Leesburg, VA (June 2, 2026) – The Town of Leesburg, in partnership with the Town’s trash and recycling contractor Patriot Disposal Services, will begin a recycling tagging campaign this month to help improve the quality of materials placed in recycling toters.
While the tagging campaign will involve every collection zone over the next several weeks, not all neighborhoods in the Town will be part of the initial campaign.
The campaign will audit items left out for collection in recycling toters. If unacceptable or improperly prepared materials are found during inspection, an “Oops” tag will be left on residents’ recycling toter handle. The “Oops tag” will explain why the material was not picked up. Residents who receive an “Oops” tag should remove unacceptable materials from their toters prior to placing the them back out for collection. Patriot will return to households that receive an “Oops” tag within two business days.
Recycling toters that are found to contain materials that are eligible for recycling will receive a “Thank You” tag on their toters, and recycling collection will occur as scheduled.
Town staff participating in the toter inspection will be wearing Patriot safety vests with signs noting “Recycling Audit in Progress.”
The campaign is intended to be an educational effort to encourage better understanding of what items are eligible for recycling, and which should be included in trash collection.
“Recycling right is a team effort between the Town and our residents,” stated Sustainability Manager Deb Moran. “When the Town prioritizes education and when we all follow the recycling guidelines, we ensure that what gets put in the blue toters at the curb actually gets recycled. A few seconds to check your toter can make a big difference. We’ve made knowing where to throw your items so easy with Recycle Coach.”
Residents are encouraged to utilize Recycle Coach, a digital platform designed to help residents manage waste and recycling more effectively. Available by downloading the app or by accessing it on the Town website, this innovative tool provides residents with customized collection schedules, recycling guidelines, and educational resources tailored to their specific locations.
More information about Recycle Coach can be found at www.leesburgva.gov/recycling.
Media Contact:
Kara Rodriguez, Public Information Officer
pio@leesburgva.gov □ 703-669-1425
