Organics Recycling
Dear Resident!
The City of Laurel is committed to finding ways to help residents live by the three R’s of recycling – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. With that in mind, Mayor Craig A. Moe has asked the Department of Public Works to initiate a pilot program for organics recycling. Public Works has purchased small kitchen composting containers, with a charcoal filter to reduce odors, compostable bags for the kitchen container and an outside composting toter with a locking lid.
There are many benefits to organics recycling – beyond reducing landfill waste. The organics collected from your homes during this pilot program will be converted into organic compost. Organic compost, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, many of which can be harmful to the environment (and to the fish, animals and humans that live in it); enriches soil, helping retain moisture and suppress plant diseases and pests and reduces methane emissions from landfills and lowers your carbon footprint.
The City of Laurel and Mayor Craig A. Moe would like to invite you to be a part of this NEW organics recycling program and help reduce wasted food and turn it into a valuable and environmentally safe resource. Residents can volunteer for this program by contacting the Department of Public Works by email at [email protected] or by calling (301)725-0088.
We appreciate you being part of the City of Laurel’s efforts to reduce waste brought to landfills by participating in our NEW organics recycling program.
Sincerely,
Mayor Craig A. Moe
How to do Organics Recycling and Composting with the City
If you want to volunteer for the Organics Recycling and Composting pilot program please call the Department of Public Works at 301-725-0088 or send an email to [email protected] and let us know:
- Your Name
- Your Address
- Your Phone Number
- Your email addresss
The City will deliver to your address:
- One Green 2-Gallon counter-top composting bin with filter
- One Beige/Brown 35-Gallon outdoor composting toter
- Ten 3-Gallon bioldegradeable composting bags (As you run out of organics recycling bags contact Public Works for more. Do NOT use plastic bags for composting). If you want to purchase your own larger bags you can purchase them from MES approved Venders.
- An Information packet on what is and is not compostable.
Organics Recycling will be picked up on Your One and Done day!
When you receive your composting containers you will need to do some assembly. Place the smell-reducing filter in the lid of your 2-gallon counter-top bin. Attach the lid to the container. Place one 3-Gallon composting bag into your bin to keep your bin clean. As the bags become full,place them in your 35-gallon beige composting container. Once a week on your one and done day place your beige composting container at the curb-side for pickup.
What is Compostable?
| Fuits and Vegetables | Dairy Products - Milk, butter, cheese - No containers! |
| Bread, pasta, grains (no raw dough) | Seafood (including shellfish) |
| Eggs and Egg Shells | Paper Towels, Napkins - kitchen only |
| Coffee grounds and filters (no "Keurig style" cups) | Paper plates - only uncoated or compostable |
| Tea bags - loose tea | Food-soiled newspaper |
| Meat (including bones) | Pizza boxes - clean or "greasy" |
| Corrugated fruit and vegetable boxes | Paper bags (uncoated) with or without food scraps |
| Paper icecream containers | Leftover and spoiled food |
| Compostable bags | Approved compostable tableware |
| Grass and Leaves (no sticks or branches) | Animal hair and dryer lint |
Leaping Bunny Products
Cleaning products with the Leaping Bunny logo are organic and paper towels used with these products CAN be put in your composting container.
What is not Compostable?
There are a few compostable things we are not accepting in our composting and a few non-compostable items you might think are compostable but are not. Please do NOT put the following in your Organics Recycling and Composting containers:
- Yard Debris. Please request a Yard Debris pickup.
- Animal feces.
- Paper plates, paper cartons, and paper containers with a thin waxy or plastic lining.
- Paper Towels used for cleaning with chemical cleaning products.
Composting Containers
The City's own Mayor Moe found a very nice double-wide kitchen refuse and composting container available on Amazon
