Baltimore plans regional transfer station to reduce landfill dependency by 2035

The Baltimore City Council's Public Health & Environment Committee meeting on April 30, 2025, focused on the city's solid waste management strategy, particularly the need to reduce reliance on incineration. Council members discussed the challenges posed by limited landfill capacity and the implications for neighborhoods, especially in South Baltimore, which bear the burden of waste management.

A key point raised during the meeting was the necessity for a third option in waste disposal that would alleviate pressure on incineration while preserving local landfill space. This approach aligns with the city's 10-year solid waste management plan, adopted last year, which emphasizes the development of a long-haul disposal plan. This plan aims to create a regional transfer station to consolidate waste operations, making them more efficient and reducing the need for immediate landfill use.

The proposed regional transfer station would ideally facilitate waste transfer by both truck and rail, addressing the expected full capacity of the Quarantine Road Landfill by 2035 and the expiration of the city's contract with the current waste management provider in 2031. The committee discussed two primary options for establishing this transfer station: the city could either fund the construction directly, which would be costly and complex, or partner with the private sector to build it in exchange for long-haul service contracts.

The discussions highlighted the urgency of finding sustainable waste management solutions that balance environmental concerns with practical logistics, ensuring that Baltimore can effectively manage its solid waste in the coming years.