Greater Salisbury Committee Tours Wicomico Landfill Amidst Concerns

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. — The Wicomico County executive is addressing critical needs at the county’s highest point of elevation, unofficially known as Trash Mountain.

Mike Dunn, CEO and president of the Greater Salisbury Committee, said, “Every couple of years we have a leadership cohort. We call it TCL, and our theme this month was infrastructure and development. Well, nothing speaks infrastructure more than being at the top of the landfill. And so we were able to arrange that, and it was an eye-opening experience for everybody.”

In recent months, concerns have grown over the Wicomico landfill nearing capacity, and construction of a new cell has yet to begin. Dunn emphasized that the landfill issue is urgent but said he believes the right people are in place to address it.

County Executive Julie Giordano echoed that sentiment.

“We literally have scientists working out on our landfill because that’s what it takes in order to make sure we’re staying in compliance,” Giordano said. “We are, you know, communicating with MDE the way that we should. And Adam has just done such an amazing job. So we are hoping that it’s just a placeholder. He’s getting us ready and getting that new cell open.”

Dunn said seeing the landfill firsthand was both eye-opening and educational.

“Knowing more about the landfill — how it works, the size and scope of it — I’d say that it is hands down the most complicated and complex aspect of any part of the local government,” he said. “And so, now that it’s being taken care of, I think we have confidence that we are on the right path.”

Giordano added, “This is just, you know, you’re righting a ship. And, you know, when you right a ship, it takes a long time to get the ship turning.”

Beginning Aug. 1, the county will start limiting tonnage at Newland Park by not accepting commercial waste on Saturdays, in an effort to preserve the current cell as construction of Cell 7 begins.