Environmental Services - Resource Recovery Facility

RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITY

Harford County processes most of its municipal solid waste at a privately owned facility known as the Harford Waste-To-Energy Facility. The facility was developed for Harford County by the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority under its revenue bond financing authority. Through a contractual arrangement with the facility more than 110,000 tons per year of Harford County’s municipal waste is burned to produce energy which is purchased by Aberdeen Proving Ground.

The types of material processed at the facility are governed by Federal law, Maryland law, County law, and by the County’s waste supply contract. Acceptable waste under the County’s waste supply contract, is essentially defined as household and commercial garbage, trash, rubbish, and refuse of the kinds normally collected or disposed of in the County as a result of residential and commercial waste collection practices required by the County. Unacceptable wastes are defined in detail in the contract consistent with all Federal and State prohibitions.

The facility operates under two Maryland permits--a refuse disposal permit and an air permit--both issued by the Maryland Department of the Environment. Under the County’s waste supply contract, the facility owner has guaranteed to meet all environmental regulations.