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Food Waste Composting

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About Composting

Compost is an important sustainable practice. Removing food waste from the trash stream reduces methane (a greenhouse gas emission associated with organic matter) in the landfill and instead creates organic material that provides many essential nutrients for plant growth. This helps strengthen the soil structure and limits the need for fertilizer, which can damage streams and rivers during run off. Healthy soil can also become a “carbon sink” which absorbs and stores greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere.

Waste does not naturally exist in nature. Managing our food waste locally is an essential part of a sustainable future.

Food Waste Composting at Home

Some food waste can be composted at home. The Town has created these resources for at home composters

Food Waste Composting Drop-Off

If at home composting is not your thing, the Town of Leesburg offers residents a convenient food waste drop-off site that is accessible 24/7. The service is free of charge. Residents simply transport their materials to the drop-off site and empty them into the bins.

The Town of Leesburg is excited to give residents the opportunity to have a sustainable solution for food waste disposal. Use our Food Scrap Drop Off Site at the Liberty St Lot - 204 Liberty St SW.

Total Food Waste Diverted from Landfill 25.17 tons
2025 Total Food Waste Diverted 31,264 lbs 
2026 Year to Date of Food Waste Diverted 15,911 lbs
Composting - Monster Organics

Step-by-step Instructions

  1. Separate your accepted food scraps into a container.
    • If you're using a bag, make sure it is compostable (BPI or OMRI certified ONLY).
  2. Stop by our drop off center at the Liberty Street Parking Lot (204 Liberty Street SW) and empty your scraps.
    • Please DO NOT leave containers at the site.
    • Compostable bags (BPI or OMRI certified ONLY) may be disposed in the compost bins.
  3. Repeat.

"Live in Leesburg" - Food Composting

Learn about the Town's free residential composting program, which allows residents to utilize a 24/7 drop-off site in the Liberty Street parking lot. Watch a video about Food Composting.

About Monster Organics

Monster Organics collects and processes the food waste from our drop off site. Each week they empty the full bins into their truck, wash the bins and add new compostable liners.

Logo of Monster Organics.

Acceptable Food Waste

Only place acceptable food waste into the community compost bin. Compostable liners containing food items are okay to place in the bin. Compostable liners must be BPI or OMRI certified. Compostable liners are not required, but if food waste is transferred in another container, it must be emptied from the container. Please DO NOT leave the container at the site. DO NOT place plastic bags in the bins.

Acceptable

  • Fruit and vegetable scraps
  • Pasta, bread, cereal
  • Egg shells
  • Meat and dairy
  • Bones
  • Coffee grounds, coffee filters and tea bags
  • Paper towels and paper towel rolls
  • Soiled paper food packaging
  • Pizza boxes
  • Flour and sugar bags
  • Baking ingredients, herbs, spices
  • Household plants including soil
  • Items labeled BPI Certified Compostable
  • Items labeled ASTM D6868 or D6400

Not Accepted

  • Any PLASTIC (unless labeled BPI or OMRI certified compostable)
  • Styrofoam meat trays
  • Aluminum foil
  • Candles, synthetic corks and gum
  • Dental floss & Q-tips
  • Dryer lint sheets
  • Disposable mop sheets
  • Vacuum cleaner bags
  • Hair, pet fur, pet waste
  • Dead animals (such as pets, roadkill, caught )
  • Fireplace or BBQ ashes
  • Recyclable materials
  • Items labeled biodegradable
  • Items labeled Oxo-Biodegradable

Contact Information

For questions regarding this program, please contact Sustainability Manager Deb Moran at dmoran@leesburgva.gov or Trash@leesburgva.gov.