§ 21-142. Recycling program established; implementation; collection, marketing, and disposition.

(a)

There is hereby established a program for the separation, collection, and disposition of designated recyclable materials under the direction of the Director of the Department of the Environment.

(b)

The recycling program provides the opportunity for the voluntary source separation of designated recyclable materials from County facilities, single-family residences; condominiums; single and multifamily rental facilities; commercial establishments including, but not limited to, offices, stores, hotels, motels, gas stations, and restaurants; and industrial facilities including, but not limited to, factories, processing plants, and manufacturing enterprises.

(c)

The County shall have the authority to collect or to arrange for the collection of designated recyclable materials from all single-family households, single and multifamily rental facilities and condominiums in the unincorporated areas of the County through County-sponsored curbside collection programs or drop-off centers.

(d)

The goals of the Countywide voluntary recycling program established in this Division are to achieve a recycling rate in the County waste stream of at least forty-five percent (45%) by July 1, 2015; at least fifty-five percent (55%) by July 1, 2018; at least sixty (60%) by July 1, 2020.

(e)

If the goals of the Countywide voluntary recycling program as set forth in Subsection (d) above, have not been met, the Director shall develop a Countywide mandatory recycling program, including mandatory source separation, or propose additional policy changes for consideration by the County Council and the Solid Waste, Resource Management and Recycling Advisory Commission. The schedule for implementation for single and multifamily rental facilities and condominiums shall be consistent with the provisions of Section 21-149 of this Code and for commercial and industrial properties shall be consistent with the provisions of Section 21-149.1 of this Code.

(f)

Notification of the mandatory program shall be published in the County newspapers of record no later than thirty (30) days prior to implementation of the program.

(g)

All collectors or haulers licensed by the Department, pursuant to Section 21-105 of this Subtitle, and all solid waste or recycling contracts executed by the County, pursuant to Section 21-137.04 of this Subtitle, shall provide for an opportunity for recycling under this Subdivision or show evidence to the Director of an agreement or contract for providing recycling services through another entity.

(h)

The Director shall assist, as needed, with the Prince George's County Public School System recycling program and shall include information on the School System recycling program within requires State and County reports.

(i)

The Director shall implement a pilot food composting program in the County by July 1, 2014 and shall evaluate the food composting program for expansion on a County-wide basis by December 31, 2015. The Department shall expand the food scrap composting program to fully utilize the expansion of the Gore Composting System and the Organics Composting Facility.

(j)

The Director shall conduct a waste stream analysis of the waste stream to evaluate compliance with the requirements of this subdivision every two (2) years.

(k)

As of January 1, 2014, the County's yard waste composting facility at Western Branch shall not accept yard waste in plastic bags.

(l)

All County offices and agencies shall participate in the County Office Recycling Program (CORP).

(m)

The Director shall include a report of the County Office Recycling Program (CORP) within the Annual Recycling Report detailing the amount of recyclables collected and compliance with the main components of the CORP program.

(n)

The Director shall work closely with the Prince George's County Public Schools, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, and the Department of Parks and Recreation to increase recycling and reduce contribution to the waste stream.

(CB-58-1989; CB-87-2012; CB-30-2014; CB-12-2018)

Editor's note

CR-58-1990 adopted the Prince George's County Recycling Plan.