Montgomery County taxpayers face costs for incinerator repairs after council vote
Local officials chose to upgrade the Dickerson Power Plant over sending waste to out-of-county landfills, though final repair costs remain unknown.
By Pedro Tanaka ·
Montgomery County residents will continue sending their household waste to the Dickerson Power Plant for processing. The County Council voted 6-5 on Tuesday to keep the facility operational. This decision rejects an alternative plan that would have required hauling garbage to a landfill outside the county.
The vote keeps the current waste management system in place. However, the facility requires long-term repairs. The council has not yet determined the total cost of those upgrades. County Executive Marc Elrich told voters that the expense will come through taxes. He described the payment as a shared burden, whether it appears on a school tax bill or a specific incinerator levy.
Supporters of the incinerator argued that moving waste elsewhere would burden local roads. Councilmember Evan Glass stated that the alternative would add hundreds of diesel fuel trucks to county streets and highways. Councilmember Kate Stewart added that she did not want to shift the county’s waste burden to other communities. Council President Natali Fani-Gonzalez emphasized that every piece of trash needs a designated destination.
Critics of the vote raised concerns about environmental impact and cost. County Executive Elrich and some residents believe the incinerator is too expensive and harms the environment. Resident Patty McGrath said the community has an obligation to leave the planet in better hands for future generations.
The decision remains tentative because the county must still solicit bids from companies. These bids will determine the exact price of the repairs for taxpayers. Montgomery County Executive-elect Will Jawando noted that the council did not set aside a specific budget amount for the plan. He also pointed out that no concrete next steps have been decided.
Five new councilmembers will be sworn in during December. This change in leadership means the trash handling plan could be revised again. The council also allocated $28 million to build a composting facility. This separate project aims to reduce the total volume of waste entering the incinerator.
