Organic Composting Becomes Mandatory For Laurel Residents After Council Passes Ordinance

LAUREL, MD — Residents in Laurel will be required to separate their organic waste from their trash. The ordinance establishing the organics composting rule will take effect July 1, 2025.

Organic waste has been defined by Laurel officials as food scraps, food waste, food-soiled paper, and compostable plastic. Green waste also will need to be separated out, which includes leaves, grass clippings and other landscape debris, Laurel officials noted.

Laurel will be the first municipality in the state of Maryland to introduce legislation that makes residential composting mandatory. It was approved by the mayor and City Council at the May 22 meeting.

"This type of composting program will reduce the amount of money the city pays to process our waste. I congratulate the City Council for moving forward with this and we will all work together to make sure the community is ready when the program begins in 2025," Mayor Craig A. Moe said.

To help residents prepare for the change, there will be how-to videos offered, in-person community meetings, composting and recycling tips offered on the city's Green Living resources website, and a new cart that helps residents in condo communities compost.