Residents' Convenience Center

Representatives from the American Legion Adams, Hanna, Moore Memorial Post 156, retrieve the flags and dispose of them in a dignified fashion as required by the U.S. Flag Code. Ceremonies are conducted in coordination with local Scout troops.

Uncontaminated antifreeze only (not mixed with oil or other substances). Please leave container for attendant to empty. DO NOT EMPTY YOURSELF.

Did you know? Each year thousands of dogs and cats are poisoned by improperly discarded or leaking antifreeze? The sweet taste attracts pets.

Air conditioners and refrigerators contain Freon and must be placed in a designated area. Small metal appliances, such as toasters, toaster ovens, mixers, etc., and other appliances, such as dishwashers, ovens and microwaves can be placed in the scrap metal dumpster for recycling.

Acceptable batteries include lead-acid batteries for automobiles, boats and motorcycles as well as those commonly found in ATVs and kid's powered vehicles.

Rechargeable batteries - see Household Hazardous Waste below. 

Bring your bicycles to Alpha Ridge and give those bikes another life! Look for the Reusable Bicycle shed. Bikes are collected with help from the Glenwood Lions Club (donated to Bikes for the World) and Free Bikes 4 Kids Maryland (small bikes and trikes refurbished for local children in need). Even if your bike isn't in good condition, volunteers can often refurbish it or use parts from it to refurbish other bikes.

NEW! Bring your gently used hard & soft cover books to Alpha Ridge. In partnership with Discover Books, all books will be redistributed to support local literacy efforts or recycled or resold depending on condition. Check out their website for more information and a list of other drop-off locations.

Note: Until further notice, The Loading Dock will NOT be accepting donations due to COVID-19.

The Loading Dock, a nonprofit organization collects new and reusable building materials for revitalizing low-income housing projects.

Items Accepted: Banisters, bathtubs, cabinets, countertops, doors, hardware, lighting fixtures, lumber, molding, plumbing fixtures, shelving, stairs, toilets, windows and other building materials. Please donate reusable materials only. For a tax receipt, please bring material the 1st Saturday of each month 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

NOTE: The materials that are collected are for REUSE. Howard County and the Loading Dock reserve the right to refuse any materials deemed unfit.

Items Accepted: Moving boxes, appliance boxes, storage boxes, and shipping boxes, etc. Please flatten.

Items Not Accepted: Pizza boxes (with grease) or waxed cardboard.

Carpet is no longer accepted for recycling at the Convenience Area. Carpet is considered trash and will be charged $80 per ton for disposal. 

Artificial: Undecorated artificial trees and wreaths can be recycled in the scrap metal container at the Convenience Area year-round.

Live: Undecorated live Christmas trees, wreaths and garland can be recycled at the Alpha Ridge Landfill Wood Waste Area or curbside and drop-off locations during our Merry Mulch season.

Items Accepted: Clothing, curtains/drapes, sheets, blankets, towels, tablecloths, handbags, hats, belts, and paired shoes and socks. Must be clean and dry. Have items that aren't wearable? Donate them! Many donation organizations partner with rag manufacturers.

Fire extinguishers, propane, helium, & oxygen tanks (empty or filled) are accepted. Also consider returning tanks to the seller.

Residents disposing of construction, demolition and home improvement material (C&D waste) will be directed to weigh in at the scalehouse and will be charged $80/ton ($4 per 100 pounds) of waste. This includes deliveries mixed with household waste. 

Any type of liquid vegetable oil (peanut, corn, canola, olive etc.) is accepted. Please make sure that the cooking oil is not mixed with other fluids (water, petroleum products, soaps, etc.). Place the cooking oil in a container with a tight-fitting lid, metal or plastic containers are preferred. Vegetable oil that is mixed with small amounts of animal fats can be recycled as long as the amount of added animal fat has not caused the liquid to solidify.

Items Accepted: Computer monitors, CPUs, televisions, mice, keyboards, computer wires/cords/cables, cell phones, printers, small electronic appliances, laptops, scanners; miscellaneous circuit boards, chips, and cards, radios, VCRs, and other computer and electronic related accessories. Businesses may bring a max of 10 electronics per day (2 CRT devices). 

Residents can drop-off food scraps and compostable items for composting at the Alpha Ridge Landfill Composting Facility.

HHW material is collected only on SATURDAYS ONLY from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm from April through November.

Items Accepted: Mattresses and box springs of all sizes. Please load vertically in trailer. No wet mattresses due to mold possibilities.

In coordination with the Loan Closet of Howard County residents can drop-off durable, reusable medical equipment. 

Items Accepted: Bathing Aids (shower & bath), Canes, Ramps (modular/portable), Therapy Aids, Toilet Aids, Walkers and Manual Wheelchairs. 

Items Not Accepted: Hospital Beds, Items missing pieces, Broken Items, Oxygen Tanks, Prescription medications, Expired medical supplies, Mattresses, Items containing mercury or Items requiring calibration. 

Items Accepted: Appliances, furnaces, air conditioners*, dehumidifiers*, auto parts, bicycles, swing sets, mowers, window frames, copper piping, brass fixtures, aluminum siding, tire chains, light fixtures, microwaves, refrigerators*, sheet metal, tire rims, fencing, cable, aluminum foil/bakeware. NOTE: Drain motors of oil and fuel.

Batteries must be removed from any lawnmowers, scooters, or other battery-operated devices.

*Please place refrigerators, air conditioners and dehumidifiers in designated area, not in scrap metal container. These items contain coolants that must be removed. Once coolants are properly removed by our licensed contractor, the items are recycled with scrap metal.

Items Accepted: Motor oil, oil filters and hydraulic oils (brake, transmission or power steering).

Paint is accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Area from April-November on Saturdays only. Solidified paint of any kind may be disposed with your household trash.

Did You Know? Paint can be solidified in the can at home by adding an absorbent material such as cat litter, shredded newspaper, leaves, sawdust or dirt. Or, if there isn't much paint left in the can, leave the lid off to air dry the paint. Once solidified, the paint can be disposed with your normal household trash, but remember the 40 pound limit for trash containers.

Curbside recyclables are also accepted at the Residents' Convenience Center. Items must be empty. Lids, caps and labels can stay on containers. 

NEW! We no longer accept items for recycling bagged in plastic. If you choose to transport your items in a plastic bag, please empty your items into the recycling compactor and take the bag with you.

See our Rigid Plastics poster for a list of accepted items.

NEW! As of July 1, 2020 

Styrofoam™ #6 is no longer accepted. This is largely due to the ban on expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam™) food packaging that recently went into effect in Maryland. Styrofoam™ products are NOT acceptable in our curbside recycling program.

Please visit the EPS Industry Alliance for other recycling opportunities that may be available.

Items Accepted: Automobile and truck tires only. (Commercial haulers see Landfill Fee Schedule)

Items Not Accepted: Tires on rims, tires over 4' in diameter or over 15" in width.

NOTE: Rims can be recycled in the scrap metal container. 

Residents disposing of trash are required to show their driver's licenses as proof of residence each time they enter the landfill. The new Maryland Driver's Licenses no longer indicate the county of residence and staff may need to use an address checker to confirm residency.

Items Accepted: Upholstered furniture, non-recyclable paper, heavy metal cable, pizza boxes, broken toys.

Items Not Accepted: Recyclable materials such as rechargeable batteries, bottles, cans, paper, cardboard, yard trim, reusable building supplies, etc.

Residents disposing of unusually large quantities of household trash using a greater than 3/4 ton vehicle, or disposing of waste for someone else, may be required to obtain a Special Exception Permit.

Residents disposing of construction, demolition and home improvement waste will be charged the commercial tip fee ($80/ton). This includes deliveries mixed with household waste.

NEW! There is now a $80/ton tip fee for wood pallets. Pallets will no longer be accepted in the Wood waste area. Loads will be directed to the Waste Transfer Station for disposal. Please see our list of companies that accept pallets for recycling and reuse.

Items Accepted: Brush, small tree branches, pine cones, grass, leaves, logs (no stumps or root bulbs) and Christmas trees.

A landfill employee will direct residents to the Wood Waste Area. Items must be debagged unless yard trim is contained in paper bags. Compost, topsoil and mulch is also available for purchase.

Treated wood/lumber and railroad ties should be taken to the Alpha Ridge Landfill and will be considered Construction & Demolition Debris. Residents disposing of construction, demolition and home improvement material as trash will be directed to weigh in at the scalehouse and will be charged $80/ton ($4 per 100 pounds) of waste.