Montgomery County Recycling Center Redesign

Situation/Challenge

Montgomery County’s recycling center on Frederick Road in Derwood, Maryland serves multiple purposes. In addition to being the drop location and processing center for tons of recyclable content, it is also a living monument and a testimonial to the legacy of Montgomery County, a true national leader in recycling. Visitors of all types—from school groups to international dignitaries—have toured the facility to witness the recycling process live and in person. In 2012 and 2013, the county engaged Sage to lead the creative redesign of the facility’s visitors center.

The goal of this project was to create a museum-style exhibit that would serve as both a backdrop to the tour experience and a showcase of educational information. The county wanted an infographic-style design that illustrated the end-to-end recycling process, from disposal at the consumer level to the ultimate repurposing of recycled materials. The space also needed visual elements that displayed other forms of recycling and waste reduction, including reuse, composting and grasscycling. Additionally, the project required the production of a brochure to support those elements.

Approach

The visitors center required a major design overhaul, and that’s precisely what Sage delivered. Our team removed all existing imagery and created new artwork and other supporting structures to replace the existing materials. This included not only the infographic wall, but also the front wall, cut-out nooks and Plexiglas display columns that showcased recycled content and materials.

Results

The result was a new, dynamic showcase for the county’s overall recycling effort that delivered the story in a clear, concise and compelling way. But that’s not where this story ends. Changes in policies, tactics and requirements dictated the need for new, updated information so, in 2017, under a separate task order, Sage redesigned the infographic artwork to communicate the new and improved approach to recycling.