Montgomery County Landfills: What Will They Take?

When you’re moving or just cleaning out your home and garage, it can be tough to figure out what should stay, what needs to go, and where to put everything. The last question is tricky because you might not think of it right away (especially if you’ve never had to), but Montgomery County has a whole network of landfills where you can throw away all kinds of things.

Let’s explore what types of items the Montgomery County Landfill accepts so you can organize your space in peace without worrying about how much—or little—the local transfer stations will take from your load. You may also consider a junk removal service if you have plenty of junk to get rid of!

Drop-Off & Recycling/Trash Collection at Montgomery County

The County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) offers various services for properly disposing trash and recyclables. However, it’s worth noting they also have limitations. For instance, car parts, shingles, and other roofing materials are not accepted. Instead, you can contact an alternate disposal facility, scrap metal business, or a local mechanic shop.

Currently, the country only has two drop-off locations. These locations can take residential and commercial wastes. Here’s a rundown of what they can accept:

From commercial and residential:

  • Blue bin materials
  • Clothes and shoes
  • Metal appliances and small or large scrap metals
  • Usable building materials
  • Fluorescent, LED, and LCD bulbs and tubes
  • Hazardous waste from residents and businesses (fee-based)
  • Rigid plastics
  • Mixed paper
  • Yard trims

From residential only:

  • Motor oil
  • Antifreeze
  • Tires
  • Propane gas and compressed gas cylinders
  • Rechargeable batteries (lead acid and non-alkaline)

Upon drop-off, you must bring proof of residency or evidence that the waste was generated within Montgomery County. It’s required and may be asked of you at any time. Furthermore, bring your waste to the Transfer Station by car, truck, van, or other vehicle. Bikes, motorcycles, or scooters aren’t allowed.

Drop-Off Locations

There are only two drop-off locations in Montgomery County; Shady Grove and Beauty Spot. Below are their respective Montgomery County Landfill hours of operation and addresses.

Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station

Shady Grove is located at 16101 Frederick Road, Derwood, MD 20855. They’re open between 7 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, they’re only open from 9 am to 5 pm, and the only accessible entrance is by Shady Grove Road.

Poolesville Beauty Spot

The Beauty Spot is at 19200 Jerusalem Road, Poolesville, MD 20837. They can only accept bulk trash (up to 499 pounds). More than that should be taken to Shady Grove. They are also open on Saturdays from 8 am to 4 pm only. This Transfer Station is the best option if you’re near this area and your free time is on Saturdays.

The Beauty Spot does not accept the following:

  • Scrap metal
  • Yard trim
  • Household hazardous waste
  • Commercial trash
  • Regular household waste
  • Mixed paper
  • Commingled recycling

Transfer Station User Fees

The Transfer Stations will charge for trash, yard waste, and other acceptable waste if the weight reaches 500 pounds. Below is a list of fees from various materials:

  • Trash loads below 500 lbs.: Free
  • Trash loads more than 500 lbs.: $70.00/ton
  • Construction materials and Open-top Roll-off boxes: $84.00/ton
  • Yard waste below 500 lbs.: Free
  • Yard waste more than 500 lbs.: $46.00/ton
  • Concrete, Dirt, or Rubble: $70.00/ton

If your garbage is more than 500 lbs., you can schedule a junk pick-up from your local junk removal company for easy and hassle-free removal.

Do Montgomery County Offer Trash Collection Services?

Yes. However, Montgomery County only provides trash collection services to single-family homes and townhomes. Once a week, curbside collection of allowable residential trash is part of the service. Additionally, you are entitled to five free bulk garbage collections each year.

Trash must be prepared inside proper containers with a capacity of 15 to 45 gallons, has tight-fitting and overlapping lids, and must be made of rigid metal or plastic. Place them directly at the curb and remove them right after collection. If you have more than five days of bags for one collection day, schedule a bulk collection instead.

Hire a Local Junk Removal Company to Handle Your Waste

Sometimes, you might not have the time to bring your garbage and recyclables to the Transfer Stations. If this happens, a junk hauling company can do it for you, such as Junk Force.

Begin by booking an appointment, and we can provide a free quote for the junk you want us to remove. If you prefer to sit back and relax while the junk is picked up, we can help. Just make sure to contact us as soon as possible so that we can deal with it immediately.