The 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 4 through 9, at the Valparaiso compost site, 2150 W. Lincolnway. Residents are limited to a quantity of three cubic yards. Businesses are not eligible for free loading.
Compost and mulch loading is available for a fee throughout the rest of the season for Porter County residents. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, Valparaiso Public Works employees will load compost and mulch from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m. The charge for compost loading is $10 per cubic yard. There is no charge for mulch loading.
Residents must pay for loading at the Valparaiso Public Works Office, 1855 Joliet Road, prior to arriving at the compost site for their material and bring their receipts as proofs of purchase. For further details, visit the Valparaiso Public Works website, www.valpo.us/pw.
The Valparaiso compost site is a large scale municipal composting operation that offers Porter County residents the opportunity to drop off their yard waste for recycling. While Valparaiso owns the site, the district partners with the city to help 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.
More information about the public compost sites and what is accepted at each one is available on the district's website, www.ItMeansTheWorld.org, or by calling 465‐3694. Backyard compost bins are available for purchase from the district.
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.