Recycling in Wicomico County: Fact vs. Fiction

And that’s just the start. At the Wicomico County Landfill, residents can recycle a wide variety of items beyond the usual plastics and glass, including yard waste, batteries, clothing, scrap metal, propane tanks, and even oyster shells—all without needing a household permit. See the full list of what can be recycled on their website. 

While the infrastructure is strong, Jennifer shares that the real challenge isn’t whether recycling is happening – it’s wish-cycling. This occurs when people toss non-recyclable items into the bins, hoping they’ll somehow be recycled. Common culprits include plastic food clamshells, coffee cups, and other plastics that aren’t #1 or #2 narrow-neck items. See examples of items that were wish-cycled marked with a red X in the middle image above. Jennifer notes that in a typical load of plastics, more than half of the material isn’t actually recyclable, creating extra work and costs for the county. On top of that, many residents still bundle their recyclables in plastic trash bags, which are also not recyclable in the county. Each bag must be cut open before sorting, which slows the process considerably. 

Another challenge that often sparks misconceptions is the market for recycled plastics. Jennifer explained that while Wicomico County does recycle plastics, the demand and pricing for certain materials, especially plastics, can fluctuate. When prices are too low, the county holds onto baled plastics until a more reasonable price makes it worthwhile to sell. This sometimes gives the false impression that recycling isn't happening when, in fact, the materials are simply being stored. The larger issue, Jennifer emphasized, is that the market for plastics has never been strong, and recycling alone cannot solve the problem of our single-use culture. Take a plastic coffee cup for example: fossil fuels are used to create it, it is packaged and transported, and yet it only serves its purpose for about an hour. Truly addressing the plastics problem requires rethinking convenience culture and reducing our reliance on single-use items in the first place. 

Wicomico County is recycling but it’s important to recognize that every resident has a role to play in keeping the system efficient and effective. By reducing our reliance on single-use plastics, sticking to the accepted materials, and avoiding wish-cycling, we can help ensure that our county’s recycling program stays strong and effective.

This article is cross-posted in our August Midstream Monthly newsletter. Subscribe to the newsletter to get stories like these in your inbox.