From the Office of Council Member Tom Dernoga October 2025

(From Left to Right) Ms. Lois Hamilton, President of the Beltsville Young at Heart Club, club attendees, and Chief of Staff Michelle García at the Beltsville Young at Heart Club’s recent Community Conversation to raise awareness about elder fraud and financial crimes targeting older adults.

Pepco Customer Relief Fund

Beginning July 18, 2025, Pepco and the Salvation Army launched a one-time relief fund that provides financial support for those challenged by high energy costs. This program provides relief up to $300 per household for eligible customers. The Pepco Customer Relief Fund is designed to support limited-income and moderate-income customers.

            To be eligible to participate, a customer must be an active residential customer, be 60 or more days past due on their balance, carry a balance of at least $250, and live in a household that is either limited income or moderate-income. If the past-due balance exceeds the eligible credit amount and their service has been disconnected, they are not eligible for this fund. If the eligible credit covers at least 75% of the balance due, and the customer can make a payment on the previous account to reconnect service, they will be considered eligible for the Customer Relief Fund. Apply through the Salvation Army’s website at https://sahelp.org/.

Clean & Green Elevate the Scene Fall Clean-Up Event

Prince George's County will host a Countywide community cleanup event titled "Clean and Green: Elevate the Scene" on Saturday, October 25, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Please sign up by Friday, October 17, by visiting the link http://bit.ly/4poAfJt. Attendees will tackle litter and illegal dumping. Read more about the event and how to register: https://MyPGC.us/CleanAndGreen/.

You and your group will receive gloves, trash bags, litter grabbers, and safety vests. Please leave your filled trash bags along the curbside of the roadways that need to be cleaned for the Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) to pick up. For students to attend and receive student learning service hours, they must get a school site coordinator to sign a service-learning hours form.

 

What You Should and Should Not Compost

Prince George’s County residents can compost their natural materials. The composting program is free to eligible residents who use curbside County-collected trash and recycling pickup. The designated pickup day is Monday. The primary exception is bamboo, which is considered a household waste item that should go out with standard household waste collection.

Compostable items include any kind of food that does not include pouring grease, excess fats, or oils. Non-food, but kitchen items can include kitchen towels and paper napkins; paper coffee filters; uncoated, non-waxy compostable paper plates; newspaper, including food-soiled newspaper; and tea bags. You can also compost loose and bagged grass, bagged in paper bags, loose and bagged leaves bagged in paper bags, garden plant clippings, green woody waste, tree limbs and brush (these must be tied in bundles and placed next to the wheeled green cart at the curb), and used or old straw and hay.

Any type of biological waste from humans or animals, leftover cooking grease, fats, oils, any form of plastics, styrofoam, aluminum items, any food containers, or household waste is unacceptable. Also, construction waste or electronics should not be included with compost.  Bulky trash should be requested for pickup through PGC311. Bulky trash is separated into general items, including large boxes, bags, large furniture, large appliances, and tires. Bulky trash collection is limited to ten large general items, five large appliances, and four tires per service request. Please keep a record of your service request numbers.

Unsuitable materials should be picked up through PGC311. You can download the app through your mobile device, through the web portal accessible here:http://bit.ly/47N5xDD, or by dialing 311.

Join our District 1 eNewsletter

We will email you about twice a month to provide you with updates on local happenings and, on occasion, alert you to important county news. Sign up at https://bit.ly/D1eNewsletterOptIn.

 

Contact Us

Please keep in touch. You can email us at councildistrict1@co.pg.md.us or call 301-952-3887. Se habla español. Follow us on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram: @TomDernogaD1.