DoE Celebrates Earth Month

Let's celebrates "Earth Day, Every Day" throughout the month in honor of Earth Day on April 22! Your Department of the Environment (DoE) highlights the various programs that serve the residents of Prince George's County, including how to reduce waste and materials from entering the landfill, preparing pet parents for adoption, services that promote the protection of our homes and natural resources, like trees and public spaces, combat climate change, and so much more.

Get social with us and tag #PGCEarthDayEveryDay and @pgcsprout (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter).

Continue reading for some of the events planned and for ongoing updates visit bit.ly/PGCEarthDayEveryDay!

Prince George's County Ranks #1 in Recycling and Diverting Trash in Maryland

Last week, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) released the Solid Waste Management and Diversion Report, which published figures for calendar year 2021, and Prince George's reclaimed the number 1 spot in recycling and waste diversion!

Read the full press release here.

Preventing valuable materials from being discarded as trash, which ultimately ends up in the landfill, is known as waste diversion. Some waste diversion activities include recycling, repurposing, composting, and decreasing the amount of trash produced from the beginning, also known as source reduction, like reducing disposable single-use items.

Prince Georgian residents and businesses are recycling more and trashing less! Some of the initiatives DoE have accomplished to achieve this status include:

Ban the sale and use of foam packaging (#6 plastics);  Updated business and commercial recycling requirements, where all businesses and multi-family properties much prominently display, and make accessible, both trash and recycling containers for their patrons;  Plastic straw ban;  Ongoing expansion of the Curbside Composting program, PGC Composts, that allows residents to easily dispose of yard trim, food scraps and food-related items for weekly collection on Mondays. Materials are taken to the County Organics Composting Facility and turned into a nutrient-rich soil conditioner known as LeafgroGold®.

You can help us keep the top spot in the state! Read how to "Recycle Right" and various recycling alternatives in the County by visiting mypgc.us/recycle.

Calendar of Events

Earth Month is filled with activities for all ages around the County! Participate in a community cleanup, pick up free mulch, learn how to make crafts out of upcycled items with the Prince George's County Memorial Library System, drop off electronics or household hazardous waste and so much more!

Don't miss out on the opportunity to contribute to making your community a more beautiful and healthier place for all to enjoy.

Check out all these events happening in honor of Earth Day! View or download a full-size copy of the calendar below.

For events hosted by Prince George's County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) visit www.pgcmls.info/events and for events hosted by the Department of Parks and Recreation (PG Parks), visit pgparks.com/calendar.

There are various free community shred events being held throughout April. Check with your local municipality, County Council district or visit bit.ly/april2023shredevents.

Share Your Family "Fotos"

In honor of Adopt a Shelter Pet Day on April 30th, we want to showcase the furry, feathery, and scaly pets that have been rescued from a shelter to promote the importance of adopting. 

Throughout the month of April, post a cute or funny picture of your four or two-legged family member, with the hashtags #AdoptDontShop and #PGCEarthDayEveryDay. 

Emailed photos must be sent by Friday, April 28, to jhall@co.pg.md.us.

Spring 2023 Community Partners’ Virtual Meeting

Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 9 a.m.

Advanced registration required, at bit.ly/CommunityPartnersSpring2023.

Join the Department of Environment (DoE), Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE), and the Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) at the virtual Community Partners’ Meeting to learn about agency updates and other important County information essential to your community.

First PGCLitterTRAK training is tonight! Tuesday, April 4, 2023, 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, 2023, 6 p.m.

Register for the training workshops here. 

Information submitted through PGCLitterTRAK including bags of litter removed, items collected and litter pick-up locations will assist DoE meet their trash reduction rate of 170,628 pounds per year within the Anacostia River Watershed.

Growing Green with Pride

Help beautify our county by joining neighbors in your community for a day of cleaning, weed removal and mulching.

Saturday, April 22, 2023
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Rain or shine!

Registration is required for participation. Register by April 14th, 2023 at mypgc.us/growinggreen.

Students may earn service learning hours! For more information, contact Tonya Hairston at GrowingGreenWithPride@co.pg.md.us.

¡El primer taller de PGCLitterTRAK es esta noche! Martes, 4 de Abril, 2023, 6 p.m. Martes, 11 de Abril, 2023, 6 p.m. Martes, 18 de Abril, 2023, 6 p.m.

Regístrese aquí para los talleres de capacitación. 

La información enviada a trovés de PGCLitterTRAK, incluidas las bolsas de basura retiradas, los articulos recolectados y los lugares de recogida de basura, ayudará al DoE a cumplir con su tasa de reducción de basura de 170,628 libras por año dentro de la cuenca del río Anacostia.

Creciendo Verde Con Orgullo 

Ayude a embellecer nuestro condado participando junto con los vecinos de su comindad para un día de limpieza, eliminación de malas hierbas y cobertura de mantillo.

Sábado, 22 de Abril
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
¡Lluve o truene!

Es necesario inscribirse para participar. Inscríbase antes de 14 de Abril de 2023 en mypgc.us/growinggreen.

¡Los estudiantes pueden acumular horas de servicio! Para más información, comuníquese con Tonya Hairston en GrowingGreenWithPride@co.pg.md.us.

Rain Check Rebate Contractor Training

April 19, 2023

This free, all-day training will provide landscape professionals with practical hands-on information on Rain Check Rebate practices and processes. Special emphasis is placed on rain gardens, pavement removal, and permeable pavement.

Landscape professionals will learn how to plan, design, construct and maintain Rain Check Rebate practices. After completion of the Day 1 classroom training, participants are eligible to sign up for Day 2, in the field. Professionals who successfully complete both sessions will be added to the County's public list of contractors.

Register today at raincheck_april2023.eventbrite.com.

Mulch Madness is Back!

Prince George’s County residents can pick up FREE mulch from the County Organics Composting Facility on Saturday, April 22, from 8 am to 1 pm or while supplies last.

Mulch for this source reduction event is derived from live holiday trees collected curbside and dropped off throughout January. A skid loader will be available to load mulch directly into pickup trucks (no commercial vehicles). Residents transporting mulch by car will need to bring their containers, shovels, or pitchforks.

For more details, visit mypgc.us/mulchmadness.

¡La Locura de Abono está de Regreso!

Residentes del Condado de Prince George pueden recoger abono GRATIS en la Facilidad de Compostaje de Materiales Orgánicos del condado el sábado 22 de abril de 8 am a 1 pm o hasta agotar existencia.

El abono para este evento de reducción de residuos proviene de árboles de navidad reales recolectados o desechados durante el mes de enero. Un cargador frontal estará disponible para cargar el abono a su camioneta (no vehículos comerciales). Residentes transportando abono en sus automóviles necesitaran traer sus propios contenedores y palas o horquilla.

Para más detalles, visite mypgc.us/mulchmadness.

Electronics Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Disposal Day

DoE announces its third Electronics Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Disposal Day on Saturday, April 29, from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Bowie Baysox Stadium!

Non-commercial items collected at our Acceptance Sites will be collected during this disposal event. View the list of acceptable items at bit.ly/pgcwastefacilities.

Día de Eliminación de Desechos Domésticos Peligrosos y Reciclaje De Electrónicos

¡El Departamento del Medio Ambiente anuncia su tercer Día de Reciclaje de Electrónicos y de Desecho de Materiales Peligrosos del Hogar el sábado 29 de abril, de 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. en Bowie Baysox Stadium!

Artículos no-comerciales recolectados en nuestros Sitios de Aceptación serán recolectados durante este evento de desecho. Vea la lista de artículos aceptables en bit.ly/pgcwastefacilities.

Free Adoptions For Dogs and Cats
Now Through April 30

The Animal Services Facility and Adoption Center (ASFAC) will offer free dog and cat adoptions through April 30, 2023, thanks to a $50,000 grant from Best Friends Animal Society, a leading animal welfare organization.  Standard adoption processes still apply.

The community is invited to adopt your new best friend at 3750 Brown Station Road in Upper Marlboro, Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Standard adoption processes still apply and there is $10 license fee for residents. Learn more at bit.ly/pgcadoptapet.

Adopciones Sin Costo Para Perros y Gatos Ahora Hasta el 30 de Abril

El Centro de Adopción y Servicios para Animales del Condado de Prince George ofrecerá adopciones gratis de perros y gatos hasta el 30 de abril de 2023 gracias a una subvención de $50,000 de Best Friends Animal Society, una organización líder en bienestar animal. Se aplica el proceso regular de adopción.

La comunidad está invitada a adoptar a su nuevo mejor amigo en 3750 Brown Station Road en Upper Marlboro de martes a viernes de 10 a.m. a 6 p.m. y sábado 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Se aplicará un proceso de adopción estándar y una tarifa de $10 para todos los residentes. Obtenga más información en bit.ly/pgcadoptapet.

Let's Spring into Action

Egg shells, bones, produce peels, paper products–just scrape the scraps from your feast into your kitchen bin for Monday pickup! To learn how, visit mypgc.us/compost.

#PGCcomposts

Entremos En Acción

Cáscaras de huevo, huesos, cáscaras de productos agrícolas, productos de papel sin recubrimiento - ¡simplemente, raspe las sobras del plato después de su banquete y tírelos a la cubeta de cocina para que sean recolectados el lunes! Para saber cómo, visite mypgc.us/compost.

#PGCcomposts

#PGCPartofitProudofit

Celebre el Día de la Tierra con el condado de Prince George. Consulte nuestros eventos y oportunidades de trabajo voluntario. Juntos podemos mantener la belleza del condado. Obtenga más información en www.pgcproud.com.

#PGCPartofitProudofit