Gaithersburg, MD Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- City Code §§ 18-5 through 18-13
- Mandatory materials
- 10 categories incl. metal, glass, cardboard, oil
- Exempt properties
- Multifamily, commercial, industrial (§18-12)
- Funding mechanism
- Annual charge on county tax bill
- Unauthorized pickup
- Unlawful without city authorization
- Penalty
- Municipal infraction, daily separate offense
Summary
Gaithersburg's city manager runs a mandatory recyclable-materials program covering metals, glass, plastic, cardboard, motor oil, tires and more. Residents must set materials out for authorized city collection only; taking someone else's recyclables off the curb without city authorization is itself a code violation.
(a)The city manager must develop a recyclable solid waste program. This program may be established by regulations approved by resolution of the city council.(b)Under the recyclable solid waste program, the city will make arrangements to collect, separate and recycle, to the maximum extent practical, some or all of the materials listed in section 18-6, unless:(1)Recycling of that material is not technically feasible on the scale proposed; or(2)Collection and separation of the material...will substantially increase the cost to the city, above costs by other technically feasible and lawful methods of recycling. ... Sec. 18-8. - Compliance. (a)A person must not dispose of recyclable solid waste in a manner that violates this article or regulations issued under it.(b)A person must not collect or remove recyclable solid waste which has been set out for collection in a recycling service area in accordance with the regulations governing that area unless:(1)The person is authorized by the city or has a contract with the city to collect recyclable solid waste; or(2)The property owner or occupant has expressly authorized a charitable organization to remove a recyclable item.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 52 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 18, Article II of the City Code requires the city manager to operate a recyclable solid waste program (Sec. 18-7), collecting and recycling the materials listed in Sec. 18-6 to the maximum extent practical: metal, plastic and glass containers, yard waste (tree cuttings, bush trimmings, leaves, grass and garden trimmings), antifreeze, newspapers, corrugated cardboard, office paper, motor oil, lead-acid batteries, motor vehicle tires and large appliances. The city may skip a material only if recycling it is not technically feasible at scale or would substantially raise city costs above other lawful recycling methods (Sec.
18-7(b)). Compliance is mandatory under Sec. 18-8: residents may not dispose of recyclables in violation of the program, and no one may collect recyclables set out for city pickup unless they are authorized by the city or under contract with it, or a property owner has separately authorized a charitable pickup on a different day than city collection. The city manager sets container types and collection frequency by regulation. Article II does not apply to federal reservations, commercial or industrial properties, or multifamily apartment buildings and projects (Sec.
18-12), though the council can end those exemptions after a public hearing. The city funds collection through an annual recycling collection charge billed on the Montgomery County property tax bill each year (Sec. 18-10), and unpaid charges can lead to a tax sale of the property (Sec. 18-11).
Violations & Fines
Violating Chapter 18's recycling requirements, including improper disposal or unauthorized removal of curbside recyclables, is a municipal infraction under Sec. 18-13, punishable by a fine set by city council resolution, with each day of continued violation counted as a separate offense. The city may also seek an injunction or other court order to force compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is recycling mandatory for Gaithersburg homes?
Do apartment buildings have to recycle under this chapter?
Can someone else take the recyclables I put at the curb?
How does the city charge for recycling collection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gaithersburg
Compare Gaithersburg to another location·View the Maryland trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.