On Nov. 11, 2025, Reworld Montgomery, Inc. (Reworld), the operator of the County’s Resource Recovery Facility (RRF), received preliminary results from an annual stack test indicating an exceedance of the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) permit limit for dioxins and furans from Unit 3, one of the facility’s three boilers. The compliance tests occurred on Sept. 24 and 25 of 2025. Following six weeks of analysis by Testar Engineering, Reworld was provided with test results showing Unit 3 total dioxins and furans averaged 54.8 ng/dscm at 7% oxygen, exceeding the limit of 30 ng/dscm at 7% oxygen.   

According to Reworld, after receiving the September stack test results on Nov. 11, Reworld inspected Unit 3 to identify potential factors that could have contributed to this exceedance. On Nov. 13, Reworld notified MDE of the September test results. MDE then issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to Reworld. The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was notified of the test results on Nov. 14, after the unit had been shut down.  

Reworld reported that their inspection of Unit 3 revealed a significant tear in an inaccessible area of the baghouse, which is meant to filter and trap pollutants. Reworld completed repairs to Unit 3 and conducted an engineering test of the unit on Dec. 1, which measured dioxins and furans within the allowable range. Reworld is in the process of bringing Unit 3 back online to perform new stack testing.  

DEP takes the health and safety of residents very seriously and has requested information from Reworld through the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority (NMWDA). NMWDA owns the RRF and holds a contract with Reworld for the operation of the facility, benefiting the County. In addition, DEP will utilize third-party professionals to evaluate possible health risks. DEP will provide additional information to the public as it becomes available.  

Since 1995, the Resource Recovery Facility, located in Dickerson, MD has processed approximately 600,000 tons per year of the County’s waste.

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Media Contact: Cindy Peña, Celinda.Peñ[email protected]