Solid Waste Management in Maryland

MDE's Solid Waste Program (SWP) is responsible for assuring that society's domestic, commercial, and non-hazardous industrial solid waste is handled ​properly. Improper handling of these wastes can pose direct threats to both public health and Maryland's natural resources, particularly water resources. Since 1914, Maryland has had laws requiring solid waste to be handled in a manner that minimizes the risk posed to public health and the environment. The impact caused by poor waste disposal practices include: 
  • pollution of groundwater, which many Marylanders rely on for drinking water supplies;
  • pollution of surface water, with the potential for impacting drinking​ water supplies of many of the large municipalities in Maryland (e.g. Baltimore City); and,
  • health nuisances such as odor, rats, flies, and mosquitoes.
 
 

Solid Waste Acceptance Facilities

MDE regulates Solid Waste Acceptance (SWA) facilities to ensure the proper disposal of solid waste in an environmentally acceptable manner while protecting public health and the environment, including surface and groundwater. A Refuse Disposal (RD) Permit is required for the installation, alteration, or extension of an SWA facility. The RD Permit regulates the design, construction, operation, and monitoring of such facilities to minimize the impact on public health and the environment. Municipal, rubble, and some industrial waste landfills are required to have liners and leachate collection systems that facilitate the collection of leachate and prevent migration of pollutants out of the landfill to adjacent subsurface soil, groundwater, and surface water. (The term leachate is used to describe the liquid formed when precipitation soaks into landfill waste and migrates downward through waste due to gravity. As liquids move through the waste, they may extract substances leaching out of the waste - hence the term leachate) With some exceptions, processing and transfer activities are required to be conducted in an enclosed building to control odor, dust, noise, and the like. For a complete list of permitted SWA facilities, see the Permitted Facilities page.

SWA facilities, which are regulated by an RD Permit, include:

  • Municipal landfills
  • Rubble [construction and demolition (C&D) debris] landfills
  • Non-hazardous industrial waste landfills
  • Land clearing debris landfills
  • Waste-to-energy facilities
  • Municipal incinerators
  • Special medical waste incinerators
  • Special medical waste processing facilities
  • Solid waste processing facilities
  • Solid waste transfer stations.

Natural Wood Waste Recycling Facilities

An NWWR Facility is a facility that accepts natural wood waste such as tree stumps and limbs, brush, root mats, logs, leaves, grass clippings, unadulterated wood wastes, and other natural vegetative materials that are generated when land is cleared for construction purposes. These facilities produce a variety of products including wood chips, mulch, compost, and firewood, which may be sold to consumers. These facilities are valued because they prevent natural wood waste from entering the landfill and make useful products from such waste. Recycling natural wood waste saves valuable space, thereby extending the life of landfills in Maryland. An individual or general NWWR Facility Permit is required for persons constructing and operating such a facility.  For a complete list of permitted NWWR facilities, see the Permitted Facilities page.  

Natural Wood Waste Fact Sheet - A fact sheet concerning the NWWR regulations.

Composting Facilities

Composting organic material can be a useful way to recycle materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Larger-scale commercial, governmental, or cooperative composting activities can potentially have negative environmental impacts such as water pollution, the risk of fire, and the development of significant health nuisances such as odor and the attraction of disease vectors such as rats and flies.  For more information on composting of materials other than NWW, see MDE's Organics Diversion and Composting ​page.


Hazardous Waste

hazardous waste removal

Hazardous Waste may be produced as a by-product of certain manufacturing operations. In addition, many commercial chemical products are regulated as hazardous waste once they are discarded or intended to be discarded. The Hazardous Waste Program of the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is responsible for the regulation of hazardous waste in Maryland.

For additional information or questions, go to the Hazardous Waste web page or contact Ed Hammerberg by email or phone at 410-537-3314. ​


Regulation of the Open Burning of Solid Waste

Open burn permits issued by the local health officer can help to address air pollution, nuisance, and public safety concerns when all applicable laws and regulations are followed. The Land and Materials Administration, with input from the Air and Radiation Management Administration, has put together guidance in an effort to clarify the appropriate application of open burning regulations. 

Open Burning Fact Sheet ​ - This fact sheet describes the regulatory requirements and provides examples of when materials that are solid waste can and can't be burned.


Solid Waste Program Public Meetings or Hearings:

For the most up-to-date information on public meetings or hearings, visit the MDE Calendar Page. 

​​R.B. Baker & Sons Rubble Landfill No. 2 

In accordance with Sections 1-601, 1-602, and 1-603 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is presently reviewing a Refuse Disposal Permit Application submitted by R.B. Baker & Sons, Inc. for the proposed R.B. Baker & Sons Rubble Landfill No. 2 Vertical Expansion located at 501 4H Park Road, Queenstown, Maryland 21658​. The landfill is a non-hazardous solid waste acceptance facility that accepts land clearing debris and construction and demolition debris for disposal and/or recycling. ​

Meetings:

To provide an opportunity for interested citizens to obtain information about the proposed expansion of the existing landfill, an Informational Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. at the  Queenstown Commissioners Office located at 7013 Main Street, Queenstown, Maryland 21658

Upon prior request, MDE will provide an interpreter for the deaf or hearing-impaired persons. The permit application and supporting documents will be available for public review at the Centreville Branch of the Queen Anne’s Public Library located at 121 S. Commerce Street, Centreville, Maryland 21617 after October 14, 2022. ​

Written comments regarding the application may be submitted to Ms. Kaley Laleker, Director, Land and Materials Administration, Maryland Department of the Environment, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 610, Baltimore, Maryland 21230. 


 

Contact:

Allison Marong: (410) 537-3315


Chesapeake Terrace Rubble Landfill

The proposed Chesapeake Terrace Rubble Landfill will be located along Patuxent Road in Odenton, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. National Waste Managers, Inc. has applied for a Refuse Disposal Permit to construct and operate a non-hazardous solid waste acceptance facility that will accept land clearing debris and construction and demolition debris for disposal and/or recycling. See the Chesapeake Terrace Rubble Landfill page for more information.

Meetings:

A Public Hearing was held on Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 5:00 pm at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel located at 210 Holiday Court, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, in the Coastal Room and Lower Lobby. The Public Hearing was held to provide the citizens an opportunity to formally comment on MDE’s Tentative Determination concerning the proposed landfill.  Upon prior request, MDE will provide an interpreter for the deaf or hearing-impaired​ persons. The permit application, supporting documents, and draft permit will be available for public review at the Anne Arundel Public Library (Odenton Branch) located at 1325 Annapolis Road, Odenton, Maryland 21113 and at MDE by appointment .

MDE held an Informational Meeting regarding this application at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, Mainsail and East Conference Rooms, located at 210 Holiday Court, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 starting at 5:00 p.m. There were different displays available at the meeting from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. describing the proposed facility and the permit application process, followed by an Informational Meeting at 6 p.m.

Written comments regarding the application may be submitted to Tyler Abbott, Director, Land and Materials Administration, Maryland Department of the Environment, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 610, Baltimore, Maryland 21230 by March 2, 2023.

MDE has granted a request to extend the public comment period by 60 days in accordance with §1-606(d)(ii) of the Environment Article. Written comments regarding the application may be submitted through May 1, 2023.

Contact:

Allison Marong: (410) 537-3315


Brown Station Road Area C Sanitary ​Landfill

In accordance with Sections 1-601, 1-602, 1-604, and 9-209 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has made a Tentative Determination to approve a Refuse Disposal Permit Application submitted by Prince George's County Department of the Environment for the proposed Area C Landfill to be constructed between the existing Area A and Area B of the Brown Station Road Landfill located at 3500 Brown Station Road in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Brown Station Road Sanitary Landfill is a non-hazardous solid waste acceptance facility that accepts residential and commercial waste (household refuse and waste from​ businesses), scrap automobile and truck tires, and construction and demolition debris for disposal and/or recycling.

Meeting:

A Public Hearing is scheduled for Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 5:30 pm at the Arrowhead Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room located at 2300 Sansbury Road, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20774. The Public Hearing will be held to provide the c​itizens an opportunity to formally comment on MDE's Tentative Determination concerning the proposed landfill.  A Public Informational Meeting concerning this application was previously held on December 17, 2019 at the Arrowhead Elementary School.

Upon prior request, MDE will provide an interpreter for the deaf or hearing-impaired persons. The permit application, supporting documents, and draft permit will be available for public review at the Largo-Kettering Branch of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System located at 9601 Capital Lane, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20774 and at MDE by appointment after March 22, 2023.

Written comments regarding the application may be submitted to Tyler Abbott, Director, Land and Materials Administration, Maryland Department of the Environment, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 610, Baltimore, Maryland 21230 within 30 days of the publication of this Tentative Deter​mination.​

 Brown Station Road Area C Sanitary Landfill - Factsheet (April 2023) 

Brown Station Road Area C Sanitary Landfill - Phase I Report

 Brown Station Road Area C Sanitary Landfill - Phase II Report

Brown Station Road Area C Sanitary Landfill - Phase III Report (February 2023)

Notice of Tentative Determination and Public Hearing (March 2023) 

 ​



Contact:​

Sara Haile: (410) 537-3315

Tolson and Associates Rubble Landfill

In accordance with Sections 1-601, 1-602, 1-604, and 9-209 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Maryland Department of​ the Environment (MDE) has made a Tentative Determination to approve a Refuse Disposal Permit Application submitted by Tolson & Associates, LLC for the proposed vertical expansion of the Tolson & Associates Rubble Landfill located at the end of Capitol Raceway Road, Crofton in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The proposed vertical expansion will occur within the footprint of the existing landfill and will increase the maximum permitted elevation of the landfill within the limits of the County’s local zoning approval, to provide more efficient use of the airspace that allows an increased overall capacity from 230 feet above mean sea level (AMSL) to 244 feet AMSL. Tolson & Associates Rubble Landfill is a non-hazardous solid waste acceptance facility that accepts land clearing debris and construction and demolition debris for disposal and recycling. For more information on this site see the Tolson Rubble Landfill webpage.
Meetings:
Pursuant to the Environment Article, Sections 1-601 and 1-603, Annotated Code of Maryland, a Virtual Informational Meeting and Public Hearing was scheduled for interested citizens to obtain information about the permit renewal and MDE’s Tentative Determination. To provide an opportunity for interested citizens to obtain information about the proposed vertical expansion of the existing landfill and MDE’s Tentative Determination, a virtual Informational Meeting and Public Hearing was held in accordance with Executive Order of the Governor of the State of Maryland No. 21-03-09-03, on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. 

​The permit application, and supporting documents and draft permit were available for review after May 28, 2021, on the Tolson Rubble Landfill page. Hard copies were available for public review at the Crofton Community Library Branch of the Anne Arundel County Library System located at 1681 Riedel Road, Crofton, Maryland 21114.
Written comments regarding the application were to be submitted to Ms. Kaley Laleker, Director, Land and Materials Administration, Maryland Department of the Environment, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 610, Baltimore, Maryland 21230 within 30 days of the publication of this Tentative Determination.
Phase I Report (May 2019)
Phase II and III Report (November 2020) Note: Very Large File
Samuel Ogbogu: (410) 537-3315

Al-Ray Rubble Landfill

​The existing landfill is located at 4910 Sands Road, Lothian, Anne Arundel County, Maryland 20711. The current permit requires the semi-annual monitoring of the groundwater for metals and organic compounds. The proposed permit allows MDE to set and maintain requirements for the continued monitoring of groundwater quality at the closed rubble landfill and does not authorize an expansion or other change to the facility, which is now part of the Sands Road Park.​

Meeting:

A Public Hearing was to be held on the MDE’s Tentative Determination on this permit application if a written request is received on or bef​ore July 6, 2020.  Any written comments concerning the Tentative Determination were to be received by the close of business on July 16, 2020. Requests for a Public Hearing or written comments were to be sent to: Ms. Kaley Laleker​, Director, Land and Materials Administration, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21230-1719.​

Contact:

Sara Haile: (410) 537-3315


Midshore III Regional Solid Waste Facility

​In accordance with Sections 1-601, 1-602, and 1-603 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is presently reviewing a Refuse Disposal Permit Application submitted by Maryland Environmental Service for the proposed Midshore III Regional Solid Waste Facility located on Harper Road, Centreville, Maryland. The landfill is a non-hazardous solid waste acceptance facility that accepts residential and commercial solid waste (household refuse and waste from businesses, stores, and offices), bulky waste (household appliances and white goods), sewage sludge, land clearing debris and yard waste, asbestos, and construction and demolition (C&D) debris for disposal and/or recycling. 

Meeting:

MDE will hold an Informational Meeting regarding this application at the Queen Anne's County Planning Commissioners Office located at 110 Vincit Street, Suite 104, Centreville, Maryland on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. The purpose of the Informational Meeting is to provide an opportunity to the general public to obtain information about the permit application and MDE's review process. Representatives for the applicant and MDE will be available to answer specific questions.

Upon prior request, MDE will provide an interpreter for the deaf or hearing-impaired persons. The permit application and supporting documents will be available for public review at the Centreville Branch of the  Queen Anne's Public Library located at 121 S. Commerce Street, Centreville, Maryland 21617, and at MDE by appointment after September 22, 2023.

Written comments regarding the application may be submitted to Tyler Abbott, Director, Land and Materials Administration, Maryland Department of the Environment, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 610, Baltimore, Maryland 21230.​

​Factsheet - Midsho​re III Regional Solid Waste Facility (October 2023)

Phase I Report and Pe​rmit Application (February 2023)

Notice of Application Received and In​​formational Meeting (September 2023)

Contact:
Allison Marong: (410) 537-3315

Eastern Sanitary Landfill
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is presently reviewing a Refuse Disposal Permit Application submitted by the Baltimore County Bureau of Solid Waste Management for the proposed vertical expansion of the existing Eastern Sanitary Landfill located at 6259 Days Cove Road, White Marsh, Maryland in Baltimore County. The proposed vertical expansion will occur within the footprint of the existing landfill and will increase the maximum permitted elevation of the landfill from 192 ft above mean sea level (ft amsl) to 230 ft amsl. The landfill is a non-hazardous solid waste acceptance facility that accepts residential and commercial solid waste (household refuse and waste from businesses, stores, and offices), bulky waste (household appliances and white goods), institutional (non-hazardous waste from schools, hospitals), asbestos, incinerator ash, land clearing debris and yard waste, and construction and demolition (C&D) debris for disposal and/or recycling. 

A public meeting has not yet been scheduled for the proposed vertical expansion Refuse Disposal Permit Application.  


Contact:
Samuel Ogbogu: (410) 537-3315

Millersville Municipal Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility 
​The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is presently reviewing a Refuse Disposal Permit Application submitted by Anne Arundel County, Maryland for the proposed vertical expansion of the existing Millersville Municipal Landfill and Resource Recover Facility located at 389 Burns Crossing Road, Severn, Maryland in Anne Arundel County. The proposed vertical expansion will occur within the footprint of the existing landfill and will increase the maximum permitted elevation of the landfill from 244 ft above mean sea level (ft amsl) to 285 ft amsl. The landfill is a non-hazardous solid waste acceptance facility that accepts residential and commercial solid waste (household refuse and waste from businesses, stores, and offices), bulky waste (household appliances and white goods), land clearing debris and yard waste, and construction and demolition (C&D) debris for disposal and/or recycling. 

A public meeting has not yet been scheduled for the proposed vertical expansion Refuse Disposal Permit Application.  


 Phase I Report and Permit Application

Contact:
Samuel Ogbogu: (410) 537-3315

Maryland Solid Waste and Recycling Facilities Work Group

Passed during the 2017 Legislative Session, House Bill 124 (Chapter 376) directs the Maryland Department of the Environment (the “Department”) to adopt regulations to specify when a “recycling facility” may operate without a refuse disposal permit and to exempt certain materials that are managed at a recycling facility from being designated as “solid waste.”  The law also provides that the regulations may include design and operational conditions for recycling facilities to protect the environment and allows for a tiered system of permits or approvals that are based on the type and amount of materials to be managed at a facility.   In accordance with the statute, the Department must convene and consult with a workgroup of affected stakeholders when developing the regulations.​  THe work group met throughout 2018, and the Department is currently working to finish drafting the regulations.

Work Group Documents:

Contact:

Edward Dexter: (410) 537-3315

Facilities of Interest

Allied Chemical Chromium Works/Harbor Point Redevelopment

Harbor Point Development, LLC has constructed a commercial and retail building at the former Allied Chemical chromium plant at 1000 Wills Street in Fells Point, where chromium ore was processed for over 130 years until the plant was demolished in the 1980s. Due to extensive contamination with chromium from the historical industrial activities, the site was subject to a thorough investigation and remediation in accordance with the State and federal hazardous waste regulations. Learn more on the Allied Chemical page. 

 

Contact us

Solid Waste Program, Land and Materials Administration
Maryland Department of the Environment
1800 Washington Blvd., Ste. 605
Baltimore MD  21230-1719​​​



​​​​​​​​
​​​







Human Trafficking GET HELP

National Human Trafficking Hotline - 24/7 Confidential

1-888-373-7888 233733 More Information on human trafficking in Maryland

Customer Service Promise

The State of Maryland pledges to provide constituents, businesses, customers, and stakeholders with friendly and courteous, timely and responsive, accurate and consistent, accessible and convenient, and truthful and transparent services.

Take Our Survey

Help Stop Fraud in State Government

The Maryland General Assembly’s Office of Legislative Audits operates a toll-free fraud hotline to receive allegations of fraud and/or abuse of State government resources. Information reported to the hotline in the past has helped to eliminate certain fraudulent activities and protect State resources.

More Information