The Recycling & Waste Reduction District of Porter County will help Porter County residents safely dispose of their old pesticides, gasoline, CFLs and other products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable or reactive ingredients by sponsoring a household hazardous waste collection event scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at Portage High School, 6450 U.S. 6.
Participants should enter the campus from the first driveway north of U.S. 6 on Airport Road. Wait times will vary and may be long. Participants should plan their schedules accordingly.
Items that will be accepted include aerosol cans; anti-freeze; oil; batteries (household and automotive); corrosives; medications; mercury containing products (fluorescent tubes, CFLs, thermometers, thermostats, etc.); oil-based and latex paint, thinners and solvents; pesticides and other poisons; diesel fuel, kerosene, other flammable liquids; and ammunition.
Explosives, asbestos, grill propane cylinders, containers larger than 30 gallons, commercial hazardous waste, controlled substances and radioactive materials, such as smoke detectors, will not be accepted at this event. There will not be a gas can exchange at this event.
Four more household hazardous waste collection events are scheduled this year: July 11 at Westchester Intermediate School, 1050 S. 5th Ave., Chesterton, though this location may change; Aug. 8 at Portage High School, 6450 E. Route 6; Aug. 15 at Hebron Middle School, 307 South Main St; and Oct. 17 at Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Rd., Valparaiso.
A gas can exchange will only be held at the Hebron event. Residents will be able to exchange their old gas cans for environmentally friendly 2.5-gallon gas cans. Limit one new gas can per vehicle/family. Gas cans are provided compliments of Northwest Indiana Clean Air.
For more information on household hazardous waste collection events in Porter County, call the Recycling & Waste Reduction District of Porter County, 465-3694, or visit www.ItMeansTheWorld.org.
There are alternate locations that accept medications, fluorescent light bulbs, latex paint and household batteries on a continuous basis, so residents can properly dispose of these products at their convenience.
Unused medications are accepted at the following police departments: Porter, 50 Francis St.; Valparaiso, 355 S. Washington St.; Chesterton, 790 Broadway; Portage, 2693 Irving St.; Porter County Sheriff's Department, 2755 S. Ind. 49, and Hebron, 106 East Sigler St.
Household batteries can be recycled at a number of places throughout Porter County. Visit the district website www.ItMeansTheWorld.org for a complete listing.
Fluorescent tube lights and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) can be recycled at either the Porter County public compost site: Valparaiso, 2150 W. Lincolnway, Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; or Boone Grove, 546 S. 400 W., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, noon-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The City of Hobart accepts latex paint donations from Porter County residents at its Department of Public Works site, 340 S. Shelby St., Mondays through Fridays, between 7 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.; and Saturdays, between 8 and 11:45 a.m.
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.
