Wicomico Co. Withdraws Support for Waste Diversion Pilot Concept

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – The Office of the Wicomico County Executive has announced that the County is withdrawing its support from a previously considered waste diversion concept.

The concept, outlined in a Feb. 26 letter from the Department of Public Works, explored a potential partnership with Morgan State University to convert non-recyclable municipal solid waste (MSW) —such as paper, wood, low-chlorine plastics, yard waste, and textiles—combined with poultry litter into briquettes for on-site energy generation at a nearby agricultural operation. Officials say the proposal was strictly exploratory and contemplated only as a potential pilot program utilizing waste from the Newland Park Landfill.

While the concept presented potential benefits—including landfill diversion, methane reduction, and alignment with broader clean energy goals—County leadership has determined that there are still too many unknowns regarding logistics, environmental considerations, and overall feasibility to support the project at this time.

“This was simply an early-stage concept focused on exploring innovative ways to manage waste and reduce landfill dependence,” said County Executive Julie Giordano. “However, after further internal evaluation, we believe it is prudent to step back until more detailed information and analysis are available.”

Officials also wanted to clear previous misconceptions held about the proposal that argued it was for a new biorefinery in the area. This proposal differed from biorefineries in that it was a limited, small-scale waste diversion concept focused solely on producing briquettes for localized, on-site energy use. It would not have involved large-scale industrial processing, commercial fuel production, or the development of a standalone facility.

The County says they may revisit this concept in the future if it is appropriately zoned and supported by detailed data, clear operational plans, and thorough analysis.