Wicomico County officials seek landfill rate increase amid mounting concerns
SALISBURY, Md. — Officials from the Newland Park Landfill in Wicomico County are asking for a rate increase, citing the scale and scope of the operation as unmatched in the region.
“This county by itself operates 11 convenience centers and four 24-hour cycle centers,” said Adam Corry of the county’s solid waste division during a public hearing Tuesday night. “We cannot be compared to any other facility in our area.”
According to Corry, planning ahead is essential to ensure the landfill remains a sustainable resource. “We have to have it that way to protect the environment and make sure we have this resource available for years and years to come,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re putting money away for the future — and we’ve got to do that by collecting the appropriate thing.”
At the hearing, Corry also addressed long-standing funding issues, suggesting the county did not do enough in the pass and is now facing the consequences. Corry also stated, “We kept our tipping fees in this county too low for too long. That damaged our capacity.”
But not all community members are on board with the proposed changes. Andrew, a local business owner, expressed concern over the rate hike’s timing and frequency. “That will be the total of a 31% increase in 12 months,” he said. “That’s the concern — that we’re having rate increases every six months and not giving enough notice. These challenges didn’t develop overnight and we shouldn’t be trying to fix them all at once.”
Other residents, including Judith Stribling, pointed to out-of-county waste as a major contributor to the strain. “We do not want to accept trash from outside Wicomico County,” she said. “It’s my understanding there are three areas where the tipping fees are higher, and it’s cheaper to dispose of waste at our landfill.”
Stribling emphasized the importance of local accountability in waste management. “It’s our home,” she said. “Our county has great people who just need support to take us to a new level of responsibility for the waste we generate.”
As county leaders weigh the next steps, both officials and residents appear to agree on one thing: the future of waste management in Wicomico County is a shared responsibility.
