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BALTIMORE, MD (February 11, 2013) The Maryland Department of the Environment has released final recycling totals for 2011, and Baltimore’s recycling rate increased by about a percentage point compared to 2010. The City’s recycling rate for 2011 was 27.89%, up from 27.01% in 2010.
Overall in the city, 203,809 tons of Maryland Recycling Act (MRA) Recyclables were generated from residents, businesses and institutions. MRA Recyclables include paper, plastics, glass, steel and aluminum cans among other items. Only MRA recyclables are used to calculate the City’s recycling rate.
Baltimore City recycled an additional 252,191 tons of non-MRA items in 2011 including construction materials, oils and various scrap metals. This means that 456,000 tons of MRA and non-MRA materials were recycled in 2011.
Beginning last October, the state-mandated rate for recycling was raised from 25% of all waste to 35%. As a way to increase recycling in Baltimore City, the Department of Public Works (DPW) has begun the “Drive to 35” campaign.
Public Works Director Alfred H. Foxx states: “The Department of Public Works makes it easy to recycle in Baltimore. Recycling has economic, environmental and societal benefits and it saves landfill space. I strongly encourage everyone to learn more about these benefits and to recycle more.” Director Foxx also encourages Baltimore City businesses to report their recycling totals.
To learn more about recycling in Baltimore City, please visit our website, http://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/Recycling.aspx, or contact the DPW Office of Recycling at 410-396-4511:
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