Free Compost Loading, ‘How-To’ Books to Celebrate International Compost Awareness Week

Compost-Awareness-WeekThe City of Valparaiso and the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County invite residents to take advantage of getting their trucks loaded with compost for free during International Compost Awareness Week.

The city’s Public Works Department will be available to load compost for Porter County residents from 9 a.m. to noon May 6 through 11, at the Valparaiso compost site, 2150 W. Lincolnway. Residents are limited to three yards per load, while supplies last. Businesses are not eligible for free loading.

The Valpo compost site is a large scale municipal composting operation that offers Porter County residents the opportunity to drop off their yard waste for recycling. The district partners with the city to manage the organic material, composting yard waste and grinding organic wood waste to create large amounts of finished compost and mulch.

Regular hours for the Valpo compost site are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

To mark International Compost Awareness Week, complimentary “how-to” books on backyard composting also will be available at the Valpo compost site, as well as the district’s Boone Grove compost site, 400 West 550 South, which is open from noon to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

More information about the public compost sites and what is accepted at each one is available on the district's website, www.ItMeansTheWorld.org. Backyard composters also are available for purchase from the district. For more information, call the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County, 465-3694.

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 services.