Porter County Recycling and Waste Reduction will help Porter County residents safely dispose of their old pesticides, gasoline, fluorescent light bulbs and other products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable or reactive ingredients at six household hazardous waste collection events this year.
All collections will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following Saturdays: May 12 and Oct. 6 at the Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Rd., Valparaiso; June 16 and Aug. 4 at Portage High School; 6450 U.S. Highway 6; July 7 at Westchester Intermediate School, 1050 S. 5th Ave., Chesterton; and July 28 at Kouts Middle/High School Campus, 502 E. College.
Items that will be accepted at these events include anti-freeze; oil; batteries (household and automotive); corrosives; medications; mercury containing products (fluorescent tubes, CFLs, thermometers, thermostats, etc.); thinners and solvents; pesticides and other poisons; diesel fuel, kerosene, other flammable liquids; and ammunition. A list of acceptable products is available on the Porter County Recycling & Waste Reduction website, www.PorterCountyRecycling.org.
Old gas cans will be exchanged for new environmentally friendly 2.5-gallon gas cans at each event. Supplies will be limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Limit one new gas can per vehicle/family. Gas cans are compliments of Northwest Indiana Clean Air.
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 instead of waiting in line at an event.
Unused medications are accepted at the following law enforcement agencies: Porter Police Department, 50 Francis St.; Valparaiso Police Department, 355 S. Washington St.; Chesterton Police Department, 790 Broadway; Portage Police Department, 6260 Central Ave.; Porter County Sheriff's Department, 2755 S. Ind. 49; and Hebron Police Department, 611 N. Main St. In addition, Walgreen's, 6001 Central Avenue, Portage, will also take unused medications.
Household batteries can be recycled at dozens of places throughout Porter County. Visit www.PorterCountyRecycling.org for a complete listing.
Fluorescent tube light bulbs and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) can be recycled anytime at either Porter County public compost site: Valparaiso, 2150 W. Lincolnway, or Boone Grove, 546 S. 400 W. The Valparaiso compost site is open Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The Boone Grove compost site is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, noon-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Both sites are open through Saturday, Dec. 1.
Latex paint is not considered household hazardous waste and can be placed in curbside trash cans if dried with the lids off. For unwanted paint that is still usable, 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 May 12 collection at the Porter County Expo will also allow Porter County residents to dispose of their old tires. The first four tires up to 20 inches are free; the disposal fee for each additional tire up to 20 inches is $3. Residents can dispose of tires from 21 to 25 inches for $5 each, and tires more than 25 inches for $15 each.
For more information, call Porter County Recycling and Waste Reduction, 465-3694 or visit 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.