News Release: Town Expands Food Waste Composting Program with Second Drop-Off Location

Leesburg, VA (November 10, 2026) – The Town of Leesburg has expanded its food waste composting pilot program with the installation of a second drop-off site, giving residents another convenient option for disposing of food scraps sustainably.

The Town’s first food waste composting site opened in December 2024 at the Liberty Street parking lot, located at 204 Liberty Street SW. Since its installation, the site has collected over 35 tons of food waste for composting, diverting organic materials from the landfill.

The new drop-off site is located at Tuscarora Creek Park, 425 Solitude Ct. SE, and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is free for Town residents and provides an environmentally friendly alternative to throwing food scraps in the trash.

According to the Town’s Sustainability Manager Deb Moran, composting food scraps reduces methane emissions from landfills and creates nutrient-rich material that improves soil health, supports plant growth, reduces the need for fertilizers and helps store carbon.

“Residents have strongly supported food waste composting and remain committed to disposing of food scraps sustainably,” Moran said. “We’re excited to bring this service to more areas of Town and hope to double the amount of food waste diverted from the landfill.”

Residents can use either drop-off site by transporting their food scraps and emptying them directly into the composting bins. If using a bag to transport food scraps, residents must use a compostable bag certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) or the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). Bags and other containers must not be left at the sites. To help keep the areas clean, residents should place food scraps directly into the bins and never leave bags of food waste outside the containers.

Both sites are for residential food waste only. Because the materials are processed commercially, the program accepts items such as meat and dairy products that are not typically suitable for backyard composting. Yard waste, recycling, and trash are not accepted.

For more information about the composting program, including a list of accepted and prohibited items, visit www.leesburgva.gov/composting. Information about the Town’s yard waste, trash and recycling collection schedules is available at www.leesburgva.gov.

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