District residents can drop off food waste to be composted at designated farmers markets and community sites. The drop-off locations are open on weekends in all eight wards; see the list below for details. A Food Waste Drop-Off site may be closed if the farmers market hosting it is also closed; please check the market's website for specific dates.
Where Can I Participate?
Download the MetroKey App and register to use the smart bin
Through this free service, residents can drop off food waste at designated farmers markets and community sites in all eight wards. The food waste collected at these drop-off sites is composted locally at the Prince George’s County Organics Composting facility.
Complete List of Items Accepted in the Food Waste Drop-Off Program
- Fruit, vegetable scraps, and salad
- Coffee grounds, loose tea, and paper tea bags,
- Bread, grains, cereals, rice, and pasta
- Milk, cheese, and other dairy products
- Meat and seafood scraps (cooked or uncooked) and bones
- Eggshells
- Nutshells
- Corncobs
- Stale beans, flour, and spices
- Cut and dried flowers
- Pumpkins, gourds, and squash
- Fats, grease, or oil
- Plastic bags, wraps, or film
- Coated or uncoated paper and cardboard (paper bags, plates, bowls)
- Non-compostable materials like plastic, metals, foil, glass, or "styrofoam"
- Pet refuse
- Diseased or insect-infested houseplants and soil
- Biodegradable plastics and biodegradable or compostable packaging
How to Bring Your Food Waste to a Food Waste Drop-Off Site
Acceptable food scraps and organic materials can be collected in covered plastic containers or paper/plastic bags. When you arrive at the Food Waste Drop-Off location, you can empty your food waste from the container into the available bins. Paper towels, spatulas, and hand sanitizer are provided for your convenience. Please keep in mind that plastic bags are NOT recyclable in the District.
We recommend rinsing plastic containers holding food waste between uses and lining the bottom with shredded newspapers to control odor. Another tip for controlling odors is to store food scraps in the freezer or refrigerator.
Can Businesses Drop Off Materials to Compost?
Commercial food scraps are not accepted. Businesses should contact a local hauler who can handle commercial organic waste.
