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1. Why do we need to change the way we dispose of waste?

The county currently disposes of its solid waste in 2 solid waste disposal facilities: the Harford Waste Disposal Center Landfill on Scarboro Road and the Waste-to-Energy plant at the Edgewood area of Aberdeen Proving Ground.

The Army’s Steam Purchase Agreement for the Waste-to-Energy facility expires in March 2016. The Army has notified the county of its desire not to renew this agreement and to shut the facility down.

Disposal of the County’s solid waste at the Harford Waste Disposal Center Landfill is not a sustainable solution. There is insufficient capacity remaining for the long-term.

Both of these facilities will cease operations on or around March 2016.

2. So where will the trash be going?

Harford County will be directing the private businesses that collect trash to dispose of it at a solid waste transfer station located at the Baltimore County Eastern Sanitary Landfill in White Marsh, just southwest of the Harford County line. When comparing the distance for a private company to haul trash to the Waste-to-Energy plant to the distance to haul trash to the Eastern Sanitary Landfill the difference is only 2.5 miles. This facility will not be open to County residents. It will only be open to the private trash companies. Harford County residents will continue to be able to drop-off their trash and recyclables at the Harford Waste Disposal Center on Scarboro Road in Street.

3. What were the other alternatives that were considered?

This agreement brings a level of finality to six years of study and planning for addressing Harford County’s long term solid waste disposal needs. Many options involving a number of different facilities and locations were explored, and ultimately, the agreement with Baltimore County was deemed to be both the least expensive and the most practical solution.

The other alternatives considered are listed on the Alternative Solutions Table with the associated operating and capital costs listed. It is important to note that there are other factors external of costs that were also considered, such as convenience and feasibility. Alternative Solutions Table

4. What happened to the proposed solid waste transfer station on Philadelphia Road in Joppa?

An alternative that was looked at was to construct and operate a Solid Waste Transfer Station on county-owned property on Philadelphia Road near the MD 152/I-95 interchange. Rather than disposing of trash in the Harford Waste Disposal Center landfill or at the Waste-to-Energy facility, trash would have been transported to the solid waste transfer station in Joppa, where it would have been unloaded, processed, and shipped to a yet-to-be-constructed Waste-to-Energy facility in Baltimore City.

This alternative was strongly considered and was a viable option at the time due to the close proximity to I-95 and other major roadways, however the plans for the Baltimore facility have not yet come to fruition, and this no longer became a realistic option. Furthermore, considerations regarding long-term costs and the concerns of the community were also reasons for exploring additional options.

Future uses of the property will be studied over the next year. The long-term needs of the Department of Public Works will be considered, as will the public safety infrastructure needs of the nearby community.

5. What will happen to the Waste-to-Energy facility?

The Army no longer wishes to utilize the facility for energy generation beyond March 2016, and per the lease agreement, the Army will require the County to demolish the entire facility and associated steam lines at a cost of $12 million prior to the expiration of the site lease in 2019.

6. What will happen to the Harford Waste Disposal Center landfill on Scarboro Road?

The Harford Waste Disposal Center landfill on Scarboro Road will no longer accept solid waste from private trash companies on or around March 2016. Eventually the landfill will be capped and closed. However, the homeowner convenience center and yard waste facility will continue operation. The operation of the Tollgate yard waste drop-off facility will also continue.

7. Will my curbside trash collection service change by this plan?

No. Residents and businesses that currently subscribe to a trash collection service with a private company will continue to do so in the future.

8. Will I have to pay more for my trash removal?

At this time it is uncertain what residents and businesses will pay for trash disposal service in 2016. Harford County will be performing a rate study within the next year to develop a new solid waste disposal fee structure to incorporate into the new plan that will go into effect in 2016.

Every feasible solid waste alternative resulted in increased disposal costs. The rate study will evaluate revenue mechanisms to fund the solid waste program and how those revenues will translate to disposal costs passed onto the customers. The new solid waste fee structure will be implemented to become effective when this new plan commences.

9. Whom can I contact with concerns or questions about this plan?

For concerns or questions about this plan, you can contact the Office of the County Executive’s Constituent Services office at 410-638-3511 or 410-638-3355.

For general questions about Solid Waste in Harford County, you can also contact the Department of Public Works, Environmental Services Division at 410-638-3018 or env@harfordcountymd.gov.

In addition, if you wish to contact your County Council representative and need that contact information, visit the County Council Page. County Council Page