Environment

Serving the City, One Collection at a Time

America Recycles Day is Saturday, Nov. 15, but Rockville is celebrating all month with tips and insight from the city’s Recycling and Refuse team to help you recycle right.

Meet Anthony Frazier, recycling and refuse superintendent, who explains why recycling still matters — and how community support keeps his team going strong. Anthony’s day-to-day work includes managing a staff of 24 to ensure timely collections of recycling, trash and special collections around the city. He also facilitates policy implementation, record keeping, planning, organizing and scheduling for the department. 

What’s one moment that made you proud of this community? 

Last year, my brother-in-law unexpectedly passed away. He was a dedicated refuse collector for many years. Many residents attended his service to pay their respects, and many reached out to offer their condolences. I was truly proud not only of the positive impact he had on the community but also of the support shown by the community for our staff during that difficult time.

What message would you want to share with city recycling and trash customers about recycling?

Over the years, recycling has faced some criticism, particularly when China stopped accepting recycling materials from the United States. This shift disrupted the recycling industry and led to instances where some individuals resorted to cutting corners. We received reports from residents that recycling was being discarded improperly or not collected at all, suggesting that some residents may not have fully understood the importance of recycling. However, I believe the situation has improved significantly and recycling remains a vital component in preserving our environment for future generations.