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Solid Waste and Recycling
Recycling

Recycling is a very important part of Calvert County's waste management program. Recycling can help conserve natural resources, conserve landfill space and save money by reducing the cost of trash disposal and offsetting the need for a new landfill.

Recycling Bins

A limit of two recycling bins per household has been approved by the Board of County Commissioners. 

• Residents of Calvert County: Bins are available at any of the Convenience Centers
• Residents of Chesapeake Beach and North Beach: Bins are available at the Town Hall

Recyclable Materials

The following items can be recycled at all Customer Convenience Center Sites and the Appeal Landfill:

• Glass: Clear, brown, or green food and beverage bottles. If it didn't have food or beverage in it, it probably can't be recycled. Labels and lids may be left on. Please rinse out the container. We can't accept plate glass, mirrors, dishes, pottery, ceramics, windshields or other non-food containers.
• Cans: All food and beverage cans (steel, tin, and aluminum) and aerosol cans can be recycled. Rinse them out and flatten if you can. Labels and lids may be left on.
• Plastic: All bottles, jars and food containers with #'s 1 through 7. Please rinse out and flatten to save space. We don't accept plastic toys, dolls, plastic wrap, buckets, pans, pails or plastic bags. Plastic bags should be returned to the store in which you received them to be recycled.
• Paper: All whole and shredded paper, newspaper, magazines, junk mail, catalogs, school and mixed paper, cereal and food boxes (please remove the wax paper), paperback and hard cover books, and corrugated cardboard. No paper plates, napkins or tissues.
• Textiles/Clothes: Any old clothing, with or without holes, buttons or zippers can be recycled. Good clothing is sorted out for resale while the really bad stuff (please don't be shy) is used for rags and other products. Don't forget sheets, curtains, blankets, socks, shoes, belts, cloth table cloths, cloth napkins, shower curtains, towels or just about anything that's a fabric. Be sure that the items are clean and dry. If you're unsure, please ask an attendant.
• Cooking Oil: All cooking oil should be placed in used cooking oil containers. Please MARK the container as used cooking oil and place in designated areas.
• Motor Oil, Oil Filters, Antifreeze: If you do your own oil changes, chances are that you have a used oil filter so when you bring your oil to the recycling center, bring along the filter too. Filters should be drained and recycled in the marked container at all sites.
• Other Recyclables:  Propane tanks from residential BBQ grills (no commercial) can be brought to any site to be recycled. Inkjet and Laser cartridges from printers and fax machines. Cell phones can be recycled at all sites. Rechargeable batteries from tools and toys along with car, boat, and motorcycle batteries can be recycled.  Alkaline batteries are not accepted for recycling.
• Household Hazardous Waste (HHW):  This program is available to residents only – NO COMMERCIAL HAULERS/BUSINESSES/INSTITUTIONS. Commercial businesses must make other arrangements for disposal. County residents may drop off their HHW at the Appeal Landfill and Mt. Hope Community Center on scheduled collection days for free. These products usually have the words "DANGER, POISON OR WARNING" on the labels, and should be kept out of the regular garbage. For a detailed list of HHW items and more, please see the HHW page.

  The following items can be recycled at some Customer Convenience Drop-Off Sites and the Appeal Landfill. Please confirm the materials accepted at each site before attempting to drop off materials.

• Electronics: Computers, monitors, printers, keyboards, mouse, copiers, VCR's, DVD players, televisions, two-way radios and other electronics
• Fluorescent and Incandescent Lamps and Ballasts: All tube and compact fluorescent lights and ballasts along with incandescent lights
• Metal: Lawnmowers/tractors, dryers, washers, stoves, dishwashers, metal cabinets, desks, chairs, grills or any item that is at least 80 percent metal. Please put all metal into the boxes provided at the compactor sites. Drain fuel or oil and remove batteries or propane gas bottles before recycling.
• Freon Appliances: Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Appliances with Freon are accepted for proper draining and recycling at Appeal Landfill only. Please take precautions to prevent damage to Freon lines during transport or drop-off.