Howard County News

Get ready for it. The Mayor and City Council have approved an ordinance that will make it mandatory for residents to separate their organic waste from the trash.

Organic waste is defined as food scraps, food waste, food-soiled paper, and compostable plastic. You’ll also have to separate out green waste too. That’s your leaves, grass clippings, and other landscape debris.

The City of Laurel is 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, 2023 meeting.

Don’t worry though. You’ll have some time to get used to the new rules. The ordinance doesn’t take effect until July 1, 2025.

Mayor Craig A. Moe says, “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.”

You can expect:

· an increase in how to videos.

· face-to-face community meetings ( by request) .

· composting and recycling tips on the City of Laurel Green Living resources page.

· a new cart that will allow residents in condo communities to compost.

If you have any questions about the benefits of composting, how to sign up, education and outreach, or would like to have a presentation given to your HOA, contact Michele Blair, the City of Laurel Environmental Programs Manager, at greenliving@laurel.md.us or call 301-725-5300.

Original source can be found here.