Maryland Department of the Environment

What Maryland Department of the Environment does

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is a Maryland state executive-branch agency founded in 1987 and headquartered at 1800 Washington Blvd, Baltimore, with five additional field offices covering Central Maryland, Western Maryland, and the Eastern Shore. The agency regulates air quality, water resources, land protection, climate programs, and environmental emergencies across the state, employing between 501 and 1,000 staff. Its operational core includes the Ambient Air Monitoring Program (criteria pollutants, air toxics, AQI reporting, and 3D air-shed photochemical grid/dispersion modeling), the Water and Science Administration (Chesapeake Bay TMDL, Bay Restoration Fund, stormwater, dam safety), the Wetlands and Waterways Protection Program, and the Land and Materials Administration (recycling, eCycling, animal feeding operations, oil control, brownfields).

MDE's technology stack centers on regulatory monitoring and permitting infrastructure rather than commercial product development: ArcGIS-based geospatial dashboards, an online Environmental Service Center for permit submission and electronic payment (launched May 2026), EPA ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager integration for building benchmarking, and GovDelivery for public notifications. Because MDE is a public-sector entity, it generates no product revenue in the conventional sense. Funding flows through Maryland state appropriations and federal grants, supplemented by permit application fees, processing fees, and impact fees across categories such as CAFO/MAFO permits, wetlands and waterways permits, and water management permits. New fee schedules are scheduled to take effect July 2026. The agency also administers large pass-through funding programs, including $15 million announced in Bay Restoration Funds (June 2026) and $17 million in Clean Water Commerce funding (May 2026).

Its served "customers" are the regulated community and the general public: over 9,000 buildings subject to BEPS, packaging and paper producers under the new EPR program, agricultural operations, permit applicants across all environmental media, and Maryland residents accessing recycling, eCycling, and emergency reporting services. Recent strategic additions include the PaintCare paint recycling partnership (April 2026), the Building Energy Performance Standards (September 2025), the Extended Producer Responsibility program (May 2026), and an active litigation posture against DC Water over the 240-million-gallon Potomac Interceptor sewage spill.

Name

Maryland Department of the Environment

Legal name

Maryland Department of the Environment

Website

https://mde.maryland.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Maryland Department of the Environment is a Maryland state government agency headquartered in Baltimore that regulates air quality, water resources, land protection, and climate programs. Founded in 1987, it serves residents, businesses, and regulated entities through permitting, environmental monitoring, emergency response, and statewide recycling and stewardship programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Permit and Fee Services: The agency collects fees for various environmental permits including pollution permits for animal feeding operations, wetland permits, water management permits, and other regulatory services. Revenue is generated through application fees, processing fees, and impact fees for various environmental permits and licenses.
2. Federal and State Funding Programs: MDE administers various federal and state funded programs including Bay Restoration Fund ($15 million announced June 2026 for septic system upgrades), Clean Water Commerce funding ($17 million for county projects), and receives federal grants for environmental programs.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is a state regulatory agency that protects public health and the environment in Maryland through permitting, environmental monitoring, and enforcement. It administers programs covering air quality, water supply and quality, wetlands and waterways, solid waste and recycling, radiation control, and climate initiatives, while operating a 24/7 environmental emergency response service.

Product overview

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is a state regulatory agency providing environmental protection programs and services across Maryland. The organization operates multiple interconnected core programs including the Ambient Air Monitoring Program (measuring criteria pollutants and providing AQI forecasting), the Wetlands and Waterways Protection Program (regulating tidal/nontidal wetland activities through permitting), and the Water and Science Administration (overseeing water supply, wastewater, TMDL, Bay Restoration Fund, and stormwater programs). MDE also administers recycling initiatives including the eCycling program for electronics and the PaintCare paint recycling program launched in 2026. Recent major programs include the Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) implemented in September 2025 and the Extended Producer Responsibility program for packaging and paper products finalized in May 2026. MDE provides an online Environmental Service Center for electronic permit applications, and operates 24/7 environmental emergency response services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ambient Air Monitoring Program Measures ground-level concentrations of criteria pollutants and air toxics, along with meteorological parameters, and provides daily air quality forecasts and real-time AQI reporting for public health protection.
• Wetlands and Waterways Protection Program Regulates the draining, dredging, and filling of tidal and nontidal wetlands, nontidal wetland buffers, and waterways including the nontidal 100-year floodplain through a permitting process coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• Water and Science Administration Oversees water supply, wastewater permits, water quality, TMDL implementation, Bay Restoration Fund, stormwater management, dam safety, and flood management programs across Maryland.
• Recycling Program Statewide recycling oversight program that enforces recycling policies, tracks recycling and waste diversion data, and regulates solid waste and recycling facilities.
• eCycling (Electronics Recycling) Statewide electronics recycling program requiring certain electronic device manufacturers to register and provide free takeback programs, keeping harmful materials like lead, mercury, and arsenic out of the environment.
• Bay Restoration Fund Provides funding for septic system upgrades and sewer connections to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay, administering the Upgrading Septic Systems program.
• Environmental Service Center Online portal for submitting tidal, nontidal wetlands, and nontidal waterway construction applications electronically, paying associated fees, and tracking application status.
• Extended Producer Responsibility Program for Packaging and Paper Products Regulatory program requiring producers of packaging and paper products to register with MDE and develop producer responsibility plans. Producers must register by July 1, 2026, with sales ban beginning October 29, 2028 for non-compliant producers.
• PaintCare Paint Recycling Program Statewide paint recycling program operated by PaintCare, enabling households and businesses to drop off leftover paint at retail stores and government facilities, funded by fees on new paint sales.
• Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) Building energy performance standards requiring properties 35,000+ square feet to report energy benchmarking data, with phased emissions reduction targets of 20% by 2030, 40% by 2035, and net-zero by 2040.
• Chesapeake Bay TMDL Implementation Total Maximum Daily Load implementation program for the Chesapeake Bay, coordinating state efforts to meet EPA-mandated pollution reduction targets.
• Environmental Emergency Response 24/7 emergency response service for reporting oil or chemical spills, pollution accidents, fish kills, algae blooms, sewer overflows, and radiation incidents.
• Pollution Permit for Animal Feeding Operations Permitting service issuing pollution permits for animal feeding operations (CAFOs and MAFOs) for poultry and other livestock operations, replacing permits that expired in July 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% waste diversion rate achieved in Maryland
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PaintCarecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2026PaintCare, a nonprofit created by paint companies through the American Coatings Association, operates Maryland's statewide paint recycling program under a 2024 bipartisan paint stewardship law. MDE provides oversight of the program which enables households and businesses to drop off leftover paint at retail stores and government facilities. The program expects to collect approximately 350,000 gallons of paint in its first year.
• DC WatercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 19 January 2026DC Water owns and operates the Potomac Interceptor sewer line that collapsed in January 2026, releasing approximately 240 million gallons of raw sewage. DC Water completed an emergency bypass system and is leading cleanup efforts under MDE oversight. MDE and EPA have filed separate lawsuits against DC Water for accountability and cleanup costs.
• Circular Action AlliancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Maryland's designated Producer Responsibility Organization for the Extended Producer Responsibility program for packaging and paper products. Producers can register through Circular Action Alliance or directly with MDE. The organization manages producer registration and responsibility plan compliance.
• Constellation EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Constellation Energy received water quality certification from MDE for the re-licensing and continued operation of the Conowingo Hydroelectric Dam. MDE's certification is required for the dam's continued operation under federal licensing requirements.
• Maryland Energy AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025MDE and the Maryland Energy Administration are jointly developing additional programs including Clean Heat Rules expected by end of 2027, in response to federal policy changes on energy efficiency funding. The two agencies coordinate on state energy efficiency efforts.
• EPA Clean Corridor CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 September 2024The Clean Corridor Coalition received a $249 million grant from the EPA to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure along the I-95 corridor from Connecticut to Maryland. MDE participates as a key stakeholder in the Maryland portion of this multi-state initiative.
• American Coatings AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Created PaintCare nonprofit organization to manage state paint recycling programs, including Maryland's program launched April 2026. The American Coatings Association supports the paint stewardship model through this affiliated organization.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA): California's cabinet-level environmental regulatory agency with analogous scope over air, water, waste, and climate. Direct structural peer to MDE with a comparable program mix (Air Resources Board, Water Boards, DPR, DTSC) but operating at roughly 10x the scale and with greater federal-state friction history.
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC): New York's primary state environmental regulator with similar responsibilities across air, water, land, recycling, and climate. Direct functional peer to MDE in terms of regulatory programs, permitting authority, and environmental emergency response.
• Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP): Pennsylvania's primary state environmental regulatory agency governing air quality, water quality, waste management, mining, and radiation protection. Closest geographic and structural peer to MDE among Chesapeake-region state environmental agencies.
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ): Texas's primary environmental regulatory agency with analogous scope over air, water, waste, and permitting. Comparable to MDE in regulatory mandate breadth but operates in a more industry-friendly policy environment, providing strategic contrast.
• Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ): Virginia's primary state environmental agency with direct regulatory adjacency to MDE on Chesapeake Bay TMDL, water quality, air permitting, and stormwater. Shares MDE's multi-state coordination burden on Chesapeake Bay restoration.
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP): Florida's primary environmental regulatory agency with responsibility for air, water, wetlands, and ecosystems. Direct peer in environmental regulatory mandate, differing primarily in coastal/ecosystem priorities versus Maryland's Chesapeake focus.
• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP): New Jersey's primary state environmental regulator with closely analogous responsibility mix — air, water, land, recycling, climate, and contaminated site cleanup. Structural peer to MDE in mid-Atlantic regulatory scope.
• Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA): Ohio's standalone state environmental agency (separate from Health) with full air, water, and waste regulatory authority. Direct structural analog to MDE among large industrial-state environmental regulators.
• Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP): Massachusetts's primary state environmental regulatory agency covering air, water, waste, and climate. Peer to MDE in regulatory ambition, particularly on building decarbonization, and in operating under EPA Region 1 oversight.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Federal environmental regulator that delegates much of its state implementation authority to agencies like MDE and jointly files enforcement actions (e.g., Potomac Interceptor lawsuit). Broad incumbent in MDE's operating space as the federal counterpart for delegated programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MDEnvironment
• Facebookfacebook.com/MDEnvironment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Maryland Department of the Environment