We currently have three food waste compost programs across Porter County. These efforts have been met with positive participation and engagement from the community, which helps us determine feasibility, identify challenges, and assess the potential impact of expanding composting efforts on a larger scale.
As we continue to gather valuable data and feedback, ongoing participation is essential to support and sustain these initiatives. Continued involvement will help the development and expansion of more robust and wide-reaching composting programs in the future.
Compost With Us
Bringing composting into the mainstream will not only cut down on waste, but enrich our soil, support local agriculture, and build a more resilient food system. By embracing food waste composting in communities, we hope to contribute to a more sustainable planet and foster a culture of responsibility and stewardship toward the environment.
Town of Chesterton
1490 Broadway
24/7 Drop off Location
Beginning April 22, 2026
Valparaiso Farmers Market
Begins June 2, 2026
Valparaiso Winter Hours
Indiana Ave Near Central Park Plaza:
Tuesdays 9am - 1pm
Banta Center:
24/7 Drop-Off Location
Coffee Creek Farmers Market
Wednesdays April 8th - May 27th
How to Participate in Food Waste Composting
All you need to participate in our pilot food waste composting program and help us reduce food waste is a bin and food scraps. Participants may bring acceptable food waste (listed below) in a closed container (options below) to one of our select drop-off locations. Then, the donated food waste will be taken to a Valpo Parks composting site. By participating, you are diverting food waste from landfills and recycling important nutrients back into the soil.
What’s Acceptable in Our Food Waste Compost Program?
Yes
Put These in Your Compost!
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Egg shells
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Leaves
- Newspaper
- Paper tea bags
No
Keep These Out of Your Compost!
- Dairy products
- Eggs
- Fats and grease
- Meat scraps
- Bone
- Pet feces/litter
- Compostable plastics
Composting Tips
- Layer wet and dry items to create “compost lasagna”
- Clean your bucket with water weekly. If the aroma is continuous, try a 10% bleach spray and thoroughly rinse.
- Chop larger items, like watermelon rinds, into smaller pieces
- Keep your container with food waste out of the heat
- Keep food waste in freezer to prevent smell
Our Impact
How does food waste composting help support sustainability in our local community?
All food scraps collected will become a nutrient rich soil amendment.
22,304
Pounds of Food Composted
YTD 2025
16,000
Pounds of Food Composted
Total 2024
Our Community Partners
Duneland Family YMCA
Join the Movement to Reduce Food Waste in Porter County!
Feel free to reach out to us for additional information, to become a participating drop off location, or to learn more composting tips and tricks.
