Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection

09/01/2026

09/01/2026

National Preparedness Month (NPM) is a nationwide initiative observed each September that promotes community readiness through education and engagement. The campaign highlights five key steps to preparedness: understanding your risks and staying informed, building a support network, creating a plan, assembling an emergency kit, and getting involved in your community.

This year, Montgomery County, MD Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security will launch a community survey as part of its NPM efforts. The survey is designed not only to provide residents with preparedness information but also to gather direct feedback on how the office can enhance its outreach materials, presentations, and resources. This input will help ensure that residents feel informed, supported, and empowered to take action before, during, and after emergencies.

For more information on completing the survey, seeing our scheduled NPM events, and learning how you can prepare for emergencies, please visit montgomerycountymd.gov/NPM.

08/31/2026

Montgomery County, we need your help! The County’s contract for the Resource Recovery Facility is set to expire in April 2031, and we need your input.

Visiting MontgomeryCountyMD.Gov/ZeroWaste to learn more about these choices, ask questions and submit your feedback to help us shape the future of trash and recycling in Montgomery County.

08/28/2026

Monarch Butterfly caterpillars are feeding on the milkweed plants installed by students at the Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Education Center. Plant it, and they will come!

Milkweeds are host plants for Monarchs. They only lay their eggs on milkweeds. When the eggs hatch, the caterpillars feed on the milkweed for about two weeks or so, then they continue their metamorphosis to pupae, then adults. https://monarchjointventure.org/monarch-biology/life-cycle

08/27/2026

With winter comes snowmen, snow days, and snow-covered roads and sidewalks. Montgomery County is inviting residents, business owners, and commercial contractors to share how you use road salt and de-icing products during the County’s chilliest days.

The County is seeking participants to join an hour-long virtual focus group to better understand how the community approaches winter road and surface safety. Whether you spread ice melt on your home's front walk, manage winter maintenance for your businesses and storefronts, or provide professional snow and ice removal services, your experience and perspective matter.

Interested in sharing how you tackle winter storms? Fill out our form https://bit.ly/4y30toz

08/26/2026

Join us at the 2026 H2O Summit on Tuesday, October 13, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at M-NCPPC’s Wheaton Headquarters, 2425 Reedie Dr., Wheaton, MD 20902.

This year’s theme, Catching it at the Source, focuses on the upstream actions and community partnerships that help keep our waterways clean.

Learn from experts in the field and connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for protecting our precious water resources. Join us as we explore innovative ways to make our community waterways more resilient. At the summit, you’ll listen to talks from peers and professionals in the field, learn about new innovations and updates in watershed management, foster future collaboration and partnerships, and more!

Topics include:

✔️ Winter salt use: community insights and outreach strategies
✔️ Community collaboration for cleaner waters (panel)
✔️ Montgomery County stormwater management highlights
✔️ “Tackling litter in our waterways (panel)
✔️ Tree canopy in the Chesapeake Bay region

Register at MontgomeryCountyMD.gov/H2OSummit

08/25/2026

Montgomery County, we need your input! The County is deciding on the future of our trash management and recycling system.

Currently, the waste we cannot recycle is burned at the County’s waste-to-energy facility. We are working to decide whether to continue operating the facility or close it in favor of investing in additional reuse and recycling initiatives and sending the remaining waste to a landfill.

Help inform our decision! DEP is seeking your input through group conversations and this short survey: https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/zpCZqd

Edit: Visit our website for more information https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/zerowaste

08/24/2026

And we're back! Have clothing in need of repair? Sign up to meet with a volunteer who can guide you through a mend! Join us on Sunday, September 13, from noon to 3 p.m. for a Mending Lab and Clothing Swap at Black Rock Center for the Arts.

Sign up here: https://bit.ly/4hS3Vh2

08/22/2026

We're conducting an Equity Audit of Montgomery County environmental programs, and we need your feedback.

Have cost, language, technology, transportation, or other challenges made it difficult to participate in Tree Montgomery, RainScapes, or Clean Water Montgomery? Tell us about your experience.

Your input will help us:
✔ Improve accessibility
✔ Address program gaps
✔ Remove barriers
✔ Create more inclusive services

Take the short survey: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/department-environmental-protection/about-us/help-improve-montgomery-county-environmental-programs