1st Edition ‘06/’07

Ph: 219-465-3694 • Fax: 219-465-3696

Congratulations! By reading this booklet then using the recycling and waste reductionservices listed herein, you are making a personal statement that you care about theenvironment of Porter County.

Inside these pages you will find some basic guidelines to reduce the amount of waste youcreate in the first place as well as information on how to properly recycle or dispose ofwastes you generate. After years of experience in helping Porter County residents findsolutions to their waste needs, the District is able to put this information in booklet form.But we still don’t know it all! If you don’t find the answers you’re looking for in this booklet,contact us so we can work together towards a solution.

Established in 1993, theRecycling & Waste ReductionDistrict of Porter County is agovernment agency dedicated toimproving the environment andquality of life for Porter Countyresidents by providing convenient,voluntary waste reductionprograms. The District promotesenvironmental stewardship amongindividuals and businesses through education programs, wastereduction services and other outreach programs to meet the statutory waste reduction goals setby the State of Indiana. The District sustains partnerships with similar municipal andprofessional organizations to continually update and respond to the waste reduction needs ofPorter County.

The District is governed by a seven member Board of Directors comprised of thefollowing elected officials:

County representation by the three County Commissioners and an appointment from theCounty Council; municipal representation by the Mayor of Portage, a City Council Personfrom Portage, as well as a representative for the balance of municipalities in Porter County(currently held by the Mayor of Valparaiso).

District staff, including administrative and education personnel, are located in Valparaisoat the District office. Field operations personnel manage the District’s satellite programsincluding composting, drop off recycling, electronics recycling, and household hazardous wastecollections along with other special waste collection events.

Although we made every effort to provide accurate, up-to-date information prior to printingthis booklet, changes may have occurred. It’s a good idea to contact service providers to

confirm hours or fees.

Page 1 About the District

www.ItMeansTheWorld.org

Before we can consider the proper ways to dispose of the wastewe generate, we need to produce less waste by practicing the 3 Rs:

Reduce/Reuse/RecycleReduce the amount and toxicity of trash you discard. Waste

prevention, or "source reduction," means consuming and throwingaway less. It includes:

• purchasing durable, long-lasting goods; • seeking products and packaging that are as free of toxins as

possible; • redesigning products to use less raw material in production,

have a longer life, or be used again after its original use. Source reduction actually prevents the generation of waste in the firstplace, so it is the most preferred method of waste management andgoes a long way toward protecting the environment.

Reuse containers and products; repair what is broken or give itto someone who can repair it. Reusing items; by repairing them,donating them to charity and community groups, or selling them;also reduces waste. Reusing products, when possible, is even betterthan recycling because the item does not need to be reprocessedbefore it can be used again.

Recycle as much as possible, which includes buying productswith recycled content. Recycling turns materials that would otherwisebecome waste into valuable resources. In addition, it generates a hostof environmental, financial, and social benefits. Materials like glass,metal, plastics, and paper are collected, separated and sent to facilitiesthat can process them into new materials or products.

Buying Recycled ProductsThere's more to recycling than setting out your recyclables at the

curb. In order to make recycling economically feasible, we must buyrecycled products and packaging. When we buy recycled products, wecreate an economic incentive for recyclable materials to be collected,manufactured, and marketed as new products. Buying recycled has botheconomic and environmental benefits. Purchasing products made fromor packaged in recycled materials saves resources for future generations.

Introduction Page 2

Did You Know...Recycling is bigbusiness in Indiana.In our state alone,recycling creates75,000 jobs with atotal payroll of $3billion at 1,700businesses that havetotal revenues of $19billion!

Helpful Tips...Ways to Reuse • Using durable coffee

mugs. • Using cloth napkins

or towels. • Refilling water

bottles. • Reusing boxes.• Donating old

magazines or surplusequipment.

• Turning empty jarsinto containers forleftover food.

• Purchasing refillablepens and pencils.

• Participating in apaint collection andreuse program.

Ph: 219-465-3694 • Fax: 219-465-3696

Education Programs — Pages 4-5

Residential Waste Disposal — Page 6

Residential Recycling — Pages 7-9

Household Hazardous Waste — Page 10

Yard Waste Management — Pages 11-12

Electronics Recycling — Page 13

Battery Recycling Drop-off Sites — Page 14

Tire and Appliance Recycling — Page 14

Contact Information — Back Cover

Reduce — Reuse — RecycleIt Means The World!

Page 3 Table Of Contents

“Recycling comes natural for me, but using this booklet canhelp make recycling and waste reduction become secondnature to you too! Join all of us here at the Recycling andWaste Reduction District of Porter County in workingtogether to keep our Earth clean and green.”

— Glen the Garbologist

Glen is a red wiggler worm and understands the importance of recycling because he does it everyday. Red wigglers make great composters. They aid in decomposition of organic matter and turnit into nutrient rich “soil”.

www.ItMeansTheWorld.org

Education Programs Page 4

EducationWe feel that education is essential to our mission of waste reduction in the county.

Through our own exciting, environmentally sound education programs, along with theassistance and support of our many partners, the District strives to educate ALL residents ofPorter County.

“In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. Wewill understand only what we are taught.” --- Baba Dioum

Residents and Civic GroupsThe District works hard to serve communities and residents of Porter County and is

happy to provide presentations for any interested organizations. We can provide residentsopportunities to learn more about the varied and convenient waste reduction and recyclingprograms currently available to them as well as present on a variety of source/waste reductiontopics tailored to your groups needs.

The District has also developed presentations series in which the public is invited toattend and learn about various environmental topics.

Interested organizations/residents can check the District website or call for furtherinformation.

The District also informs residents of Porter County by advertising with print media,television, radio, flyer postings and display booths at local functions. Keep an eye out forDistrict advertisements and the “One Man’s Trash” quarterly newsletter distributed throughlocal newspapers.

Porter County Schools, grades K-12The District is dedicated to providing high quality, interactive education programs to

Porter County schools, grades K-12 that meet Indiana state science standards.Our programs cover the three R’s of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, but also include a wide

range of other topics including the roles that water , trees, individuals, and even worms playin keeping our planet healthy along with ways that everyone can make a difference.

Our goals are to provide thought-provoking, interactive lessons that not only provide anopportunity for learning but prompt continued inquiry. Our programs encourage students tolearn through exploration, logical thinking and discovery and also incorporate a variety oflearning styles.

Ph: 219-465-3694 • Fax: 219-465-3696

Page 5 Education Programs

A satellite program is offered; therefore minimizing the need for bus fees and field triptime. Programs can be adjusted to suit the needs of each classroom. Programs last about onehour. All materials are provided. Although classes are combined in rare instances, programsbest suit audiences of approximately 20-30.

Sampling of grades K-12 Educational programs, see website for a complete listing.

WONDERFUL WORMS

Goal: To appreciate and learn about earthworms and their role on earth. Students dig deep into the “root” of our food chain (soil) and meet the creatures responsiblefor making it. Age Group: All ages

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

Goal: Appreciate the importance of Reducing, Reusing and Recycling. Through a set of hands-on activities, students learn of the science behind the three R’s, whythey are important and how one can practice them on a daily basis. Age Group: 2nd – 12th Grade

WATER WATCHERS

Goal: Appreciate and learn about our precious water resources and how to protect them. Students engage in activities that explain human impact on water and learn what they can doto rectify the problem. Age Group: 2nd – 6th Grade

The District also provides a free annual teacher workshop. Workshop themes vary. Checkthe District website or call for more information.

District Educators teach children how water, trees and even worms playan important role in keeping our planet healthy.

www.ItMeansTheWorld.org

Residential Waste Disposal Page 6

Curbside Waste CollectionAt the time of printing this booklet, all cities and towns, excluding Dune Acres, provide

waste collection for their residents. But remember, not all collection programs are the same.Go to your community’s web site or contact your community city/town hall or streetdepartment/public works department to get the most up to date information on whencollection is provided and what is accepted for waste collection in your community.

People that live in apartment complexes should contact the building manager to inquireabout their waste collection program.

Finally, for the rest of the homes in Porter County (including Dunes Acres!) contact theprivate waste haulers that provide subscription service to your area to shop for the wastecollection service that meets your needs. Don’t forget to request your recycling bin!

Drop Off Locations for WastePorter County does not have a landfill or any locations for residents to drop off waste. Our neighboring counties have transfer stations that accept residential waste. Contact

them directly to verify the specifics of their operations.

• Lake County – Illiana Transfer Station, Lake Station – (219) 963-8600

• LaPorte County – Waste Management, Kingsbury – (219) 393-6053

Dumpster RentalsCurbside waste collection may not be adequate to meet the needs of a major project at

home. If your curbside service limits the type and amount of weekly waste to be collected,you may need to rent a dumpster to take care of large amounts of waste and debris.

Dumpster rentals are provided by local waste haulers.

See “Contact Information” on Back Page for list of phone numbers of private waste haulers.

Ph: 219-465-3694 • Fax: 219-465-3696

Page 7 Residential Recycling

Residential RecyclingWhether taking their household recyclables to one of the

District drop-off recycling sites or simply taking their recyclablesout to their own curb, virtually every home in Porter County hasconvenient options when it comes to residential recycling.

The District drop-off recycling and most curbside recyclingprograms in Porter County share some basic, easy to follow guidelines:

ITEMS ACCEPTED

• Cardboard - Flatten all boxes • Paper - Magazines, junk mail, newspaper and inserts, office

paper, phone books, mixed paper• Glass - Clear, green, or brown jars and bottles• Metal - Aluminum, steel, and bi-metal CANS ONLY• Plastic - All hard containers labeled with numbers #1 through

#7 in the chasing arrows (NO POLYSTYRENE, commonlyknown as Styrofoam©)

• Rinse containers and flatten when possible. It’s ok to leave onthe labels.

• Some programs no longer require that you separate recyclablematerials. It’s really ok to put all the items into one container– this is called “single stream” or “commingle” collection.Really, it is ok! It all goes to the same place called a MaterialRecycling Facility (MRF) where it is then separated and sentfor recycling into useful products.

• Typically, collection occurs on a bi-weekly, or every otherweek, basis.

Curbside Recycling in Cities and TownsThe following table provides information on city and town

curbside recycling programs. Most programs are bi-weekly andcollection dates vary for each community.

Remember, recycling programs can change! Go to yourcommunity’s web site or contact your community city/town hall orstreet department/public works department to get the most up todate information on when collection is provided and what isaccepted for curbside recycling in your community.

Do You Know...What do thosenumbers in the chasingarrows on plasticcontainers mean?

The numbers representthe different types ofplastics and help in thesorting of thosematerials for therecycling process.

Benefits ofRecycling • Conserves resources

for our children'sfuture.

• Prevents emissions ofmany greenhousegases and waterpollutants.

• Saves energy. • Supplies valuable raw

materials to industry. • Creates jobs. • Stimulates the

development ofgreener technologies.

• Reduces the need fornew landfills andincinerators.

www.ItMeansTheWorld.org

Residential Recycling Page 8

Com

min

gle

Car

dboa

rd&

All

Pape

r

Gla

ss J

ars

&B

ottle

s

Met

al C

ans

Plas

tics

#1th

roug

h #7

New

spap

er O

nly

Plas

tics

#1&

#2

Onl

y

Beverly Shores Yes • • • •Burns Harbor Waste collection through town contract, no curbside recyclingChesterton Yes • • • •Dune Acres Individual homeowner subscribes for waste collection and recyclingHebron Yes • • • •Kouts Yes • • • •Ogden Dunes Yes • • • •Pines Yes • • • •Portage No • •Porter Yes • • • •Valparaiso Yes • • • •* some communities have limited curbside recycling programs

Curbside Recycling in Rural orUnincorporated Areas of Porter County

Even if you live outside of the city/town limits, you still have curbside recycling as part ofyour waste collection service. County Ordinance 04-18 requires all waste haulers to providecurbside recycling along with waste collection service to homes and apartments in rural orunincorporated areas of Porter County.

Most of the curbside recycling programs provided by waste haulers serving Porter Countyfollow the same basic guidelines provided on page 7. As always, contact your waste haulerdirectly to confirm the schedule and guidelines for the curbside recycling program they provide.

If you do not have a curbside recycling container, contact your waste hauler to request abin and service; you are probably already paying for it. For those who live in apartments inrural or unincorporated Porter County or if your rural neighborhood contracts for wastecollection through a homeowners association, contact the management or homeownersassociation board to inquire about the current contract to ensure that you receive recycling.

See “Contact Information” on Back Page for list of phone numbers of municipalitiesand private waste haulers.

Ph: 219-465-3694 • Fax: 219-465-3696

Page 9 Residential Recycling

District Drop-Off Recycling SitesEach District drop-off recycling site has two different types of containers; one large

container for all glass, plastic and metal containers and several small containers for onlycardboard and paper products. Just follow the basic guidelines from page 7 but keep thecardboard and paper separate from the other items.

Locations

Boone Grove: 319 W. 550 South

Burns Harbor: 1240 Boo Road

Chesterton: 801 Broadway

Hebron: 125 N. Main Street

Kouts: 406 S. Kouts Street

Portage: 5962 Central Avenue (near Boys and Girls Club)

Valparaiso: 2196 W. US 30 (WiseWay)

www.ItMeansTheWorld.org

Household Hazardous Waste Page 10

Household HazardousWaste Mobile Collection (HHW)

Many common products we use around the house containchemicals classified as Household Hazardous Waste (HHW).HHW are products containing hazardous substances that are usedand disposed of by individuals rather than industry. The best wayto recognize that these products are hazardous is to read labels! PerFederal Law, HHW products are now identifiable through thefollowing rating system of four words, listed in the order of mosthazardous to least hazardous:

• POISON • DANGER • WARNING • CAUTIONSo what should you do with the HHW products stored under

your kitchen/bathroom sink, in closets, pantries, or in your garagethat you never use?

Never pour HHW products down the drain, into a stormsewer or on the ground, and don’t put them in the trash becausethose products could contaminate drinking water, ground water orlakes and streams.

The right way to get rid of your HHW is to bring it to one ofour seasonal Household Hazardous Waste Collections. We have amobile laboratory (pictured below) and HHW trained employeeswhich travel to various locations in Porter County throughout fairweather months. All you have to do is drive through the collectionline up to the mobile lab, stay in your car and one of our friendlyand knowledgeable HHW employees will remove your HHW fromyour car. Once you bring it to our collections, your HHW will beproperly disposed of to protect you and the environment.

You can find a listing of common HHW products andupcoming HHW collections detailed online at our website,www.ItMeansTheWorld.org.

Helpful Tips...• Use non-hazardousalternatives to chemicalproducts if possible.Home-made cleaninghints can be found atwww.recycle.IN.gov

• If a chemical is safe topour down the drain,be sure to dilute it withat least one gallon oftap water.

• Buy only the amountof household chemicalsnecessary to avoid theneed for HHWdisposal.

• When in doubt, don’tpour it out. Call theDistrict at 465-3694for guidance.

Did you know...• Expired medicationshave been found indrinking water as aresult of not beingdisposed of properlythrough participatingpharmacicsts or ourHHW program.

Ph: 219-465-3694 • Fax: 219-465-3696

Page 11 Yard Waste ManagementYard Waste ManagementYard Waste Management Restrictions

Proper management and disposal of organics or yard waste inPorter County can be a pretty confusing issue. State lawsprohibiting burning or landfilling yard waste limit disposal optionsfor residents in Porter County.

Community Yard Waste Collectionand Recycling Programs

Most cities and towns provide curbside collection of yardwaste, mainly leaves and brush. The collected yard waste is takento community compost sites and recycled into compost and woodchips which are available for residents to pick up.

To learn if your community provides a yard waste collection andrecycling program, see “Contact Information” on Back Page for listof phone numbers of municipalities.

District and Community Compost SitesComposting is nature’s way of recycling. It is the natural

process of decomposition and recycling of organic material, such asleaves, garden waste and grass, into a humus-rich soil amendmentknow as compost.

Residents of Porter County can deposit organic yard waste atany of three District and Community compost sites free of charge.These large scale municipal composting operations allow theDistrict and municipalities to manage organic material, compostingyard waste and grinding organic wood waste to create largeamounts of finished compost and mulch. The resulting compostand mulch are also available for public use. Many Porter Countyresidents know about these sites and the “black gold” (compost)waiting to be picked up and taken home to be used in their yards,gardens or in their houseplants.

The compost sites are generally open mid April through thefirst weekend in December, being closed on certainholidays/weekends. Current hours can be viewed on our website,www.ItMeansTheWorld.com.

Helpful Tips...LOCATIONS:Crocker:1700 Tower Rd.

• Hwy 149 toCounty Road1050 North, easton 1050 Northto Tower Rd.,north on TowerRd. to siteentrance

Valparaiso:2150 W. Lincolnway

• 1 mile west ofintersection withJoliet Rd.(electronics dropoff site – see“ElectronicsRecycling”)

Boone Grove:546 S. 400 West

• Hwy 8 to 400West, head northto 550 South

www.ItMeansTheWorld.org

Yard Waste Management Page 12The Crocker (Chesterton) and Valparaiso Compost Sites are

managed jointly between those municipalities and the District. TheBoone Grove Compost Site is managed solely by the District.

General Site Guidelines:• If inclement weather occurs, please call the District to learn if

sites are operational.

• All sites accept organic yard waste, leaves, garden clippings,garden and household plants, etc. Also accepted are brush,limbs, logs and firewood.

• Plastic bags and other such containers must be removed fromsites by residents.

• Grass is accepted at the Crocker and Boone Grove Sites only!Grass is NOT accepted at the Valparaiso site.

• No treated wood or lumber of any kind are accepted at anysites.

Did You Know...BENEFITS OF COMPOST

Compost naturallygives soil moisture, soyou can water yourplants less and loweryour water bill.

Compost improves soil,adding nutrients to soilthat nurture planthealth.

Compost helps tocontrol weeds.

Compost helps loosenheavy clay soils.

Lastly, by compostingat home you canproduce free compost(dirt) and mulch (woodgrindings/chips)!

Ph: 219-465-3694 • Fax: 219-465-3696

Page 13 Electronics Recycling

ELECTRONICS RECYCLINGProper management of broken or outdated electronics, or

e.Scrap, through reuse/recycling today means avoiding future coststo public health and the environment. Donating and recyclinge.Scrap are great ways to manage this waste stream.

Donate your electronics to local charities, job trainingprograms, reuse organizations, etc. Your electronics may no longerbe useful to you but others may still find them useful. This is agreat way to pass on computers and other electronics to those whocannot afford new technology.

Recycling is the most responsible way to manage e.Scrap.Recycling your electronics ensures that the hazardous materials areproperly managed and also conserves resources, reduces energyconsumption and creates Hoosier jobs. The District makesrecycling easy by providing an Electronics Recycling Drop-Off site.

Electronics Recycling Drop-Off Guidelines:• This is a DROP OFF program. Anyone dropping off

electronics for recycling is responsible to take their itemsfrom their vehicle and place the items in designated bins. Agood tip: If it took more than one person to load theelectronics into your vehicle, bring that person to help youunload the electronics from your vehicle.

• Porter County residents can drop off their electronics forrecycling at the Valparaiso Compost Site (go towww.ItMeansTheWorld.com for location and hours)

• Items accepted: computers, monitors, televisions,typewriters, copiers, PDAs, VCRs, microwaves, gamingmachines, etc.

• Specifics about program limitations (what is accepted andhow many are allowed per residential vehicle) and anyapplicable fees can be found at our website,www.ItMeansTheWorld.com.

The Facts Are...• 40 million computers

and TVs are discardedin the US annually(1.2 million of thoseare Hoosiers!)

• 18 months is theaverage life of a cellphone and 130million cell phonesdied in 2005 in theUS

• There are at least 4lbs of lead in each oldcomputer monitor orTV

• 5 toxic materials arein today’s electronicdevices

• 8 serious healtheffects are caused bythese toxins

Now that you know,don’t throw, recycle!

www.ItMeansTheWorld.org

Battery Recycling Drop Off SitesWhy recycle household batteries?

Every year in the United States, billions of batteries are bought,used and thrown out. Because many batteries contain toxic mattersuch as mercury and cadmium, they pose a potential threat to humanhealth and the environment when disposed of improperly. Thoughbatteries generally make up only a tiny portion of our waste, theyaccount for a disproportionate amount of the toxic heavy metals inour waste. When batteries are incinerated or disposed of in landfillsthese toxins can potentially be released into the environment.

The District sponsors over 40 locations throughout PorterCounty where residents can drop off household batteries forrecycling. You can find a listing of battery recycling locations onour website, www.ItMeansTheWorld.org.

Tire and ApplianceRecycling/Collection Events

Each year the District sponsors recycling and collection eventsthat assist Porter County residents with the proper disposal andrecycling of problem wastes: tires and appliances – specifically thoseappliances containing refrigerants. Although some local retailerstake back used tires and appliances at the time of new purchases,there are times when residents don’t have an outlet for the properrecycling of these items.

Our website lists the annual dates and locations for both thesecollections. You can also call our office for this information.

Some things you should know about our collections:

TIRES - The first four tires per participating vehicle are free, eachtire beyond the first four is $2 per tire.

On that note, motor oil, antifreeze and car batteries areaccepted at our HHW collections.

APPLIANCES – we accept most appliances, especially those withrefrigerants, but you should always contact the District to confirmexactly what we accept.

Batteries, Tires and Appliances Page 14

EnvironmentalHazards of:TIRES

• They providebreeding groundsfor diseasecarryingmosquitoes androdents

• If caught on fire,they are difficultto extinguish andthey cause soil,ground water andair pollutionreleasingcarcinogens andother toxins

APPLIANCES WITHREFRIGERANTS

• Refrigerantscontain ozonedepletingchemicals

• Older appliancesuse 3 to fourtimes moreenergy thannewer units

Private Waste HaulersAble Disposal

926-1046

Illiana Disposal and Recycling Service 662-8600

Ooms Brothers Disposal Service987-5313

Performance Waste & Recycling, Inc.661-0250

Regional Industries, LLC 465-5997

Waste Management of NW Indiana 800-443-5646

Municipal ContactsBeverly Shores Clerk Treasurer

872-0046

Burns Harbor Public Works Department787-9187

Chesterton Street Department926-2222

www.chestertonin.org

Dune Acres Security Office787-8800

www.duneacres.in.gov

Hebron Public Works Department987-5313

www.visithebron.org/pages/public_works.htm

Kouts Street Department766-3097/766-2110

www.kouts.org/govt.php

Ogden Dunes Town Hall762-4125

Town of Pines Clerk Treasurer874-8523

Portage Street Department762-4564

www.ci.portage.in.us/streets/

Porter Public Works Department926-4212

www.townofporter.us/porter_public_works.htm

Valparaiso Public Works462-4612

www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/pw/index.htm

Contact Information

RECYCLING & WASTE REDUCTION DISTRICT OF PORTER COUNTY(219) 465-3694 • Fax (219) 465-3696 • www.ItMeansTheWorld.org

155 Indiana Ave., Suite 314, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383