Maryland's Largest School District
The Sustainability and Compliance Team supports schools and facilities with recycling, waste reduction, and food recovery.
8301 Turkey Thicket Drive
Building A, First Floor
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
To schedule a
school outreach visit:
Sustainability Outreach Request Form
For questions or to report a sustainability concern:
240-740-3210
Sustainability@mcpsmd.org
Explore current Sustainability and Compliance flyers and school resources.
Knowing what can and cannot be recycled is one of the most important ways to improve school recycling performance. MCPS recycles more than 20 different items through required and voluntary programs.
MCPS provides or supports recycling opportunities beyond the main school recycling streams. Current resources include guidance for lamps, ink and toner cartridges, batteries, school supplies, and other reusable or recyclable materials.
MCPS food service and food recovery programs help connect waste prevention with student nutrition.
MCPS works to keep usable materials and food out of the waste stream. These programs give schools practical ways to reduce disposal costs, support reuse, and engage students in sustainability.
According to the non-profit Feeding America, 12 percent of children in Montgomery County are food insecure. MCPS’s Sustainability and Compliance Team combats this problem and reduces food waste by providing a refrigerator and food-safe cart to allow uneaten cafeteria food to be shared more efficiently among students.
Interested in starting a food recovery program at your school?
Two non-profit organizations fund composting at 25 MCPS schools. MCPS supports school-based composting programs that help divert food scraps and other accepted organic materials from the waste stream.
Schools interested in starting a composting program should coordinate with the Sustainability and Compliance Team before implementation. Program planning should identify how collection service and compostable bags will be funded, which composting company will provide service, where outdoor collection bins will be located, and who will transport compostable materials from the cafeteria to the outdoor bins each day.
Schools should also plan for contamination and understand how loads that cannot be composted will be handled and funded as trash.
Recently celebrating its 25th year, Drive for Supplies is an annual MCPS event where schools and community members collect new and gently used school supplies, such as backpacks, pencils, markers, and notebooks, to support MCPS families in need.
Learn More About Drive for Supplies For Students: Volunteer Information
Schools can request bins, lids, labels, posters, and other materials used to improve recycling performance. An MCPS Google account is required to access the supply request form.
Use the service schedule to find the regular collection day for your school's recycling dumpsters.
For additional service or a missed pickup, contact the Sustainability and Compliance Team at 240-740-3210 or recycling@mcpsmd.org.
Coming soon.
Help keep MCPS recycling right! Explore our Recycling Best Management Practices and Frequently Asked Questions for practical tips on sorting materials, preventing contamination, keeping dumpsters accessible, and requesting support. These resources help students and staff reduce waste and keep school recycling programs running smoothly.
Recycling Program Best Management Practices Frequently Asked Questions
MCPS publishes waste and recycling reports to document systemwide performance and support required reporting.
MCPS recycling requirements are supported by school system policy and Montgomery County recycling regulations. Montgomery County Executive Regulation 1-15 establishes recycling requirements for businesses, organizations, and government facilities.
Would you like to help clean up your school grounds? MCPS’s Sustainability & Compliance Team has grabbers, bags, and gloves available! Click here to schedule a cleanup. Don’t forget to recycle what you remove from the environment!
