The Maryland Recycling Act requires the state to reduce its solid waste disposal. A 2012 mandate added to the MRA requires counties with populations greater than 150,000 to recycle at least 35% of their waste. According to the most recent available data, Baltimore City did not meet the required recycling rate since the mandate went into effect. The city had an estimated population of 602,495 in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.