Howard County has relaxed its procedures for recycling cardboard in response to residents' complaints.
Residents now may set out up to 20 pieces of flattened cardboard without bundling them. Cardboard formerly had to be tied or taped together by residents. The new policy took effect Jan. 1.
"People were calling in saying it was too difficult to tie up the cardboard," said Linda Fields, manager of the county's recycling programs. "We're just trying to make it easier for them."
Residents seeking to recycle more than 20 flattened cardboard boxes or pieces of cardboard still must tie or tape the stacks.
To prevent the unbundled cardboard from being blown away, county residents are being asked to put bundles of other materials on top of the cardboard, Ms. Fields said.
Ms. Fields said it is too early to tell if the new policy will have an effect on the amount of recycled cardboard collected by the county.
In December, county residents recycled a record amount of mixed paper for a month. The 1,411 tons of paper items, including newspaper, office paper, junk mail envelopes, glossy magazines and nonwaxed cardboard, was 12 percent more than the amount recycled in December 1993.
