Public Compost Sites to Close for Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend

Compost-piles-compressedThe Valparaiso compost site, 2150 W. Lincolnway, and the Boone Grove compost site, 546 S. 400 W., will be closed Thursday, Nov. 27 through Sunday, Nov. 30, for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Both sites will reopen Monday, Dec. 1.

Regular season hours for both sites will continue through Saturday, Dec. 6, after which both sites will close for the rest of the year.

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. Regular hours for the Boone Grove compost site are noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

In 2015, the Valparaiso site will begin 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. off-season hours on Saturdays beginning Jan. 10, for residents to recycle their once live Christmas trees, wreaths and other organic holiday waste. The Saturday-only hours will continue through April 2015, when both sites will open for the season.

The Boone Grove site will remain closed after Dec. 6, until the regular season begins in April.

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, as long as supplies last.

Porter County residents are advised to call the district, 465-3694, to determine material availability and site access during inclement weather. 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.

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 is accepted at either site.

Other materials 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, floppy disks, video cassettes, etc.), and cell phones and cell phone accessories.

The Recycling & Waste Reduction District of Porter County is an agency dedicated to improving the environment and quality of life by providing services and educational programs which help residents reduce, reuse, and recycle.

For more information on the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County, visit www.ItMeansTheWorld.org or call 219-465-3694.