The Valparaiso compost site, 2150 W. Lincolnway, and the Boone Grove compost site, 546 South 400 West, will be closed to the public Saturday through Monday, Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, for the Labor Day weekend holiday.
The Valparaiso site will reopen at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3. The site is owned and operated by the City of Valparaiso which partners with the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County that helps to maintain it and staff the guard house. Regular operating hours for the Valpo site are Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Boone Grove compost site, owned and operated by the district, will reopen at noon Wednesday, Sept. 4. Regular operating hours for the Boone Grove site are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The compost sites allow the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County and various municipalities to manage organic material, composting yard waste and grinding organic wood waste to create large amounts of finished compost and mulch. The resulting compost and mulch are available free to Porter County residents to use, while supplies last.
Porter County residents should call the District, 465-3694, to determine site access during inclement weather and material availability. Residents should bring their own shovels and containers to load as much compost and mulch as they want.
Both sites accept organic yard waste, leaves, garden and household plants, brush, limbs, logs and firewood. Residents should remove bags and other containers upon dropping off materials. No treated wood or lumber of any kind will be accepted. Grass is only accepted at the Boone Grove site.
Other materials accepted at both sites for recycling include: household batteries, old electronics (computers, televisions, anything with an electrical cord or operated by batteries), fluorescent light bulbs (tubes and CFLs), toner cartridges, old media (CDs, video cassettes, etc.), and cell phones and cell phone accessories.
For more information on the compost sites or the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County, visit www.ItMeansTheWorld.org or call 219-465-3694.