The Valparaiso compost site, 2150 W. Lincolnway, and the Boone Grove compost site, 546 S. 400 W., will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Dec. 1, for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Both sites will reopen Monday, Dec. 2, and hold regular season hours for the rest of the week through Saturday, Dec. 7, after which both sites will close for the season. Regular season hours for the Valpo site are 9 a.m.to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Valparaiso 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 hours for the Boone Grove compost site, owned and operated by the district, are noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
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 for public use, as long as supplies last.
Porter County residents are advised to call the district, 465-3694, to determine material availability and site access, if inclement weather occurs. Residents should bring 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. Porter County residents are encouraged to bring their live fall decorations, such as pumpkins, gourds, corn and mums, to compost at the sites.
Other materials also accepted for recycling at these sites include: household batteries, old electronics (computers, televisions, anything with an electrical cord or powered by batteries!), fluorescent light bulbs (tubes and CFLs), toner cartridges, old media (CDs, video cassettes, etc.), and cell phones and cell phone accessories.
Residents should remove plastic bags and other such containers upon dropping off materials. Grass is accepted at the Boone Grove site only. No treated wood or lumber of any kind are accepted at either site.
In 2014, the Valpo site will begin 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. off-season hours on Saturdays beginning Jan. 4, for residents to recycle their once live Christmas trees, wreaths and other organic holiday waste. The Saturday hours will continue through April 2013, when both sites will open for the season. The Boone Grove site will remain closed after Dec. 7, until the regular season begins in April.
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.
For more information on the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County, visit www.ItMeansTheWorld.org or call 219-465-3694.