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ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 31, 2026—Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke and Sidney Katz on Sept. 2 will host a town hall meeting about potential community impacts of Montgomery County’s proposed shift to long-haul landfilling of solid waste.
The Montgomery County Council this fall is set to further review the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) proposal to haul County waste by truck and dispose of it at an out-of-County landfill. This new solid waste approach would serve as an alternative to the County’s existing system of transporting waste primarily by train to its Resource Recovery Facility (RRF) - widely known as the incinerator - and allow the County to close the RRF.
Switching to long-haul landfilling would mean additional operational requirements at the County’s Shady Grove Transfer Station.
Councilmembers Luedtke (District 7) and Katz (District 3) represent Rockville, Derwood, Shady Grove, and Washington Grove communities adjacent to the Shady Grove Transfer Station, and are hosting the community meeting on Sept. 2 so community members can hear from and ask questions of DEP representatives about potential impacts including additional truck traffic and a new Advanced Waste Processing facility.
“It is critical to assess potential impacts and concerns of all communities that would be affected by a change in how Montgomery County collects and handles trash,” Councilmember Luedtke said. “It is important the Council is examining this once-in-a-generation and irreversible change in detail and the Sept. 2 meeting will give residents and business owners in the growing communities around the Shady Grove Transfer Station a chance to understand what this may mean for them. I am grateful to DEP for coming to the community to explain the rationale behind the proposal.”
“It is essential that the community understands the options and potential impacts of the proposed solid waste plans,” Councilmember Katz said. “As the Council begins its work this fall, we are committed to getting resident feedback on priorities, concerns and expectations.”
The Council is expected to discuss the pros and cons of these options and their impact on future capital budgets and County’s Ten-Year Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan this fall and held an initial briefing on July 28.
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