Montgomery County’s Division of Solid Waste Services works to reduce the
amount of waste that we generate and to recycle as much material as
possible. The County has a waste reduction goal of no increase in the
amount of waste per resident, and a goal for businesses of no increase in
per-employee-generated waste over the 1992 level.
Montgomery County’s goal is to recycle 50 percent of all waste
generated in the County. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2008, the County's overall
recycling rate was 44.3 percent, while businesses recycled 40 percent of the
non-residential sector waste, up from 37.3 percent recycled in FY 2007.
Businesses are critical to the success of the County's recycling
achievement, as they produce more than half of the County’s solid waste. If
business recycling were carried out as intended, the 50 percent recycling
goal for Montgomery County could be easily met.
Most of the Potomac-area businesses are too small to be required to submit
an annual Waste Reduction and Recycling report to the County. Like
Montgomery County’s large businesses, though, Potomac’s restaurants, grocery
stores, retailers, medical and dental offices, home-based businesses, and
swimming pools are
required to recycle mixed paper, commingled materials, scrap metal, and yard
trim materials.
We are concerned that some local Potomac businesses may not fully understand
the County’s goals, may feel that bins are unsightly, or may not be
implementing a recycling program consistent with the County’s goals. To
address that issue, we are inviting local business owners to come and join
us
January 14th when Mr. Pultyniewicz speaks about the County’s
recycling programs. We, the public, also have a role. As we patronize
Potomac businesses, we need to look for – and use –
recycling bins, and we
can thank a manager that makes bins visible and convenient.
Planning and Zoning Report – by George Barnes
Potomac Swim and Recreation Club – The Planning Board voted two to two,
with one Commissioner absent, on a Special Exception modification to permit
additional courts and a tennis bubble for the club at Oaklyn Drive. The
decision, without finding for or against, transmits the Planning Board’s
staff report, which recommended denial based on incompatibility with the
surrounding residential neighborhood, to the
Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals hearing, originally scheduled
for
January 9th, has been postponed. A new date will be set and all
parties notified.
Environmental Report – by Ginny Barnes
Forest Conservation Law (FCL) Amendments – The County Executive has asked
Department of Environmental
Protection staff to look at creating a process to protect trees on
smaller lots as well as the forest stands that are currently part of our
County FCL. Councilmember Marc Elrich, who has sponsored a set of
amendments to the FCL now under consideration by the County Council, is
enthusiastic about this approach.
Circle Drive Ash Tree – Several years back, WMCCA worked to protect an
enormous specimen Ash tree from land disturbances impacting the critical
root zone. We hired an arborist and testified at the Planning Board on a
proposal the Board subsequently denied. The tree is again in danger from a
plan to remove the old house located just next to it, preparatory to
developing the property. We have concerns about how the tree will be made
safe if the house is removed as well as the placement of
long-term maintenance protections if the property is developed.
River Road Water Main Break – The enormous volume of water that rushed down
River Road during the 66-inch water main break was directed by gravity to
the nearest watershed, the
Cabin John Creek. While much has been made of the damage to the road
and the disruption of vehicular transportation, there is an untold story in
this disaster. What did thousands of gallons of chlorinated water roaring
into Cabin John do to
the stream banks, aquatic life and the nearby Potomac River into which the
creek flows – and from which River Road takes its name?
Update on Gaithersburg West Master Plan – by Diana Conway
The current draft of Gaithersburg West Master Plan adds 20
million square feet of space, 60,000 jobs, and thousands of housing units to
an area very near
Potomac. The land under study consists of several hundred acres in
parcels around Shady Grove
Road and Darnestown Road that are not in Potomac proper but abut our
area. This would have serious impacts on our roads, our homes, and our
streams and forests.
A group of citizens in the Gaithersburg West area has formed Residents for
Responsible Development (RRD) to advocate for more balanced growth
that respects existing neighborhoods and natural resources as well as
original Master Plans. WMCCA is participating in the citizen group because
of the impacts so much development would have on our sub-region along with
its threats to our region's role as a Green Wedge between the rural
up-county and the urban down-county areas.
WMCCA recently joined numerous
civic associations in
co-signing a letter to Park & Planning Chairman Royce Hanson, listing the
objections and concerns of RRD and proposing several alternative planning
scenarios with more appropriate densities. RRD is particularly concerned
that the transit component upon which so much density is premised – the
Corridor Cities Transitway – may not be funded in these difficult
budget times. For more information, contact Diana Conway at
dconway@erols.com
or Pam Lindstrom at
pamela.lindstrom@gmail.com.
West Montgomery County Citizens Association Newsletter
Check the web site for information on issues we are working on.