Montgomery County Council proclaims Earth Month as DEP touts tree‑planting, composting and leaf‑blower rebates
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Summary
The council’s Transportation and Environment Committee led an Earth Month proclamation on April 14, highlighting local sustainability programs; the county Department of Environmental Protection reported planting 18,000 trees, $350,000 in leaf‑blower rebates and more than 3.5 million pounds of food scraps composted through commercial programs.
Council President Natalie Fanny Gonzalez opened the county council session on April 14 and invited the Transportation and Environment Committee to present an Earth Month proclamation.
The committee chair welcomed environmental leaders and committee colleagues, saying the county must "recommit ourselves to environmental sustainability." Council Member Kate Stewart noted Montgomery County’s historical link to Earth Day and underscored local goals to increase renewable energy, expand electric‑vehicle charging and promote native species.
Jennifer Macedonian, director of the Department of Environmental Protection, described recent accomplishments and programs. "We have planted 18,000 trees through the Tree Montgomery program," Macedonian said. She also told the council the county had "provided more than $350,000 in trade‑in rebates for getting rid of loud and polluting gas‑powered leaf blowers and replacing them with clean, efficient, quiet, electric blowers," and that the county's commercial food scraps program has composted "more than 3,500,000 pounds of food scraps." Macedonian invited residents to department events including the county’s annual Green Fest.
The council read and adopted a proclamation recognizing Earth Month 2026 and reaffirming Montgomery County’s Climate Action Plan goals, including the earlier county target of an 80% greenhouse‑gas reduction by 2027 and net‑zero by 2035. The proclamation notes county initiatives such as zero‑emission buses powered by solar and hydrogen and building energy performance standards.
Council members thanked participating nonprofits and residents for their work on tree planting, waste reduction and local sustainability programs and encouraged residents to use county resources to reduce waste and support renewable energy initiatives.
The Transportation and Environment Committee’s action was procedural (a proclamation) and does not by itself change budgets or regulations; department leaders and advocacy groups present said they would continue outreach and programming throughout Earth Month and beyond.
