The ongoing saga of the Days Cove Rubble Landfill has reached a tentative resolution, with the facility now set to shutter by 2033, as per a new agreement with the State of Maryland. Under the proposed terms, the landfill, which is located within Gunpowder Falls State Park in White Marsh, has agreed to cap and develop the area into a park after closure. The 114-acre construction waste site has faced public scrutiny, particularly after residents raised concerns over its request to increase the discharge of treated leachate, commonly referred to as "trash juice," into the Gunpowder River.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has affirmed its commitment to closing the site in eight years or less, with negotiations for a new lease penciled in to continue with the intent to fulfill this timeline. The state's Board of Public Works, however, still needs to give the final approval for the lease, according to information obtained by CBS News Baltimore. The lease's emphasis is on an absolute end to the Days Cove operations, consciously eliminating the possibility for renewal that was present in past agreements.
Following significant pushback from the surrounding community, Days Cove withdrew its controversial proposal to more than double its daily leachate discharge, a provision that would have allowed up to 25,000 gallons per day to flow into tributaries of the Gunpowder River. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) still has the modified permit under review, with a decision expected in the new year, containing added monitoring and evaluation requirements. This comes after the site was fined $15,000 in 2023 due to 20 citations for exceeding pollution limits, as mentioned in a statement reported by The Banner.
Local environmental groups, like Gunpowder Riverkeeper and Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, have been adamant for stringent precautions, requesting either highly treated leachate or the outright prohibition of its discharge.
While the lease negotiations continue, Days Cove will maintain operations under the terms of the previous agreement. The landfill's closure and the terms of its lease are projected to be revisited early in 2026, with the next meeting of the Maryland Board of Public Works scheduled for January 7. Apart from the environmental implications, the state is expected to earn $3.75 million from the operator's gross revenue as rent over the next five years, with an additional $40,000 per year, funds destined for the DNR's Forest and Park Reserve Fund.
