Special event coordinators in Porter County have a free service available to help manage the large amounts of waste their events can create.
Porter County Recycling & Waste Reduction offers a recycling container loan program for churches, schools, towns and anyone planning special events in Porter County to encourage their guests to recycle aluminum cans and plastic and glass bottles. Last year, event coordinators using the program collected and recycled a total of 5,380 gallons of beverage containers.
Loaned recycling containers were used at 2017 events including: Porter County Master Gardeners 14th Annual Gardening Show; Migratory Bird Fest Habitat Improvement Day; Lions Club Ogden Dunes Memorial Day; Lightning Bug Music Festival; Porter County Fair; Portage Brewfest; Valparaiso International Center World Culture Festival; Art Barn Art Blitz; Immanuel Lutheran Church Oktober Fest and many others including private graduation and birthday parties.
The recycling collection containers can be placed next to garbage cans in high traffic areas at events. The district even supplies the clear plastic bags that fit into the collection containers.
“When presented with the option to recycle their waste, most guests choose to do the right thing,” said Therese Haller, district executive director. “Organizations and individuals without a supply of recycling containers or the money to purchase them need only borrow ours.”
The containers are perfect to use at fundraisers, church functions, softball tournaments, block parties, family reunions, 5K races, and any gatherings that could potentially generate large amounts of waste from beverage containers. Public events using the containers will also get a publicity boost with an announcement on the district’s Facebook Page.
No event is too small to borrow the containers. By allowing guests to separate their waste, event organizers can help prevent large amounts of recyclables from ending up in landfills.
To borrow the containers, call the district, 219-465-3695, at least one week prior to the event to confirm the availability. Once reserved, renters can download a reservation agreement from the district’s website, www.PorterCountyRecycling.org, sign the form and return it to the district. More information on the program is available on the district’s website, www.PorterCountyRecycling.org.
Porter County Recycling & Waste Reduction 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.