Finding room for a community's waste is a continuing challenge for municipalities across the nation. To help deal with this problem city and county governments have instituted recycling programs.

The Frederick County Solid Waste Department has several initiatives that deal with ways to eliminate from the waste stream a variety of materials. These programs include: curbside recycling, satellite drop-off centers, motor oil and antifreeze recycling, electronics recycling, yard waste recycling, mulch availability, grasscycling, backyard composting, source reduction, and pesticide container recycling.