Fall Decorations Make Great Compost

Compost-pilesThe staff of the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County reminds residents that all of those once-live fall decorations, such as pumpkins, gourds, leaves, mums, corn stalks, hay, etc., are accepted at either the Valparaiso compost site, 2150 W. Lincolnway, or the Boone Grove compost site, 546 South 400 West.

Organic materials brought to the sites will be added to the compost windrows to create a rich soil amendment available free to Porter County residents to use in their gardens during upcoming growing seasons.

Please don’t throw these items in the garbage when you’re done with them,” said Donna Stuckert, public education coordinator. “Organic matter shouldn’t take up space in our landfills because it can be recycled.”

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

Besides pumpkins and fall decorations, both sites continuously accept yard waste, garden and household plants, brush, limbs, logs and firewood. The Valparaiso site does not accept grass clippings. Residents must remove bags and other containers upon dropping off materials. Wood or lumber that has been treated is not accepted at either site.

Other materials accepted for recycling at these sites include: household batteries, electronics (computers, televisions, anything with an electrical cord or run by batteries), fluorescent light bulbs (tubes and CFLs), toner cartridges, old media (CDs, video cassettes, etc.), and cell phones and cell phone accessories.

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.