Baltimore Constituents Debate Over Solid Waste Plan

SEATTLE (Waste 360): Some Baltimore city officials and environmentalists are at odds with city solid waste management planners. Zero waste, incineration and visions for the city’s landfill are at the heart of the debate.

The latest point of contention is around a request for proposal (RFP), issued by Baltimore’s Department of Public Works (DPW), to assist with long-term recycling and solid waste management planning. Some of the RFP content goes against the city’s originally expressed intentions to move toward zero waste, according to Baltimore Councilmember Mary Pat Clarke. Clark introduced a resolution to amend the RFP, which was unanimously passed by the City Council in mid-May, but the story is ongoing.

The resolution calls for:

• Extending the search nationwide for experienced zero waste planners. Currently, the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority is seeking only applicants pre-qualified to work with the independent state agency, who protestors of the RFP say are not focused on zero waste.
• Terminating existing Wheelabrator incineration activities by December 31, 2021
• Adhering to the Zero Waste Hierarchy, developed by the Zero Waste International Alliance, which considers incineration unacceptable and landfilling as a last resort.
• Dismissing the option to privatize, or to rapidly fill, Quarantine Road Landfill.

Courtesy: https://waste360.com