The Valparaiso compost site, 2150 W. Lincolnway, will begin Saturday off-season hours Jan. 4, for Porter County residents to dispose of their once live Christmas trees, wreaths and other organic holiday decorations. The 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday hours will continue through April when the site will open for the season.
Ornaments and lights should be removed before disposal. Other organic materials accepted at this site include yard waste, leaves, garden clippings, household plants, brush, limbs, logs and firewood. No grass or treated wood or lumber will be accepted.
Residents who received new electronics for Christmas can also recycle their unwanted electronics and electrical items at the compost site. Accepted items include: computers, monitors, televisions, typewriters, copiers, PDAs, VCRs, fax machines, microwaves, scanners, gaming machines, and anything with an electrical cord or run by batteries. Christmas lights are also accepted.
Besides electronics and organic materials, residents can recycle other items at the compost sites, including household batteries, fluorescent light bulbs (tubes and CFLs), toner cartridges, media (CDs, video cassettes, etc.) and cell phones.
The site is owned and operated by the City of Valparaiso with assistance from the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County.
The Boone Groove compost site, 546 S. 400 W, will remain closed through April. The site is owned and operated by the District.
The Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County is an agency dedicated to improving the environment and quality of life for Porter County residents by providing convenient, voluntary waste reduction services.
For more information on the public compost sites, visit the District’s website, www.itmeanstheworld.org, or call 219-465-3694