Speak Up Now to Close Down the Dickerson Incinerator

October 20 County Council Town Hall: What We Learned

Residents gathered for a town hall hosted by Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles to discuss the future of the Dickerson incinerator. County officials addressed questions about costs, environmental impacts, and the practical challenges of transitioning away from incineration.

The Council is considering four options, including continued incineration, truck hauling to landfills, and advanced waste processing technologies. SCA's position is clear: The Dickerson incinerator must be shut down. We strongly oppose spending millions to upgrade and operate a dilapidated and outdated facility and urge the Council to move forward with environmentally responsible landfill disposal while investing instead in waste reduction, recycling, and more sustainable long-term solutions.

The County Council will vote on whether to continue to incinerate our trash or take our residual trash to landfill on November 10.

Setting the Record Straight: Responding to Reworld

Zero Waste Montgomery County, a partner in our fight to close the Dickerson Incinerator, challenged claims made by Reworld in an 11-page rebuttal. Reworld currently operates the incinerator. Key points in the rebuttal to Reworld include:

Costs: Maintaining and upgrading the aging incinerator could cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Pollution and Health: Serious concerns remain about toxic emissions, inadequate monitoring, and public health risks.

Climate and Transportation: The rebuttal challenges Reworld's claims about greenhouse gas emissions, trucking impacts, and landfill alternatives.

Long-Term Sustainability: Continued incineration could delay progress on waste reduction, recycling, composting, and cleaner alternatives.

What Happens Next? Your Voice Matters.

The time to act is now. The Council’s next work session is October 27, followed by a November 10 vote on whether to continue incinerating trash or send residual waste to landfills.

SCA continues to urge the Council to move forward with transitioning to truck hauling and environmentally vetted landfills, close the Dickerson incinerator, and invest in composting, waste reduction and advanced waste processing strategies.

The decisions made in the coming weeks will shape Montgomery County's waste management system for decades.

• SCA's Position: County Council Continues Deliberations on the Future of the Dickerson Incinerator

• Read the Full Rebuttal

• Montgomery County: Solid Waste Disposal Alternatives

Review the rebuttal, stay informed and reach out to the Councilmembers before October 27. Let them know you want to stop burning our trash and start composting now. Click the link below or email them at countycouncil@montgomerycountymd.gov.