# Environment (GEN)

## Title 9. Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities

### Subtitle 17. Office of Recycling

#### Section 9-1714

(a)

  (1) In this section, "office building" means a building that has 150,000 square feet or greater of office space.

  (2) This section does not affect the authority of a county or municipality to:

    (i) Enact and enforce recycling requirements, including establishing civil penalties, for an office building; or

    (ii) Alter or exempt a person from recycling requirements:

      (1) Due to special circumstances that are identified by the office building owner in an application to the county or municipality for an alteration or exemption; or

      (2) In response to changing market conditions that affect the county or municipality.

  (3) This section does not require a county to manage or enforce the recycling activities of an office building that is located within the boundaries of a municipality.

(b)

  (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, on or before October 1, 2021, each owner of an office building shall provide:

    (i) Recycling receptacles for the collection of recyclable materials; and

    (ii) For the removal for further recycling of the following materials, as determined by the county or municipality in which the building is located, deposited into the recycling receptacles:

      (1) Paper and cardboard;

      (2) Metal; and

      (3) Plastic materials.

  (2) On agreement between an office building owner and the tenant of the office building, a tenant may carry out the recycling required under this subsection.

  (3) A county may require an office building owner or a tenant of an office building that provides for recycling in accordance with this subsection to report to the county on recycling activities in a manner determined by the county.

(c) The recycling required under subsection (b) of this section shall be carried out in accordance with the recycling plan required under Sec. 9-1703 of this subtitle for the county in which the office building is located.

(d) An enforcement unit, officer, or official of a county or municipality may conduct inspections to enforce this section.

---

Md. Code Ann., Envir. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)