Montgomery County Announces New Limits on Acceptance of Construction and Demolition Materials at the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station – Mocofeed

Move Will Help Improve Recycling in Montgomery County, Reduce Waste, and Support the County’s Long-Term Goal of Achieving Zero Waste 

The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will make changes to how construction and demolition (C&D) materials are accepted at the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station beginning in October 2026. The changes are designed to increase recycling, improve safety, and manage the 300,000 tons of C&D material generated in the County each year. 

Currently, nearly half of all C&D material from the County is brought to the Transfer Station, which lacks the equipment needed to properly sort and recycle it. As a result, only a small portion is recycled today. 

“These changes will help promote recycling, protect worker safety, reduce congestion, and significantly improve the County’s ability to manage construction and demolition materials responsibly,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “By strengthening how we sort, process, and recover materials, this effort will also help the County meet its recycling goals, reduce landfill use, and extend the life of our waste management infrastructure. We look forward to working with residents along with our public and private sector partners to increase recycling and divert even more materials from our waste stream.”   

New Requirements Beginning October 2026 

• The Transfer Station will only accept C&D loads weighing less than two tons. 
• C&D loads weighing more than 500 pounds and less than two tons will be subject to disposal fees. 
• C&D loads weighing two tons or more must be taken to other C&D acceptance facilities in the region. 

“Redirecting larger construction and demolition loads to facilities that can properly sort and recycle them is an important step for Montgomery County,” said DEP Director Jennifer Macedonia. “This change will help us recover more materials, reduce what ends up in disposal, and move us closer to our long‑term goal of aiming for zero waste. It’s a practical shift that supports our environmental goals and benefits the entire community.” 

Supporting Regional Recycling and Private Facility Capacity

County leaders emphasized that several private C&D processors and recyclers in the region are prepared to handle commercial-scale loads exceeding two tons. These facilities offer sorting and recycling services that the County’s Transfer Station cannot provide. Diverting larger loads to these facilities will strengthen recycling markets, expand recycling opportunities, and support a more sustainable approach to construction waste management. 

DEP expects that these changes will increase reuse, recycling, and material recovery; reduce disposal; and help build a more responsible construction waste ecosystem across the region. 

Preparing for a Smooth Transition 

To help users prepare, DEP has updated the C&D facilities map, outreach materials, and directory of permitted facilities.  

In the coming months, DEP will:  

• Notify other C&D acceptance facilities in the region. 
• Distribute educational materials. 
• Notify licensed collectors, haulers, contractors, and commercial users. 
• Provide updates through the County website, stakeholder notifications, community meetings, and social media. 
• Conduct internal briefings and coordinate with other County departments to support a smooth transition. 

For updates, guidance materials, and detailed information about C&D material acceptance requirements, please contact MC311 or visit the Construction & Demolition page of the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection website. 

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Read the original article at mcgov