In 2018, Porter County Recycling and Waste Reduction spent $124,806 sponsoring six drop-off recycling sites. These sites serve all Porter County residents and businesses, particularly when they don’t have access to curbside recycling or have more recyclables than will fill in their curbside containers.
Find a Location Near You
Portage Compost Site
6451 U.S. Hwy 12 – Portage, IN
Valparaiso Compost Site
2150 W. Lincolnway – Valparaiso, IN
Chesterton Strack & Van Til
1600 Pioneer Trail – Chesterton, IN
Kouts Town Garage
406 S. Kouts St. – Kouts, IN
Hebron Municipal Building
125 N. Main St. – Hebron, IN
Burns Harbor Street Department
310 Navajo Trail – Burns Harbor, IN
Boone Grove
319 West 550 South – Valparaiso, IN
Just East of Boone Grove Fire Department
What Can Be Recycled at Drop-Off Locations?
The types of materials accepted at drop-off locations can change at any time and depends on the market for recyclables. If you have questions or are unsure if you can recycle a particular material at drop-off locations or at the curb, contact us.
Remember, please do not place your recyclables in plastic bags!
Paper and Cardboard
Accepted:
Newspapers and all inserts and sales papers (remove any plastic bags that they are delivered in and discard), catalogs, phone books, paperback books, file folders, office paper, glossy paper, envelopes, junk mail, magazines, wrapping paper (most of it — see below), paper bags (without food waste) flattened large cardboard boxes, and paperboard boxes, such as cereal, cake-mix boxes, cases from pop, tissue, frozen food boxes (remove any plastic bags found inside and discard). Hard cover book pages can be recycled, but the hard cover must be thrown in the trash.
Not Accepted:
Shredded paper, used paper plates, tissue paper, gum/candy wrappers, paper cups, paper towels, greasy pizza boxes, shiny “foil” type wrapping paper, wet or soiled cardboard, self-stick labels, waxed paper.
Plastic
Note: Please do not refer to the numbers with “recycle symbols” on plastic items. These symbols only identify the type of plastic from which the material is made, not the recyclability of it.
Accepted:
Bottles, tubs, containers: water bottles, pop bottles, juice bottles, soap bottles, coffee creamer bottles, cooking oil bottles, household cleaner bottles, milk and juice jugs, yogurt cups, any and all. Remove spray nozzles (triggers) from household cleaners and throw them in the garbage. Nothing larger than 5 gallon buckets. Make sure they are empty, lightly rinse and place in bins with lids/caps on.
Not Accepted:
Large storage bins, takeout containers, black food trays, bubble wrap, plastic wrap, plastic bags, storage bags, flex packaging like drink pouches, snack bags, hoses, plastic silverware, straws, plastic packaging, CD/DVD cases, Solo cups, hard plastic packaging, packing peanuts, prescription bottles, motor oil containers, clothes hangers, straws, vinyl siding, and anything made of Styrofoam or polystyrene.
Glass Bottles and Jars
Accepted:
Clear and colored glass containers. Containers should be empty, lightly rinsed and labels can be left on.
Not Accepted:
Flat glass, window panes, mirrors, light bulbs, dinnerware, drinkware, ceramics or Pyrex, light bulbs.
Aluminum, Tin and Other Metal Cans
Accepted:
Pop cans, soup cans, coffee cans, vegetable cans and all lids; aluminum trays and pie tins, etc. Cans should be empty and lightly rinsed. Leave labels on.
Not Accepted:
Aerosol cans, hangers, large scrap metal.
Cartons
Accepted:
Milk, juice, soup, broth, juice boxes (without the straw), wine, cream, and other beverage cartons. Lightly rinse, leave caps on. and don’t crush! Also accepted cardboard egg cartons.
Not Accepted:
Ice cream cartons, foam egg cartons.
When In Doubt, Throw It Out!
Placing materials inside the boxes that are inappropriate causes contamination and can place this service in jeopardy of being discontinued. Let’s work together to reduce contamination.
Not Accepted at Drop-Off Locations
- Mattresses
- Diapers
- Wood – No Pallets or Construction Lumber
- Hazardous Waste – No Motor Oil, Paint, Automotive Batteries, Antifreeze or Liquids of Any Kind
- Scrap Metal, Appliances or Aluminum Siding, Aerosol Cans or Aluminum Foil
- Clothing, Shoes or Furniture
- Tires
- Electronic Waste
- Used Oil Containers
- Medical Waste
- Yard Waste
- Trash
- Food Waste
- Christmas Lights
- Garden Hoses
Resources
Feel free to explore, download and post these resources with guidance on what can be placed in your curbside recycling containers and brought to drop-off recycling locations.
Did You Know?
In Northwest Indiana (Lake, Porter & LaPorte Counties), we all recycle the same materials. It doesn’t matter if your municipality collects your recycling, you contract with a waste hauler or you utilize drop-off recycling containers provided by your solid waste management district.
All NWI recyclables go to Illinois facilities to be sorted. The materials we advertise here are the materials these facilities accept. Adding the wrong materials can send some of the right materials to the landfill.
If you would like to find out if you can recycle other materials outside your curbside tote/bin, check out our recycling directory.
Watch this video for more information on our sorting facilities: