The Valparaiso compost site, 2150 W. Lincolnway, will be closed to the public Thursday, July 4, in recognition of Independence Day.
The Valparaiso site will reopen at 9 a.m. Friday, July 5. The site is owned and operated by the City of Valparaiso, and the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County helps to maintain it and staff the guard house. Regular operating hours for the Valpo site are Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Boone Grove compost site, owned and operated by the district, is normally closed on Thursdays. Regular operating hours for the Boone Grove site are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The compost sites allow the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County and select municipalities to manage organic material, composting yard waste and grinding organic wood waste to create large amounts of finished compost and mulch. The resulting compost and mulch are available free to Porter County residents to use, while supplies last.
Porter County residents should call the District, 465-3694, to determine site access during inclement weather and material availability. Residents should bring their own shovels and containers to load as much compost and mulch as they want.
Both sites accept organic yard waste, leaves, garden and household plants, brush, limbs, logs and firewood. Residents must remove bags and other containers upon dropping off materials. No treated wood or lumber of any kind is accepted. Grass is only accepted at the Boone Grove site.
Other materials accepted for recycling at both sites include: household batteries, old electronics (cell phones and accessories, computers, televisions, anything with an electrical cord or operated by batteries), fluorescent light bulbs (tubes and CFLs), toner cartridges, and old media (CDs, video cassettes, etc.).
The Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County is a government agency dedicated to improving the environment and quality of life for Porter County residents by providing convenient, voluntary waste reduction programs.
The district promotes environmental stewardship among individuals and businesses through education programs, waste reduction services and other outreach programs to meet the statutory waste reduction goals set by the State of Indiana.
For more information on the compost sites or the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County, visit www.ItMeansTheWorld.org or call 219-465-3694.