DPWT director details recycling, landfill and $400 million paving backlog

Lauren Buckler, director of Baltimore County's Department of Public Works and Transportation, presented the department's proposed capital priorities to the Planning Board subcommittee on Jan. 15 and answered board questions about operations and funding.

Buckler said DPWT has reduced its vacancy rate to about 11.7% and now has approximately 1,000 employees. The department reported handling nearly 600,000 tons of solid waste transferred in 2025 and that its materials recovery facility (MRF) processed roughly 64,000 tons of recyclables; Buckler said the MRF is "near the end of its lifespan" and the department is studying options to expand or replace the site.

She said a planned vertical expansion of the Eastern Sanitary Landfill is expected to extend its life by about seven years and that the county has previously extended landfill life from an earlier horizon (2027 or 2029) to 2034 or 2038 depending on annual inflows. On paving, Buckler said the county's pavement management index shows an approximate $400,000,000 backlog to bring roads to good condition; the department receives periodic highway-user revenues from the state and has $22,000,000 on a two-year paving cycle.

Buckler also described significant sewer investments tied to a 2005 federal consent decree, saying Baltimore County has invested more than $1,500,000,000 to modernize the sewer system and reduce overflows. She outlined operational measures: a proactive three-year inspection cycle for grinder pumps that cut emergency repairs by 30% to 50%, a targeted grease-inspection partnership with the Department of Health in high-risk areas, and an expanded residential flood mitigation grant program that simplifies eligibility.

During questions, board members asked whether the landfill expansion was included in current life estimates (Buckler said it is not and would add roughly seven years), what limits the MRF lifespan (space and mechanical equipment constraints), and whether paving backlogs are growing (Buckler said yes and tied the problem to long-term declines in state highway-user revenues). Buckler said DPWT performs most small-to-medium repairs in-house and subcontracts very large-diameter work; she offered to provide further figures on subcontracting volume on request.

Next steps: the subcommittee will continue capital budget review and follow up with DPWT for requested details and clarifications.