A Tour of Ocean City’s Composting and Recycling Innovations
On Friday, September 12, MRN members and guests took a behind-the-scenes tour of two Maryland Eastern Shore facilities leading the way in composting and recycling.

The tours highlighted how Ocean City and Worcester County are leading the way in environmental stewardship and waste reduction, offering a powerful reminder of how local leadership, community involvement, and smart engineering can come together to create environmental change.
Ocean City Compost Program: Pioneering Zero-Waste Tourism
Our first stop was the
Ocean City Compost Program, a groundbreaking initiative helping Ocean City become the first zero-waste resort town in the United States. This effort is spearheaded by
Go Green OC, a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit that has partnered with 24 local restaurants and businesses, all of whom have recognized that composting is not only more affordable than traditional waste disposal methods (i.e., landfilling or incineration), but also far better for the environment.
To date,
Go Green OC has composted over 1.25 million pounds of waste.

During the tour,
Josh Chamberlain, the founder of
Go Green OC, shared the organization’s mission and its evolution. With the help of dedicated volunteers,
Go Green OC has expanded its reach to include local festivals, drawing more visitors and raising awareness about sustainable practices.
We also met
Garvey Heiderman, Director of Compost Operations, lifelong Ocean City resident, and owner of
The Hobbit Restaurant. Garvey founded
Ocean Compost, and through his partnership with
Go Green OC, has successfully diverted hundreds of thousands of pounds of food waste from his restaurant alone.
Garvey walked us through the design and operation of the composting site, emphasizing the critical role volunteers play in keeping the system running. His commitment to sustainability has made a significant impact on reducing food waste in Ocean City.
Worcester County Recycling Center: A Model for Regional Recycling

Our second stop was the
Worcester County Recycling Center located in Newark, MD, where residents from Snow Hill, Berlin, Pocomoke City and Ocean City have access to a full range of recycling services.
Bob Keenan, Recycling Manager for the Solid Waste Division of Public Works, gave us a tour of the $3.5 million material recycling facility (MRF), which has been operating since 2004. The center processes cardboard, aluminum, bi-metal, plastic, and mixed paper, which are sorted, baled, and sold to various companies.
One of the most innovative aspects of the facility is its use of recycled glass. Most types and colors of glass are repurposed at the landfill for road surface compaction, washout, and drainage around wells, reducing the need for expensive stone. The county is also collaborating with engineers and neighboring counties to explore additional uses for recycled glass.

In addition to traditional recyclables, the center also collects electronics, batteries, appliances, oyster shells, and motor oil for recycling, making it a comprehensive hub for sustainable waste management.
The best part of the day was the chance to meet with industry peers on the Eastern Shore while engaging in lively discussion and an exchange of ideas. We even got a bit of exercise—dodging blasts used to scare off seagulls that roost near the facilities. The goal? To avoid getting pelted with... well, you know what!
A special thank you to our tour guides
Josh Chamberlain,
Garvey Heiderman, and
Bob Keenan for taking the time to show us around.
Check out all the pictures from both tours!