdiction Matters: Montgomery County contains 19 incorporated municipalities. Gaithersburg and Rockville use the County multifamily recycling framework, while municipalities such as Takoma Park maintain additional local requirements.
At a Glance: Montgomery County, MD
- County Multifamily Regulatory Threshold: 7+ dwelling units.
- State Multifamily Threshold: Maryland Environment §9-1711 additionally applies at 10+ dwelling units.
- Mandate: Mandatory recycling—not merely an offer to recycle.
- Required Categories: Cardboard; mixed paper; commingled materials; yard trim; Christmas trees; scrap metal items; and other materials later designated by DEP.
- Containers: Adequate, clearly labeled recycling containers must be placed at each location where trash containers or trash chutes are located.
- Responsible Agent: Covered multifamily entities must designate an agent responsible for applicable plan and reporting requirements.
- Waste Reduction & Recycling Plan: 101+ units: plan submission is automatically required. 100 or fewer units: plan submission is required within 60 days after written DEP request.
- Annual Report: Current DEP instructions state that properties in the TRRAC annual-reporting program file by February 1. COMCOR automatically requires annual filing for 101+ unit properties and uses a written-request trigger for 100-or-fewer-unit properties; once triggered, those smaller properties continue annual February 1 filing.
- Records: Applicable recycling collection and disposition contracts/invoices must be retained for five years.
- Collector: When contracting for collection, use a currently licensed Montgomery County collector and maintain evidence of the license.
- Local Recycling Enforcement: Violations of County Code Article V or regulations issued under it are Class B violations.
- Maryland State Penalty: For properties covered by §9-1711, violations of the applicable state recycling duties may carry a civil penalty of up to $50 for each day the violation exists.
TRRAC Enforcement & Penalties
- County Code §48-49: Violations of the County recycling article or regulations issued under it are Class B violations.
- Current County Guidance: Montgomery County's TRRAC property-manager materials identify the Class B civil schedule as $100 for an initial violation and $150 for subsequent violations, with continuing violations potentially cited on a daily basis where applicable.
- Separate Containers: County Code §48-49 states that each container holding recyclable solid waste that is disposed of or collected in violation of the recycling article/regulations may constitute a separate violation.
- Reports May Be Audited: COMCOR states that annual reports may be reviewed, field-verified, and audited through onsite evaluation.
- Maryland 10+ Unit Penalty: Maryland §9-1711 independently authorizes a civil penalty not exceeding $50 for each day a covered state-law violation exists.
- Other Solid-Waste Rules: Separate County or municipal sanitation, solid-waste, storage, collection, or property-maintenance violations can carry different penalties depending on the provision violated.
Property Manager Compliance Checklist
| Task | Action / Requirement | Resources / Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm 7+ Unit Coverage | Determine whether the building contains seven or more dwelling units. COMCOR 48.00.03.03(b) applies the County multifamily recycling program to covered generators, owners, property managers, condominium associations, and cooperative housing projects. | COMCOR 48.00.03.03 |
| ☑ Confirm 10+ State Coverage | If the apartment building or condominium contains 10 or more dwelling units, Maryland §9-1711 additionally requires collection of recyclables from residents and removal for further recycling. | Maryland Environment §9-1711 |
| ☑ Designate Responsible Agent | Designate the person responsible for applicable plans and reports. For leased facilities, this is generally the owner or representative identified through County landlord/tenant records or otherwise confirmed. Common-ownership communities use the appropriate association representative. | COMCOR — Responsible Agent |
| ☑ Provide Required Materials | Provide recycling for cardboard, mixed paper, commingled materials, yard trim, Christmas trees, and scrap metal items, plus other materials DEP may designate. | DEP — What Multifamily Properties Must Recycle |
| ☑ Place Recycling at Trash Locations | Provide adequate-size and adequate-quantity recycling containers at each location where trash containers or trash chutes are located. Clearly label each recycling container for the appropriate material. | COMCOR — Container Requirements |
| ☑ Maintain Convenient Access | Trash and recycling containers must be within reasonable and convenient proximity to dwelling units, offices, clubhouses, recreation facilities, and other onsite uses as provided by County regulations. Recycling containers are also required in convenient proximity to vending machines dispensing recyclable packaging. | COMCOR 48.00.03.03(b)(6) |
| ☑ Determine Plan Filing Requirement |
101+ units:
submit a Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan.
100 or fewer units: submit a plan within 60 days after receiving a written DEP request. The plan includes the property/facility description, recycling contact, materials recycled, collector information, delivery sites, and waste-reduction activities. |
COMCOR — Plan Requirements |
| ☑ File Annual Report |
Current Montgomery County DEP instructions state that properties in its TRRAC annual-reporting program submit the
Annual Multi-Family Recycling and Waste Reduction Report by February 1.
COMCOR requires automatic annual filing for 101+ unit entities and uses a written-request trigger for properties with 100 or fewer units. Once a smaller property has been directed to report, annual February 1 reporting continues. |
DEP Annual Report
COMCOR Reporting Rule |
| ☑ Track Tonnage & Education |
Maintain information needed for reporting, including recyclable and disposal tonnage,
program changes, collector information, and descriptions of resident recycling education.
If recyclables are self-hauled, obtain scale-house tickets. If tickets are unavailable, maintain receipts or other proof of the quantity recycled. |
COMCOR — Report Contents |
| ☑ Certify Reports & Plans | Required plans and reports must be signed by a person authorized to bind the multifamily entity and certify that the information is correct to the best of that person's knowledge. | COMCOR — Certification |
| ☑ Retain Five Years of Records | Maintain applicable contracts and invoices for collection and disposition of recyclable materials for the most recent five years and make them available to DEP for inspection/copying upon request. Financial pricing information may be redacted as permitted by the regulation. | COMCOR — Five-Year Records |
| ☑ Verify Collector License | When contracting for recycling collection, use a collector with a valid current Montgomery County Collector's License. Maintain a copy of the license for inspection. | COMCOR — Contract Services |
| ☑ Produce License When Requested | A property manager or responsible agent contracting with a licensed collector must be prepared to provide DEP with a copy of the collector's license within three business days after a County request. | COMCOR — Collector License Documentation |
| ☑ Monitor Contamination | Monitor contamination, overflow, damaged signage, insufficient capacity, and missed service. County regulations require collectors to separately collect source-separated recyclables and address unacceptable/contaminated loads through the County-prescribed notification process. | COMCOR — Collector Responsibilities |
| ☑ Prepare for DEP Verification | Annual reports may be reviewed, field-verified, and audited through onsite evaluation. Keep containers, signage, contracts, reports, resident communications, invoices, tonnage documentation, and collector-license records current. | COMCOR — Review Process |
| ☑ Understand Penalties |
County recycling violations are Class B violations.
Current County property-manager guidance identifies a
$100 initial / $150 subsequent violation
schedule.
Properties with 10+ units also face Maryland §9-1711's separate up-to-$50-per-day state civil penalty framework. |
County Code §48-49
Maryland §9-1711 |
Regional Property Manager Information: Montgomery County Communities & Municipalities
Montgomery County's current Solid Waste Management Plan identifies 19 incorporated municipalities. Collection arrangements and municipal requirements can differ, so a mailing address such as “Silver Spring,” “Chevy Chase,” or “Rockville” should not by itself determine the regulatory jurisdiction. Confirm the property's actual municipal boundary and collection arrangement.
| Market / Municipality | Jurisdiction / TRRAC Status | Property Manager Priorities | Important Local Notes | Official Resource |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Unincorporated Montgomery County Bethesda, Silver Spring, Wheaton, Germantown, Aspen Hill, North Bethesda, Potomac, Olney, Damascus, Montgomery Village, Glenmont and other unincorporated areas |
County TRRAC / COMCOR framework applies directly to covered 7+ unit multifamily properties. | Confirm required recycling categories; place recycling at each trash container/chute location; determine plan/report filing requirements; retain five years of records; and verify any contracted collector's current County license. | Montgomery County does not provide ordinary County collection service to 7+ unit multifamily properties. Collection/disposal is generally the responsibility of the property owner through private collection or an otherwise lawful arrangement. | Montgomery County TRRAC |
| City of Gaithersburg | Gaithersburg expressly applies Montgomery County's multifamily recycling laws and TRRAC program. Montgomery County implements the multifamily recycling program in the City. | Follow the County TRRAC container, materials, reporting, responsible-agent, record-retention, and licensed-collector framework, while separately checking applicable City property/site requirements. | Gaithersburg's own guidance directs multifamily owners/managers to Montgomery County for TRRAC implementation. Do not confuse City residential curbside programs with multifamily property obligations. | Gaithersburg — Apartments & Condominiums |
| City of Rockville | Rockville has incorporated the County's TRRAC multifamily recycling framework for covered multifamily properties. Current County planning materials identify Rockville and Gaithersburg as municipalities that adopted County multifamily/nonresidential recycling regulations. | Apply the County TRRAC/COMCOR operational requirements and separately verify any Rockville-specific waste-storage, site, zoning, property-maintenance, or collection requirements. | Rockville is an incorporated city, not an unincorporated Montgomery County community. County technical support/enforcement for the adopted multifamily recycling framework should not be confused with City residential collection service. | Rockville — Waste & Materials |
| City of Takoma Park | Takoma Park maintains its own Chapter 10.12 multifamily recycling requirements. The City's collection/service structure differs from ordinary Montgomery County TRRAC administration. | For private-collection properties: provide sufficient recycling containers; provide recycling collection at least weekly; keep recycling bins visible and at least as accessible as refuse bins; post required recycling notices; and maintain proof of program participation. | Current City guidance states: 13+ unit properties do not receive City waste/recycling collection and must use private collection. Properties with 12 or fewer units may elect qualifying City collection or use a licensed hauler. Private-collection multifamily properties must submit the City's annual recycling report by December 31. Verify whether separate County/state reporting also applies to the specific property. | Takoma Park Multifamily Recycling |
| Town of Poolesville | Incorporated municipality with its own residential trash/recycling collection structure. Current Town residential service uses dual-stream recycling. | Multifamily managers should verify whether the specific property qualifies for Town residential service or requires a separate private/commercial arrangement. Do not assume ordinary household service automatically applies to a 7+ unit community. | Current residential instructions separate mixed paper/cardboard from commingled glass/plastic/metal containers. Plastic-bagged recyclables are not accepted in the Town residential collection program. | Poolesville Trash & Recycling |
| Town of Kensington | Kensington is an incorporated town with a municipal residential trash/recycling collection arrangement. | Confirm whether the multifamily property is eligible for Town service or requires separate collection. A 7+ unit property should not assume that the Town's single-family/townhome residential service satisfies the applicable multifamily framework. | The Town's current residential program follows County accepted-material guidance but uses its own municipal collection contractor and schedule. | Kensington Trash & Recycling |
|
Chevy Chase Municipalities Town of Chevy Chase; Chevy Chase Village; Chevy Chase View; North Chevy Chase; Village of Chevy Chase Section 3; Village of Chevy Chase Section 5; Martin's Additions |
These are distinct incorporated municipalities—not one single “Chevy Chase” jurisdiction. | Verify the exact municipal boundary, multifamily service eligibility, local container/set-out rules, and whether County TRRAC administration applies to the property. Maintain the applicable 7+ County or municipal multifamily program and Maryland 10+ overlay where applicable. | Local residential collection procedures can differ substantially. For example, Chevy Chase Village has specific receptacle-placement rules for its household collection system. Do not use a generic “Chevy Chase” mailing address as the regulatory test. | Montgomery County — Incorporated Municipalities |
| Town of Garrett Park | Incorporated municipality with municipally arranged refuse/recycling services. | Verify whether the property's dwelling type/unit count qualifies for the Town's residential arrangement or whether separate multifamily collection is required. Confirm TRRAC applicability and reporting directly with DEP when necessary. | Do not assume a Town household assessment or residential collection contract automatically covers a larger apartment/condominium property. | Garrett Park |
| Town of Somerset | Incorporated municipality with local residential-service administration. | Confirm municipal collection eligibility and any separate private multifamily arrangement. For a covered 7+ unit property, verify applicable County/municipal recycling requirements before relying on household collection rules. | Municipality-specific programs may apply to ordinary residences but should not automatically be extended to commercial/multifamily property operations. | Town of Somerset |
| Town of Washington Grove | Incorporated municipality with its own local government and residential service arrangements. | Verify property-specific municipal service eligibility, applicable recycling requirements, and downstream collection responsibility before establishing or changing service. | Maryland's 10+ unit requirement remains a separate statewide consideration for any qualifying apartment or condominium property. | Washington Grove |
|
Other Incorporated Municipalities Barnesville, Brookeville, Glen Echo and Laytonsville |
Each is a separate incorporated municipality within Montgomery County. | If managing a multifamily property in one of these jurisdictions, verify the actual local collection arrangement and whether County multifamily recycling administration has been adopted or otherwise applies. Do not infer jurisdiction from postal address alone. | Montgomery County's 2025–2034 Solid Waste Management Plan identifies these communities among the County's 19 incorporated municipalities. | County Municipalities / Solid Waste Plan |
Bethesda, Silver Spring, Wheaton, Germantown, Aspen Hill, North Bethesda, Potomac, Olney, Damascus, Montgomery Village, and Glenmont are not incorporated municipalities. Always verify the actual parcel jurisdiction before applying a municipal collection rule.
How National Doorstep Fits Into the Montgomery County Framework
National Doorstep's standard multifamily service operates upstream from off-site hauling and recycling processing. Porters move properly prepared resident-setout material from apartment doors to property-designated trash and recycling containers on private property under ownership or authorized management approval.
Montgomery County's multifamily rules require property owners/managers to provide compliant onsite collection infrastructure, while Maryland §9-1711 requires covered 10+ unit properties to provide collection from residents and removal for further recycling.
When the property contracts for downstream recycling collection, the contracted collector must meet applicable Montgomery County licensing requirements. That downstream provider remains responsible for off-site transportation and delivery of source-separated recyclables to an appropriate recycling facility.
National Doorstep service should therefore support—not replace or interfere with—the property's regulated downstream collection arrangement, required recycling containers, trash/chute locations, reporting system, resident education, and municipal requirements.
Montgomery County Multifamily — Compliance Summary
- ☑ County Multifamily Threshold: 7+ units.
- ☑ Maryland Overlay: 10+ units under Environment §9-1711.
- ☑ Mandatory Materials: Cardboard, mixed paper, commingled materials, yard trim, Christmas trees and scrap metal.
- ☑ Container Rule: Recycling containers at each trash-container / trash-chute location.
- ☑ Responsible Agent: Designate the responsible property/association representative.
- ☑ Plan: 101+ units automatically; ≤100 units after written DEP request.
- ☑ Annual Report: Current DEP filing date is February 1; follow the property's DEP filing status and COMCOR trigger.
- ☑ Records: Maintain applicable recycling contracts/invoices for five years.
- ☑ Collector: When contracting, use a current Montgomery County-licensed collector.
- ☑ License Production: Maintain the license and provide it to DEP within three business days when requested.
- ☑ County Enforcement: Recycling violations are Class B violations.
- ☑ State Penalty: Up to $50/day for applicable Maryland §9-1711 violations.
- ☑ Municipality Check: Confirm actual jurisdiction before relying on a local residential collection program.
Authoritative Ordinance & Policy Sources
- Montgomery County COMCOR 48.00.03.03 — Solid Waste, Waste Reduction and Recycle Program — current multifamily applicability, materials, responsible agent, plans, reports, certification, five-year records, containers, licensed collectors and contract-service requirements.
- Montgomery County DEP — TRRAC Multi-Family Recycling Program — current operational multifamily guidance.
- Montgomery County DEP — Annual Multi-Family Recycling & Waste Reduction Report — current February 1 filing instructions.
- Montgomery County DEP — Multifamily Required Recycling Materials — current materials guidance.
- Montgomery County Code §48-49 — Enforcement — Class B recycling violations and separate-container enforcement language.
- Montgomery County DEP — TRRAC Property Manager's Guide — compliance operations and current County enforcement guidance.
- Maryland General Assembly — Environment §9-1711 — official 10+ unit apartment/condominium mandate, collection/removal requirement, inspection authority and up-to-$50-per-day state penalty.
- City of Gaithersburg — Recycling for Businesses, Apartments & Condominiums — confirms County TRRAC implementation in Gaithersburg.
- City of Rockville — Waste & Materials — notes County oversight of the multifamily/commercial recycling program in Rockville.
- City of Takoma Park — Multifamily Recycling — local collection thresholds, weekly private service, container accessibility, notices and annual reporting.
- Town of Poolesville — Trash & Recycling — current municipal residential collection information.
- Town of Kensington — Trash, Recycling & Composting — municipal residential collection information.
- Montgomery County 2025–2034 Solid Waste Management Plan Materials — identifies the County's 19 incorporated municipalities and regional solid-waste framework.
Regulatory review date: August 8, 2026. Verify current COMCOR amendments, DEP/TRRAC filing instructions, collector licenses, municipal collection arrangements, enforcement schedules, and Maryland statutory amendments before relying on this page for a future compliance decision.
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