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1. Why is the County offering a Curbside Organics Composting Program, and why should I participate?

Collecting food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings at the curb will help keep valuable materials that are not waste out of our landfill, reduce excessive methane greenhouse gas emissions, protect our environment and help Prince George’s County get closer to our zero waste goals. Composting also creates a nutrient-rich soil amendment that improves soil health and function.

2. What can I compost?

There are a variety of materials that can be composted, including yard trim, leaves, grass and brush, and food. A few examples of food items include fruits and vegetables, cooked meats, leftovers, bones, eggs and eggshells, dairy (no liquids), seafood and shellfish, baked goods, coffee filters and grounds, tea bags and loose tea leaves, soiled paper napkins and pizza boxes.  Visit mypgc.us/compost to view a list of unacceptable items.

PGC Composts

3. How can I participate?

Eligible residents will receive information in the mail that provides details on opting in. After opting in, participants will receive a starter kit that includes a 2-gallon kitchen countertop pail, an exterior 32-gallon wheeled cart, educational materials, and a refrigerator magnet listing the acceptable organics items for composting. Food scraps must be placed inside of the organics cart for collection. Food may be contained in paper yard trim bags, compostable liners, or combined with yard trim in the organics cart. All materials in the starter kit and more information can be found on the PGC Composts page. 

PGC Composts

4. Can I compost leftover cooking grease and oil?

We do not accept fats, oils, and leftover grease in the composting program. These items can be recycled at the County’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Acceptance Site located at the Brown Station Road Sanitary Landfill, 11611 White House Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774. The facility is open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday only from 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

HHW Acceptance Site

5. How do I compost my food scraps?

Participants should place their food scraps or leftovers into the kitchen pail. Empty the contents into the exterior wheeled cart and place at the curb by 6 a.m. Please ensure your organics cart is visible and accessible from the street. The County recommends participants purchase 3-gallon compostable liners for the kitchen pail available at local retail stores. A list of tested and approved compostable liners is available online at mypgc.us/compost.

PGC Composts

6. What happens to my organic materials (food scraps and yard trim) once they are collected?

All organic materials are transported to the Prince George’s County Organics Composting Facility (OCF) for processing. Materials are placed in a large pile where they decompose and are transformed into a rich soil amendment, marketed and sold in bulk as Leafgro GOLD®.

7. How is the Curbside Organics Composting Program different from backyard composting?

The County’s program accepts materials that are not generally recommended in or suitable for backyard composting. However, residents that currently compost at home are still encouraged to do so.

8. How do I control odors?

You can help prevent odors by rinsing out the kitchen pail and hosing out the wheeled cart after each collection.  

Participants can also place their “wet” materials in a large container and keep that container in the refrigerator or freezer before placing them in the exterior wheeled cart prior to collection on Monday morning.

9. How do I report a missed organics, food scraps and yard trim collection?

To report a missed Prince George’s County-provided organics, food scraps, and yard trim collection, contact PGC311: online at mypgc.us/pgc311 or by dialing 3-1-1 (if in the County) or 301-883-4748 (if out of the County). 

PGC311 will create a Service Request (SR) for you with an associated ticket number. This information applies only to collections provided by Prince George’s County. If your collection contract is directly between you and a hauling company or arranged by your homeowners' association or municipality, contact the company, association, or municipality directly.

PGC311