Harford County’s Department of Public Works and consultant SCS Engineers presented a draft 10‑year Solid Waste Management Plan at a public hearing, outlining current facilities, recycling performance and options for future disposal capacity.

Stacy Demers of SCS said the plan covers 2025–2034 and follows the Maryland Code of Regulations format for county solid‑waste plans. Jeff Schoenberger of the Department of Public Works said the county has an existing agreement with Baltimore County for landfill disposal that runs through June 2036; haulers currently take some material to the Eastern Sanitary Landfill in White Marsh under that agreement.

The presentation described the Harford Waste Disposal Center — the county landfill and household drop‑off facilities — and said the landfill has accepted roughly 20,000 tons per year and, at that rate, would reach its current permitted capacity by about 2042 unless additional cells are developed. Demers said additional permitted cells exist on the disposal site but would require substantial reconfiguration of on‑site facilities and would extend life only for a limited period.

Demers highlighted the county’s recycling performance (a stated diversion rate of 53.3%, described as third highest in Maryland) and noted that expanding food‑waste diversion and composting capacity is a key future option. The county’s privately operated Veteran Compost facility currently accepts food waste; Demers said business-generating food generators in Maryland are required to compost material over a certain threshold and the county may need additional capacity to accept more food waste.

Council members asked about disposal costs and contingency options after 2036. Schoenberger said the county currently pays about $118–$119 per ton to Baltimore County through December; the rate is subject to change at the beginning of the calendar year. He and Demers said the plan calls for the county to evaluate options starting in the next five years to avoid a lengthy permitting and procurement timeline if alternatives are needed after 2036. The presentation also flagged expected cost increases for future disposal regardless of which option the county chooses.

Councilmembers asked about landfill closure costs and the county’s closure fund. Public Works staff said recent combined cell closures were in the neighborhood of $9–$10 million and explained that closure funds cover capping and long‑term post‑closure care; federal rules require monitoring for 30 years and state agencies may require longer oversight.

No members of the public signed up to speak at the hearing. The council closed the public hearing and will take up the bill (Bill 24‑040, Solid Waste Management Plan) at a future meeting for formal action.

Next steps: the plan calls for evaluating food‑waste diversion opportunities and lining up future disposal capacity options well ahead of the Baltimore County agreement expiration in 2036.