The Board of Carroll County Commissioners recently named Dusty Hilbert as the new bureau chief of solid waste.
Hilbert has worked in the private sector of the solid waste industry for 21 years, beginning with Delmarva Capital Investments at a regional landfill. Most recently, he worked for Interstate Waste Services and Advanced Disposal as regional environmental compliance manager.
He will be responsible for all recycling and waste operations in Carroll County — including the Northern Landfill and Hoods Mill Landfill — and also will oversee the county's two closed landfills. He will be responsible for managing a staff of 19 people and a budget of $9 million.
The Times caught up with Hilbert to ask him a few questions about his goals as bureau chief and where the future of solid waste in the county is heading.
Q. When did you first apply for the position and why?
A. I applied in August because I had been laid off by my previous employer. I was actively searching for a job and I found a great opportunity here.
Q. A press release stated you currently live in Pennsylvania but are planning on moving to Carroll County. Do any locations stand out?
A. It'll be somewhere in the northern area. I grew up in York, Pa., so I would like to be close to my family there.
Q. What's the biggest difference between working for a private company and government?
A. In private industry, the drive is to make a profit. Working for the county, the purpose is to provide a valuable service to taxpayers.
Q. What's your take on the solid waste system in Carroll County?
A. The county has a lot of great assets. They will soon have a great opportunity to make some short-term and long-term decisions going forward once the solid waste study is finished. With or without me, they have a good chance to make some sound decisions.
Q. The county has Hoods Mill Landfill and the Northern Landfill, but they also have two closed landfills. Are there any plans to reuse them?
A. There are no plans to use them because they are filled to capacity. Plus, they are much older landfills that predate requirements for a liner system.
Q. Where do you think the future of solid waste is heading?
A. I don't have a crystal ball, but with the rapid pace of changing technology, we are at a crossroad. The county needs to either reduce the amount of waste or recyclables or turn that waste into energy or something of value. It may not happen in the next five years but in the next 20 years, yes.
Q. What are you hoping to achieve, and what are your goals as bureau chief?
A. Basically, to provide a valuable service. Coming from the private sector, our goal is to make a profit, protect the environment and be a good steward for the facilities you're operating. Being on the public service side of the equation, I still want to protect the environment, but I also want to provide a service to the people.
Reach staff writer Wiley Hayes at 410-857-3315 or wiley.hayes@carrollcountytimes.com.
