2024 CONSTRUCTION RECYCLING DATA
In addition, MDTA roadway and automotive maintenance employees practice recycling and ensure non-recyclable materials are disposed of properly. Practices include: ③ Recycling items collected during roadside maintenance, such as landscaping trimmings, rubber tires, and scrap metal. ③ Recycling materials generated by automotive maintenance, such as used oil, sludge, and non- hazardous antifreeze. ③ Identification and proper storage and disposal of hazardous waste, including “household hazardous waste” that cannot be discarded as general refuse. ③ Recycling universal waste (such as batteries and light bulbs) and ensuring proper storage to prevent mercury releases. ③ Ensuring no trash or debris is maintained or stored outside of properly marked dumpsters. ③ Equipping external trash-collection containers with lids to prevent rainwater from picking up residue or debris and contaminating stormwater.
MATERIAL
TONS
Recycled steel/metal
1,400.45
Recycled concrete
37,666.52
Recycled asphalt
62,571.04
Other recycled demo material
644.19
GHG Emissions and Energy The MDTA has completed the agency’s first greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory for the FY 2024 reporting period. GHG inventories quantify the GHG emissions associated with an organization’s activities, such as day-to- day operations, construction activities, and procurement. Quantifying our GHG emissions helps the MDTA understand our impact and identify reduction opportunities. Specifically, estimating our GHG emissions helps identify operational efficiencies through detailed assessment of fuel and electricity use. This assessment allows the MDTA to better understand where we are using the most resources, where there may be anomalies, and where we can focus our efforts to reduce and optimize energy use. Additionally, there are increasing stakeholder expectations and requirements for calculating, reporting, and reducing GHG emissions associated with organizations’ operations. The MDTA is acting proactively to begin tracking our GHG emissions to ensure our systems are in place and robust in the event that emerging expectations or regulations are applied to our agency. This inaugural GHG emissions inventory represents a significant step in our sustainability reporting journey. Through this process, the MDTA identified several key opportunities that will allow us to improve our data collection, inventory process, and reporting in the future, as well as insight into where we can best focus our sustainability efforts. As we mature our inventory
Solid waste (landfilled)
4,574.89
in the future, these insights will continue to be refined and will increasingly inform our operational efficiency and emission reduction actions. Typically, operational emissions are categorized into two overarching buckets to aggregate impacts. These two categories are: Scope 1, direct emissions released directly by an organization (e.g., burning of fuel in vehicles and generators) and Scope 2, indirect emissions associated with an organization’s operational activities (e.g., GHG emissions released from the generation of electricity used in an organization’s facilities). Some organizations also estimate indirect emissions associated with their supply chains and downstream activities, such as the emissions associated with the creation of construction materials or emissions associated with the use of an organization’s infrastructure. These indirect emissions associated with supply chains and downstream activities are called Scope 3 emissions. This year, the MDTA explored potential methodologies for quantifying Scope 3 emissions and will consider ③ Scope 1 emissions: Emissions from natural gas, heating oil, stationary diesel, fleet mobile fuels ③ Biogenic emissions: Emissions from biodiesel used in the MDTA’s fleet vehicles ③ Scope 2 emissions: Emissions associated with electricity purchased by the MDTA estimating these emissions in future years. For FY 2024, our GHG inventory included:
Waste and Circularity Community Outreach Since 2011, the MDTA has hosted an Earth Day fair, featuring information booths that educate employees on how they can contribute to environmental improvement in their communities. Each fair includes captivating presentations, diverse exhibitors, and a celebration of the agency’s annual recycling contest winners. Awards are given to the facility with the highest overall recycling rate and the most improved recycling rate. The Earth Day fair is just one of the MDTA’s exciting outreach activities. Throughout the years, the agency has held environmentally focused staff outings to locations throughout the community, including Green Street Academy Charter School Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant, Alpha Ridge Landfill, Maryland Agricultural Resource Council, and Poplar Island. The MDTA also promotes community involvement and environmental awareness through public service events. In June 2025, the MDTA held a trail maintenance and restoration in Rock Creek Regional Park. Volunteers assisted with trail maintenance and improvements, vegetation management and pedestrian bridge upgrades. The goal of the project was to help Montgomery County Parks in restoring and enhancing a portion of the historic Kengla Trail in Rock Creek Regional Park.
Employees at the MDTA Earth Day Fair learn how they can contribute to environmental improvement in their communities.
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Governance, Risk, and Impact Report
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Governance, Risk, and Impact Report
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