As the weather improves, the La Porte County Solid Waste District wants to remind residents that we are monitoring our public access recycling sites in Michigan City and Hanna for illegal dumping. Anyone dumping non-recyclable materials may be fined.
Over the past week, Solid Waste District staff have found several trash items inside and outside the dumpster in the west parking lot of Marquette Mall in Michigan City. These items include furniture, medical devices, folding chairs and yard ornaments. Not only are they contaminating the recyclables, they pose a danger to refuse workers who have to remove them at taxpayers’ expense, said Alicia Ebaugh, the District’s education and public outreach coordinator..
“Keeping contamination out of the county’s recycling program is important for its success, because contamination makes the quality of the entire stream suffer and reduces the amount of material that is reusable,” she said.
The District’s visual guide to recycling can be found on their website at www.solidwastedistrict.com. Generally, items recyclable in their program are cardboard boxes, paper, and plastic, glass and metal food and drink containers. Any items not able to be processed at the sorting facility are not recycled, Ebaugh said. A fine of up to $2,500 can be issued under Michigan City municipal code to people found dumping trash at the public access site.
Please also do not leave electronics outside or inside the dumpster. Electronics can be taken for recycling to 1027 Hitchcock Road near the water tower from 7 am to 3 pm Monday through Friday, or outside the District’s office at 2857 W. State Road in La Porte at any time.
If you live within the city limits of Michigan City, you can call the Refuse Department at 873-1530 to request a free special pickup of large items from your home. Residents within the city limits of La Porte will have a spring cleanup for large items during the week of May 11 on their trash collection day.
If you have any questions or information on illegal dumping at public access sites, please call the Solid Waste District at (219) 326-0014 or email aebaugh@solidwastedistrict.com.