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2016 Maryland Statewide Waste Characterization Study

Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority -NMWD | Baltimore, MD | Completed: 2017

2016 Maryland Statewide Waste Characterization Study | Maryland_WP_20160713_055

The Maryland Recycling Act (MRA) requires all Maryland counties and Baltimore City to recycle from 20 to 35 percent (depending on population) of waste generated. By 2020, Maryland has established a voluntary waste diversion goal of 60 percent, and a voluntary recycling rate of 55 percent.

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) works toward Maryland's waste diversion goals by partnering with jurisdictions and the public and private sectors to develop markets for recyclable materials and by working with other State agencies to increase the volume of materials diverted from landfills. Like many state environmental agencies, MDE recognizes the importance of establishing a baseline snapshot of the disposed waste stream for use by stakeholders intent on reducing landfill disposal and increasing diversion. In 2016, MDE partnered with the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority (NMWDA) to design and perform the state's inaugural state-wide waste characterization study.

MDE and the Authority established a budgetary and operational framework for the 2016 Maryland Statewide Waste Characterization Study (2016 Study). MSW Consultants was retained to design and perform a comprehensive research protocol for the 2016 Study within this framework. MSW Consultants subsequently performed the field data collection, analyzed results and developed the state's first-ever comprehensive waste characterization study. This analysis integrated field data collection at nine of the state's disposal facilities with two other waste characterization studies performed by Maryland counties. MDE is reviewing the draft report at this time