Baltimore County considers vertical expansion of Eastern Sanitary Landfill

Officials in Baltimore County, Maryland, have announced plans to vertically expand the Eastern Sanitary Landfill (ESL) in White Marsh, Maryland.

“We have an ongoing commitment to environmental health in Baltimore County, and identifying a solution to appropriately dispose of waste without expanding the footprint of the landfill is ideal,” Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski says.

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In 2021, the Olszewski administration’s Solid Waste Work Group released their final report outlining recommendations for improving the county’s solid waste collection and disposal system and reducing the overall volume of waste produced in Baltimore County. Previous county estimates anticipated ESL would reach capacity by 2027.

After an updated review of recent tonnage, and because of ongoing waste diversion efforts, including the ongoing transfer of materials, Baltimore County now anticipates ESL will reach capacity by approximately 2040.

A key recommendation of the Solid Waste Work Group’s report encouraged the county to explore a potential vertical expansion of the Eastern Sanitary Landfill to enhance the landfill's longevity. The proposed vertical expansion would change the current permitted height of the landfill from 192 feet to 230 feet, adding more than three million tons of additional capacity.

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“With the expansion of the Eastern Sanitary Landfill, we are not only undertaking a significant infrastructure initiative but also making a long-term commitment to our community,” says D’Andrea Walker, Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation director. “This expansion ensures that we will continue to focus on sustainable waste management, effectively addressing the needs of our community for the next several decades.”

As part of the permitting approval process, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) will host a series of public meetings regarding the planned expansion, with dates set for later this year.