The City of Valparaiso has proclaimed this first full week of May as International Compost Awareness Week, announced Mayor Jon Costas. “Composting is an effective way to reduce waste. Organic materials make up about 30% of the material going to landfills so returning these resources to the soil instead of a landfill is good for our Earth,” said Costas.
Valpo Parks has partnered with Porter County Recycling & Waste Reduction for a pilot program to promote composting. Through the program, residents may bring their compostable food and garden waste to the Farmers Market (beginning June 3 for the 2025 season) at Central Park Plaza, 63 Lafayette St. on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. The materials are collected and composted at a Valpo Parks site. Last year the program collected more than 8,000 pounds of organic waste, diverting it from the landfill.
Through its programs, Valparaiso City Services collects and diverts nearly 36,000 cubic yards of brush and yard waste per year to the City’s owned and managed public compost site at 2150 W. Lincolnway, assisted by Porter County Recycling. Pick-up and drop-off services are free for Porter County residents, with additional Porter County sites available in Portage and Boone Grove. Grass trimmings and yard waste are accepted and residents may self-load mulch and compost for free (loading is available for a fee). For hours and details for the Valpo site, visit the Mulch and Compost page at Valpo.us.
Composting is a way of returning organic resources to the soil and conserving water, reducing water consumption and non-point pollution. Composting is also a proven method of reducing the dependence on chemical fertilizers and reducing erosion. Porter County communities can have a significant impact on clean water, soil, climate change and landfill diversion by using compost for public and residential projects.