County Council Passes Legislation on Landfill Operations and Out-of-County Trash Ban

Wicomico County, MD - The Wicomico County Council has enacted new legislation regarding landfill operations during its Monday night meeting. The legislation includes a critical provision that prohibits out-of-county trash from being accepted at the county landfill, a move praised as a significant win for local residents.  

Charter Conflict Raised Over Amendment  

However, the legislation has drawn controversy due to an amendment related to operational decisions at the landfill. Under the Wicomico County Charter, such decisions fall under the executive branch's jurisdiction.

According to reports, the County Council President was informed by the county attorney that this amendment violates the charter. Despite this legal concern, the council chose to proceed with the legislation in its current form.  

Statement from County Executive  

We reached out to the County Executive to get a statement on her opinion of the matter. County Executive Julie M. Giordano addressed the situation in a statement to Eastern Shore Undercover, highlighting both the benefits and challenges tied to the new legislation.  

Giordano stated the following, "The most important part of the landfill legislation passed by the County Council is that it finally puts into County Code that out-of-county trash is prohibited - a major win for our residents. However, there is a serious issue with one of the amendments related to landfill operations. The County Council President was advised by our attorney that this amendment violates the County Charter. While I fully recognize this conflict, I will sign the legislation into law to ensure the protections against out-of-county trash move forward, and we will address the unlawful amendment separately at a later time."

Next Steps  

The legislation will now move forward with the County Executive and legal teams addressing the amendment conflict at a later date. The out-of-county trash ban, a major component of the legislation, is expected to take effect once the law is officially signed.  

This development highlights ongoing efforts by local government to enhance environmental protections within Wicomico County while navigating the complexities of legislative and executive responsibilities.

Note: Original County Council Press Release posted below.