Worcester County operates recycling drop-off centers in the following locations:

Berlin Transfer Station - (6 Containers) - 410-641-4910
Open 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM Daily
Closed New Year’s, Thanksgiving & Christmas Day
Flower St. Berlin , MD 21811
Accepts - Newspaper, Mixed Paper, Magazines, Glass, Plastic, Aluminum & Bi-Metal Cans, Cardboard, Metal & White Goods, Yard Waste, Waste Oil & Batteries & Electronics, Textiles (clothing)

Central Landfill - - 410-632-3177
Open 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM - Monday - Friday
Open 7:30 AM - Noon - Saturdays
Closed on Sundays
Closed New Year’s, Thanksgiving & Christmas Day
7091 Central Site Lane Newark , MD 21841
Accepts - Newspaper, Mixed Paper, Magazines, Glass, Plastic, Aluminum & Bi-Metal Cans, Cardboard, Metal & White Goods, Yard Waste, Waste Oil & Batteries & Electronics, Textiles (Clothing)

County Schools and office buildings
The county operates a recycling pick-up in all county office buildings and schools. Paper, cardboard, plastic and cans are collected.

Processing and Marketing
Worcester County opened a new $3.5 Million Recycling Processing Center in 2004. Mixed paper, cardboard, glass, plastic & cans are processed and marketed through the Worcester County Recycling Center and is sold to various markets throughout the region.

Municipalities:

• Snow Hill & Berlin have curbside collection serving about 3000 households for glass, cans, Plastics (#1-7), paper and cardboard.

• Snow Hill has 3 drop-off sites that collect newspaper, cans,mixed glass & plastic (#1-7)

• Pocomoke City has 2 drop-off sites that collect newspaper, cans, mixed glass & plastic (#1-7)

Ocean City - The Mayor and City Council voted unanimously to discontinue the Recycling Program. This will take effect the week of April 26, 2010, at which time all recyclables will be diverted back into the waste stream. The Town has contracted with East Coast Resources to transport its Solid Waste. The Town will continue to collect its Solid Waste. It will then be transported to our Transfer Station Facility where it will be loaded onto East Coast Resources tractor-trailers.

This waste will then be transported to a waste facility in Pennsylvania and incinerated. Once incinerated it will be then converted to electricity. As for the properties that were forced to purchase recycling containers, a decision was made to reimburse them on a pro-rated basis. They will be eligible for reimbursement from April 26, 2010 through June 1, 2010. The following explains this procedure:

90-Gallon Containers – Original Cost $75.00
1 Year – 80% - $60.00 – purchased Jan through April 2010
2 Years – 60% - $45.00 – purchased Jan through Dec 2009
3 Years – 40% - $30.00 – purchased Aug 2007 through Dec 2008

300-Gallon Containers – Original Cost $300.00
1 Year – 80% - $240.00 – purchased Jan through April 2010
2 Years – 60% - $180.00 – purchased Jan through Dec 2009
3 Years – 40% - $120.00 – purchased Aug 2007 through Dec 2008

Please call 410.524.0318 for addtional information or questions.

Yard Waste - Homeowners ONLY, equires Home Owners Permit) NO COMMERCIAL OR BUSINESS ALLOWED

Yard waste is only accepted in Berlin, Pocomoke and the Central Landfill. Yard waste consists of leaves (no bags), grass clippings & limbs. No stumps are allowed.

Christmas trees can be dropped off at the transfer stations or the Central Landfill until Jan. 10 each year.  Ocean City also has a drop-off site for Christmas Trees.  

Yard waste and Christmas tress are grinded into mulch and used at the Central Landfill. The county also encourages backyard composting.

Electronics Recycling

Electronic recycling is encouraged and is free for county residents with permits. Electronics disposal does not require a permit - NO commercial or business allowed
All others pay tipping fee of $150.00 per ton.
The following electronics are accepted:
Computers, (cpu’s, keyboard’s, mice, printer’s, circuit board’s ,hard drives and fans), test equipment, cell phones, faxes, VCR’s, copiers, television, scanners, calculators, adding machines, laptops, radios and stereo equipment – no speakers.
Electrical items not accepted:
Refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, kitchen appliances (such as stoves, ovens, toasters, etc.)

Other Items

Waste oil is collected at the Transfer Stations and at the Central Landfill. Ocean Citu waste oil is collected at the 66th Street drop-off location (ONLY LOCATION).
White goods are collected at the Transfer Stations and the Central Landfill.

Commercial Program

Ocean City - The Mayor and City Council voted unanimously to discontinue the Recycling Program. This will take effect the week of April 26, 2010, at which time all recyclables will be diverted back into the waste stream. The Town has contracted with East Coast Resources to transport its Solid Waste. The Town will continue to collect its Solid Waste. It will then be transported to our Transfer Station Facility where it will be loaded onto East Coast Resources tractor-trailers.

This waste will then be transported to a waste facility in Pennsylvania and incinerated. Once incinerated it will be then converted to electricity. As for the properties that were forced to purchase recycling containers, a decision was made to reimburse them on a pro-rated basis. They will be eligible for reimbursement from April 26, 2010 through June 1, 2010. The following explains this procedure:

90-Gallon Containers – Original Cost $75.00
1 Year – 80% - $60.00 – purchased Jan through April 2010
2 Years – 60% - $45.00 – purchased Jan through Dec 2009
3 Years – 40% - $30.00 – purchased Aug 2007 through Dec 2008

300-Gallon Containers – Original Cost $300.00
1 Year – 80% - $240.00 – purchased Jan through April 2010
2 Years – 60% - $180.00 – purchased Jan through Dec 2009
3 Years – 40% - $120.00 – purchased Aug 2007 through Dec 2008

Please call 410.524.0318 for addtional information or questions.

Public Education

The county Recycling Coordinator visits schools, civic groups and other organizations through-out the county to promote recycling in Worcester County .  Tours are also offered in the new Recycling Center . Newspaper advertisements highlight and support local recycling activities.

Special Recycling Programs

The county holds special recycling events through-out the year.
Electronics Recycling, household hazardous waste collections and tire amnesty days are held at various times according to state regulations.  Special advertisements highlight these events. Watch for these ads in the newspapers and on radio.

-Annual Spring Cleanup…This Ocean City program allows residential property owners to do their spring cleaning, discarding bulk items and other debris free of charge. This event is usually held the 3rd weekend in April of each year. For more information, please call the Solid Waste Division @ 410-524-0318.

-Bulk Pickup…This program allows the taxpayers within the corporate limits of Ocean City, to place household items, such as old appliances and furniture at curbside for pickup. THE TOWN OF OCEAN CITY WILL NOT ENTER PRIVATE PROPERTY, SUCH ITEMS MUST BE PLACED BY CURB FOR PICKUP. Service operates Monday thru Friday from May 1st thru September 30th. From October 1st thru April 30th, the service operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The cost is $15.00 for 1-3 items and $5.00 for each additional item. For more information, please call 410-524-0318.

-Christmas Trees Drop-Off…This program allows the taxpayers within the corporate limits of Ocean City, to discard their old Christmas trees. Once dropped off, trees are transported to the Worcester County Landfill to be recycled in the mulching program. Trees are accetped from December 26th thru January 31st. For more information, please call 410-524-0318.

-Oyster Shell Recycling Program…This program was created in conjunction with Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association of Ocean City. The containers for these discarded shells are located @ 65th Street. For more information, please contact Mark Mayers of the Harrison Group at 410-726-5789.

Worcester County Central Landfill

The Worcester County Central Landfill is located between Snow Hill and Newark on Central Site Lane .  The 750 acre site is permitted for 8 cells.

Landfill hours are 8:00 AM–4:00 PM Mon. - Fri., 8-Noon on Saturday, closed on Sundays.  
Commercial Permits are $25.00 each – each vehicle must have its own permit.

Commercial Fees Effective July 1, 2009 , tipping fees are as follows:

Construction and Demolition debris -

$75.00 per ton

Electronics

$150.00 per ton

Trash, Yard Waste, Stumps, Grit, Red Ash and Sludge -

$65.00 per ton

Metal -                                                             

$25.00 per ton

Tires by weight – passenger and light truck -           

$150.00 per ton

Tires by weight – Industrial/Tractor -                            

$450.00 per ton

Tires – Passenger/Light truck – up to 10  

$1.50 each

Tires – Truck tires – up to 10                                          

$6.00 each

House Trailers -                                                             

$300.00 each

Transfer Station Fees :

The Transfer Stations are for homeowners only with proper permit.
No commercial haulers allowed.

Transfer Station permits are $50.00 for the first vehicle and $10.00 for the second vehicle
Additional permits are $50.00 each – Permits must be affixed to vehicle and permit must match tag number. Permits are issued each year by January 1st and will expire December 31st. No pro- rating of fees.
Transfer Stations permits allow the holder to dispose of house hold trash, yard waste – (no stumps), metal, white goods & bulky items such as sofas, chairs and other furniture.  
No construction or demolition debris can be disposed of at the transfer stations.

Ron Taylor - Recycling Manager