Baltimore County's Days Cove landfill set to close by 2033

The Days Cove Rubble landfill in Baltimore County is set to close by 2033 under a new lease agreement with the state. Residents, however, remain concerned about ongoing environmental issues, particularly the landfill’s request to increase treated leachate discharge into the Gunpowder River.

At a public hearing earlier this year, neighbours strongly opposed the permit, pushing back against plans to raise the discharge volume. The landfill has since withdrawn its request to increase the limit to 25,000 gallons, though the permit application itself remains under review.

The landfill’s current lease will stay in place until a new one is finalised. Under the proposed terms, the site would close within eight years or less, allowing the Department of Natural Resources to cap the landfill and prepare the area for public use. Once remediated, the land is expected to be developed into a park.

The previous lease lasted a decade, and over the past 30 years, the state has collected roughly £20 million in lease payments from the site. Final approval of the new lease and closure date still requires sign-off from the state board of public works, with the next meeting scheduled for January. Despite the withdrawal of the increased discharge request, residents continue to voice concerns about water quality. The landfill’s existing permit remains active, meaning treated leachate will still flow into the river—just not at the higher volume originally proposed.

The landfill will keep operating under its current terms until a new lease is signed. If approved, the site would close by 2033, with the state committing to capping and repurposing the area. The board of public works will review the final agreement at its January meeting.