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Howard County Council tightens rules for composting and natural wood‑waste recycling
Summary
After hours of debate and dozens of floor amendments, the council adopted ZRA 180, a zoning rewrite that restricts where and how composting and natural wood‑waste recycling can operate, adds setbacks from residential lots, limits operation sizes and clarifies overlap with Maryland Department of the Environment permitting.
The Howard County Council voted to adopt ZRA 180 on Thursday, a zoning amendment that sets new limits on composting and natural wood‑waste recycling facilities across the county.
Proponents framed the measure as balancing farm operations and environmental safeguards. Lawmaker (S3), the bill sponsor during debate, said the changes “make it clear that composting is allowed as an accessory use if a permit is not required” while also defining natural wood‑waste recycling and restricting where large operations can locate. The council adopted a series of floor amendments that, among other things, limit accessory‑use area to 1 acre (or a modest…
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