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 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.
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.
Allison Marong: (410) 537-3315
Bainbridge Rubble Landfill
In accordance with Sections 1-601, 1-602, and 1-604 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has made a Tentative Determination to approve a Groundwater Discharge Permit Renewal Application submitted by Bainbridge Development Corporation. The application is for the continued discharge of wastewater generated by rainwater percolating through the closed unlined rubble cell floor of the closed Bainbridge Rubble Landfill into groundwater via infiltration/percolation. This landfill is located 748 Jacob Tome Highway, Port Deposit, Cecil County, Maryland. 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.
A Public Hearing will be held on the MDE’s Tentative Determination on this permit application if a written request is received on or before May 24, 2022. The request should indicate the name, address, and daytime telephone number of the person making the request, the name of any party whom the person making the request may represent, and the name of the facility. Any written comments concerning the Tentative Determination must be received by the close of business on June 3, 2022. Requests for a Public Hearing or written comments should be sent to: Ms. Kaley Laleker, Director, Land and Materials Administration, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21230-1719. Upon prior request, MDE will provide an interpreter for the deaf or hearing-impaired persons.
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.
A Public Hearing is scheduled for 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 will be 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.
Allison Marong: (410) 537-3315
Hawkins Point Plant Industrial Waste 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 Hawkins Management LLC for the existing Hawkins Point Plant Industrial Waste Landfill located at 3801 Fort Armistead Road, Baltimore, Maryland. The application is for a change in the permittee from Hawkins Point LLC to Hawkins Management LLC. The landfill is a non-hazardous solid waste facility that is permitted to accept solid waste from the Hawkins Point Plant and MDE approved third party waste.
To provide an opportunity for interested citizens to obtain information about the landfill and MDE’s Tentative Determination, a Public Hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. at the Grunwald Club located at 2825 O’Donnell Street, Baltimore, Maryland. The Public Hearing will be held to provide the citizens an opportunity to formally comment on MDE’s Tentative Determination concerning the landfill. A Public Informational Meeting concerning this application was previously held on March 1, 2022 at the Grunwald Club.
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 Enoch Pratt Free Library (Brooklyn Branch) located at 300 East Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland and at MDE by appointment after November 15, 2022.
Written comments on the application may be submitted to Ms. Kaley Laleker, Director, Land and Materials Administration, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21230-1719 within 30 days of the publication of this Tentative Determination.
Factsheet - Hawkins Point Plant IWLF 
Notice of Application Received and Informational Meeting (February 2022)
Refuse Disposal Permit Application and Phase I Report (January 2022)
Phase II Report - Hawkins Point Plant IWLF(July 2022)
Phase III Report - Hawkins Point Plant IWLF(July 2022)
Notice of Tentative Determination and Public Hearing(November 2022)
DRAFT Refuse Disposal Permit 2021-WIF-0527A(October 2022)
Sara Haile: (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.
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 citizens 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 Determination.
Brown Station Road Area C Sanitary Landfill - Factsheet
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
Dorchester County Municipal Landfill
In accordance with Sections 1-601, 1-602, 1-603, 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 the County Council of Dorchester County for the proposed Dorchester County Municipal Landfill to be located at 6812 East New Market – Elwood Road in Hurlock, Maryland. The proposed Dorchester County Municipal Landfill is a non-hazardous solid waste acceptance facility that proposes to accept residential solid waste, scrap automobile and truck tires, land clearing debris and yard waste, water treatment plant sludge, asbestos, construction and demolition debris, concrete, scrap metal, white goods and soil for disposal and/or recycling.
Meeting:
To provide an opportunity for interested citizens to obtain information about the proposed expansion of the existing landfill and MDE’s Tentative Determination, an Informational Meeting and a Public Hearing are scheduled for Tuesday, September 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the Dorchester County Office Building, Room 110 (Council Room), located at 501 Court Lane, Cambridge, MD 21613. That evening, immediately following the Informational Meeting, a Public Hearing will be 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 and supporting documents will be available for public review at the Dorchester Public Library (Hurlock Branch) located at 222 South Main Street, Hurlock, MD 21643 after August 31, 2021.
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 within 30 days of the publication of this Tentative Determination.
Public Informational Meetings concerning this application were previously held on March 22, 2018 and October 17, 2018 at the Hurlock American Legion Post 243 located at 57 Legion Drive, Hurlock, Maryland, 21643.
Dorchester County Municipal Landfill - Phase I Report (Nov 2017)
Dorchester County Municipal Landfill - Phase II Report (Jul 2019)
Dorchester County Municipal Landfill - Phase III Report (Aug 2020)
Draft Refuse Disposal Permit Number 2017-WMF-0680 (Aug 2021)
Notice of Tentative Determination, Informational Meeting and Public Hearing (Aug 2021)
Contact:
Allison Marong: (410) 537-3315
Days Cove Rubble Landfill
In accordance with Sections 1-601, 1-602, and 1-604 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has made a Tentative Determination to approve a Groundwater Discharge Permit Renewal Application submitted by the Days Cove Reclamation Company. The application is for the continued discharge of wastewater generated by rainwater percolating through the rubble cell floor of the closed Days Cove Rubble Landfill Horizontal Expansion into groundwater via infiltration/percolation. This landfill is located at 6425 Days Cove Road, White Marsh, Baltimore County, Maryland 21162. 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.
Meeting:
A Public Hearing will be held on the MDE’s Tentative Determination on this permit application if a written request is received on or before November 9, 2021. The request should indicate the name, address, and daytime telephone number of the person making the request, the name of any party whom the person making the request may represent, and the name of the facility. Any written comments concerning the Tentative Determination must be received by the close of business on November 19, 2021. Requests for a Public Hearing or written comments should be sent to: Ms. Kaley Laleker, Director, Land and Materials Administration, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21230-1719. Upon prior request, MDE will provide an interpreter for the deaf or hearing-impaired persons.
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.
Pursuant to the Environment Article, Sections 1-601 and 1-603, Annotated Code of Maryland, a Virtual Informational Meeting and Public Hearing has been 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 will be held in accordance with Executive Order of the Governor of the State of Maryland No. 21-03-09-03, scheduled for Tuesday, June 29, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. In order to view or participate in the Virtual Informational Meeting and Public Hearing, a participant must register using the following link:
Once registered, directions to participate online or by phone will be electronically forwarded to the email provided. Participants using a computer or mobile device to participate in the online public meeting will have the opportunity to submit comments online. Phone-only participants will not have the ability to ask questions or comment during the meeting; however, questions and comments may be sent to Mr. Samuel Ogbogu via e-mail at
samuel.ogbogu@maryland.gov or by phone at 410-537-3315. Questions and comments must be received by June 25, 2021, in order to be read at the Virtual Informational Meeting and Public Hearing.
The permit application, and supporting documents and draft permit will be available for review after May 28, 2021, on the Tolson Rubble Landfill page. Hard copies will be 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 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 within 30 days of the publication of this Tentative Determination.
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.
A Public Hearing will be held on the MDE’s Tentative Determination on this permit application if a written request is received on or before July 6, 2020. The request should indicate the name, address, and daytime telephone number of the person making the request, the name of any party whom the person making the request may represent, and the name of the facility. Any written comments concerning the Tentative Determination must be received by the close of business on July 16, 2020. Requests for a Public Hearing or written comments should be sent to: Ms. Kaley Laleker, Director, Land and Materials Administration, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21230-1719.
Sara Haile: (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.
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
