Portage compost site reopens Thursday for Porter County residents only, with ID checks

PORTAGE, Ind. The Portage compost site was set to reopen to Porter County residents only at 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, with ID checks at all three county compost sites, the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County said.

"We are checking ID's and documenting the names + addresses from those who drop-off materials at all of our compost sites," the district wrote Tuesday on its Facebook page, adding that county residents can take branches, brush and leaves to any of its three sites.

Closed for storm debris grinding

The district's website lists the Portage site as closed for FEMA storm damage debris grinding, a notice that was still up Thursday morning. In an Oct. 26 post, the district said the Portage site was still closed for the foreseeable future.

The same website carries a Porter County update on cleanup after the Aug. 11, 2026, derecho, which it says caused "unprecedented damage across our communities." Porter County was declared a disaster area, allowing it to tap federal and state money for debris removal, and heavy debris removal was expected to run through the end of November, according to the update.

Hours and locations

All three sites are open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the district's Tuesday post. The district's Valparaiso site page still lists a 5 p.m. closing, and its Where to Recycle page still lists Boone Grove as closed for the season.

• Portage Compost Site, 6451 U.S. Highway 12, Portage
• Valparaiso Compost Site, 2150 W. Lincolnway, Valparaiso
• Boone Grove Compost Site, 546 S. 400 W., Valparaiso

What the Portage site takes

The district's page for the Portage site lists leaves, straw in limited quantities (not hay), garden and household plants, and limbs, logs, brush and branches no longer than 6 feet. It also takes once-live holiday decorations such as pumpkins, gourds, mums and Christmas trees, along with household batteries, household recyclables, electronics, fluorescent and LED bulbs, toner cartridges, smoke detectors and clean, dry plastic bags. The site is owned and managed by the city of Portage, with operating help from the district, according to the page.

Drop-off and pickup are free for Porter County residents, according to the page. It says out-of-county residents are not permitted, treated wood and lumber are not accepted, and residents must take their containers home. Indiana law bars residents from knowingly putting yard and land-clearing waste in a landfill, the page notes, citing IC 13-20-9-2.

The district's home page says all three sites are out of compost for the 2026 season, though mulch is still free to load yourself. Questions go to the district at 219-465-3694.