Baltimore County Scrambles to Clear Roads, Restore Trash Collection

Officials say progress is being made, but thousands of complaints remain

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Despite thousands of complaints from residents, Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier said the county is making progress clearing roadways while crews continue to work around the clock to remove snow and ice. The county's Department of Public Works and Transportation Director Lauren Buckler reported they've received 3,800 complaints since the snow started, but have reduced the number of open issues to 1,100, with plans to bring in more contractors to help.

Why it matters

The heavy snowfall has caused significant disruptions to daily life in Baltimore County, with impassable roads and delays in trash collection. Restoring basic services and access is crucial for residents to be able to safely navigate their communities.

The details

Klausmeier and county officials held a news conference to provide an update on the snow removal efforts. Buckler said they've made significant progress, but still have 1,100 open complaints that they are working to resolve by calling in additional contractors. Nick Rodricks, Chief of the Bureau of Solid Waste, said they have had 800 issues called in for trash collection and have resolved around 600, noting they will collect bagged trash this coming week even if it is not in a can.

  • The snow started falling in Baltimore County on February 5, 2026.

The players

Kathy Klausmeier

The Baltimore County Executive overseeing the snow removal and trash collection efforts.

Lauren Buckler

The Director of the Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation, responsible for coordinating the snow removal operations.

Nick Rodricks

The Chief of the Bureau of Solid Waste in Baltimore County, managing the trash collection services.

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What they’re saying

“Every road in Baltimore County needs to be passable and every household needs to have reliable trash collection.”

— Kathy Klausmeier, Baltimore County Executive (wbal.com)

“We are calling back in contractors to help us with those 1,100 that are still open.”

— Lauren Buckler, Director, Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation (wbal.com)

“We require that trash is set in a can, but we will collect it this coming week if it is only in a bag.”

— Nick Rodricks, Chief, Bureau of Solid Waste, Baltimore County (wbal.com)

What’s next

The county plans to continue its around-the-clock efforts to clear roads and restore trash collection services in the coming days.

The takeaway

This snow event has highlighted the importance of Baltimore County's infrastructure and services, and the need for robust emergency preparedness to ensure residents can safely navigate their communities during severe weather.