History of Midshore Landfill 

In May 1986, Queen Anne’s, Caroline and Talbot Counties entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Maryland Environmental Service (MES) to develop a regional landfill to serve these three midshore counties. The new landfill would provide adequate long term waste disposal capabilities for midshore and would be permitted in accordance with applicable rules and regulation of the State of Maryland and incorporating best available technology in design and construction.

In March 1987, the Commissioners from each of the counties signed a contract with MES to act as the developer and operator of the regional landfill. The contract further provided that MES would be responsible for all planning, design, permitting, construction, operation and financing of the facility. 

On January 24, 1990, the Maryland Department of the Environment issued the Refuse Disposal Permit For Midshore I. The next month, each of the counties entered into a Waste Disposal Service Agreement with MES, stating that MES would provide solid waste disposal services to the counties at the regional landfill and the counties would pay the cost of solid waste disposal. 

In March 1990, MES issued revenue bonds to pay for the acquisition of 175 acres in Talbot County and the construction of the facility.  Cell No. 1 and the necessary infrastructure of the MIDSHORE Regional Solid Waste Facility were completed as scheduled. MES owns and has been operating the regional landfill since March of 1991.

In September 1992, Kent County entered into a waste disposal service agreement with MES to become the forth member of the MIDSHORE Regional Concept.  Under the agreement, each county will host the operating landfill for a period of twenty years, providing an eighty-year solution to waste disposal in midshore.

The MIDSHORE Regional Solid Waste Facility continues to serve as the midshore counties’ sole disposal facility, and is the only regional solid waste facility in Maryland.  The landfill handles general mixed municipal, residential, commercial and non-hazardous industrial solid wastes and is a consolidation location for recyclable materials collected by the Midshore Regional Recycling Program.  Sources of solid waste and recyclables include private residences, commercial districts, municipal centers and transfer stations within the Midshore Counties geographical boundaries. Waste collectors are either commercial or public haulers. A homeowners’ drop-off area has been provided since the opening of MIDSHORE I.

In July of 2007 the existing three cells will reach capacity.  Therefore, a contract was awarded in August of 2006 for the construction of cell #4.  This seven acre addition will provide sufficient capacity for MIDSHORE I to operate until its scheduled closing on December 31, 2010.  At that time, MIDSHORE II will commence full operations.

Currently, phase two of the regional solid waste agreement is being designed by MES and the member counties.   Caroline County will host MIDSHORE II at the Holly Road/River Road site.  This landfill is scheduled to open for full operations not later than January 1, 2011.