Trash & Recycling in Porter County, IN (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Porter County, Indiana.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Companies collecting residential refuse in unincorporated Porter County must offer curbside recycling to every customer at least once every two weeks under Code Sec. 18-84, may not discount customers who refuse recycling, and must offer at least two unit-based service levels tied to the volume or weight of trash set out. The Porter County Solid Waste Management District enforces the rules.
Porter County Refuse and Recycling Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsPorter County Code of Ordinances § 18-84
(a)Disposal of solid wastes. ... Materials set out for recycling shall not be handled, landfilled, incinerated, nor disposed of in any manner that prohibits or inhibits the ability to recycle at a minimum 85 percent of the materials back into a reusable commodity.(b)Curbside recycling service. Solid waste collection firms operating in the unincorporated areas of the county shall offer a curbsid...
Bulk Item Disposal
Porter County requires any company running a residential trash service in the unincorporated county to collect bulk items along with regular refuse and limited yard waste, under Code Sec. 18-82. A hauler must first register with the county Solid Waste Management District each year by January 15 before it can operate or collect bulk items at all.
Porter County Bulk Item Collection Rule
Some RestrictionsPorter County Code of Ordinances § 18-82
Any company operating a residential refuse collection service in the unincorporated areas of the county shall collect and dispose of refuse, de minimus amounts of yard waste, rubbish, and bulk items, produced by households within the unincorporated areas of the county in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. No company shall operate a refuse collection service in the unincorporated ar...
Recycling Requirements
Every solid waste hauler in unincorporated Porter County must offer curbside recycling to residential customers at least every two weeks under Code § 18-84(b), cannot discount customers who decline it, and must keep 85 percent of collected recyclables out of landfills under § 18-84(a).
Porter County Mandatory Curbside Recycling
Some RestrictionsPorter County, IN Code of Ordinances § 18-84(a)-(b)
Curbside recycling service. Solid waste collection firms operating in the unincorporated areas of the county shall offer a curbside recycling service to each of their residential customers. Individual customers who refuse recycling services shall not receive discounts for doing so. The curbside recycling service shall be provided at a minimum once every two weeks. ... Materials set out for recy...
Illegal Dumping
It is unlawful in unincorporated Porter County to place or dump garbage, trash or other waste on public or private property outside an authorized dump under Code Sec. 18-2. A first offense draws a fine of $250.00 to $1,000.00, a second offense $1,000.00 to $2,500.00, and a third or later offense up to $2,500.00, enforced by the county sheriff's police.
Porter County Illegal Dumping Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsPorter County Code of Ordinances § 18-2, § 18-3
(a)It is unlawful for any person to place or dump garbage, trash or other waste materials upon any public or private property excepting on public dumps established under the authority of the board of commissioners; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit dumping or depositing of dirt, sand and gravel, free of all garbage, combustible and noncombustible rub...
Yard Waste Collection
Porter County runs no separate yard-waste pickup program in the unincorporated county. Under Code § 18-82, licensed residential haulers must collect only "de minimus amounts" of yard waste bundled with regular household refuse, rubbish and bulk items, and every hauler must register annually with the county solid waste management district.
Porter County Yard Waste With Household Refuse
Some RestrictionsPorter County, IN Code of Ordinances § 18-82
Any company operating a residential refuse collection service in the unincorporated areas of the county shall collect and dispose of refuse, de minimus amounts of yard waste, rubbish, and bulk items, produced by households within the unincorporated areas of the county in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. No company shall operate a refuse collection service in the unincorporated ar...
Dumpster Rules
Porter County requires every outdoor dumpster, compactor or trash receptacle to sit on a paved slab and be enclosed on all sides by a wood, brick or stone screening wall or fence at least six feet tall, per UDO § 5.33 OS-03. The screening must also meet the county's separate yard setback standards.
Porter County Dumpster Screening Rules
Some RestrictionsPorter County UDO § 5.33, OS-03: Outdoor Storage; Trash Receptacles
A. Trash Receptacles: Outdoor trash receptacles, dumpsters, compactors and similar containers shall meet the following standards. 1. Containers shall be placed on a paved slab. 2. Containers shall be screened on all sides by a fence or wall that is constructed with wood, brick, stone, or similar exterior building materials as the primary structure. 3. The height of the screening shall be six (6...
Recycling Rules
Porter County's recycling and waste reduction district operates drop-off recycling sites for county residents only, and Code § 18-120 bans nonresidents, non-recyclable materials, business waste, and unauthorized removal of dropped-off items, backed by escalating civil fines under § 18-122.
Porter County Drop-Off Recycling Site Rules
Some RestrictionsPorter County, IN Code of Ordinances § 18-120
(a)No person who is not a resident of the county is authorized to dispose of any material at a site.(b)No person is authorized to dispose of any material that is not deemed as recyclable.(c)No person is authorized to dispose of any material that is generated through commercial and/or small business consumption.(d)No person, other than authorized personnel, may remove any material left at a site.
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