Harford County, MD Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Threshold
- 10 or more dwelling units
- Collection frequency
- At least once per week
- Civil penalty
- Up to $50 per day
- Appeal window
- 30 calendar days
- Enforcer
- Dept. of Public Works inspector
- Program
- County single stream recycling
Summary
Harford County requires every apartment building or condominium with 10 or more dwelling units to provide tenants a recycling program under the county's single stream system, collecting acceptable materials from residents and hauling them to secondary markets at least once a week. The Department of Public Works enforces the mandate under Harford County Code Section 109-7.2, backing it with inspection rights and a civil penalty for owners and managers who skip the service.
A. Each property owner or manager of an apartment building that contains 10 or more dwelling units and each council of unit owners of a condominium that contains 10 or more dwelling units shall provide for recycling of acceptable items, as identified under the single stream recycling program, for the residents of the dwelling units including: (1) The collection of recyclable materials from residents of the dwelling units; and (2) Removal of recyclable materials collected from residents of the dwelling units and transportation to secondary recycling markets a minimum of once per week. ... D. Enforcement. (1) Any person who violates the provisions of this section may be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $50 per day for each day that a violation continues.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4988582; v46 updated 2026-06-09; through 06-09-2026).
Full Breakdown
2, added by Bill No. 15-003, tells each apartment owner or manager and each condominium council of unit owners covering 10 or more units to collect recyclable materials from residents and remove them for transport to secondary recycling markets at least once weekly, following the acceptable-items list under the county's single stream recycling program. Collection and disposition must track the County's approved Solid Waste Management Plan and Rules and Regulations, and the County reserves the right to inspect any covered property for compliance. 1G, which sets a countywide floor: contracted haulers must run trash, garbage and recycling collection at least once per week to every residential customer, and recyclable materials must be segregated from the waste stream and delivered to a Department-authorized recycling disposal facility rather than mixed with trash for landfill disposal.
2 exists because multifamily buildings otherwise share dumpsters with no per-unit recycling stream at all. The single stream program folds into the County's Solid Waste Management Plan, dated September 2024 and adopted by Bill No. 24-040, which the Department of Public Works updates from time to time and which governs how haulers sort, transport and market everything collected under this section.
Violations & Fines
A property owner or condominium council that skips recycling collection under Section 109-7.2 faces a civil penalty of up to $50 per day for each day the violation continues. A Public Works inspector can hand-deliver, e-mail, mail or post the citation at the property, and the recipient gets 30 calendar days to pay the fine or appeal to the Director of Administration under Section R-2.4 of the County Administrative Rules. An unpaid, unappealed fine may be collected through a civil action at law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my single-family home have to recycle under this section?
How often must recyclables be picked up at my apartment complex?
What happens if my property manager ignores the recycling mandate?
Where do the recyclables collected from my building have to go?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Harford County
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