In Valparaiso, the city has proclaimed the 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 in downtown Valparaiso on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm. The materials are collected and composted at a Valpo Parks site. The city says 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 on West Lincolnway, assisted by Porter County Recycling, a news release said. Pick-up and drop-off services are free for Porter County residents, with additional Porter County sites available in Portage and Boone Grove. For hours and details for the Valpo site, visit the Mulch and Compost page here at the city of Valparaiso website.
