Hammond, IN Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)

023 permits composting citywide but requires every compost pile to be enclosed in a controlled standing compost system no taller than 3 feet and no wider than 5 feet, with enough moisture penetration and ventilation to support decomposition and control odors. Piles must be maintained so they do not attract or harbor rodents and pests; the presence of rodents near a pile is grounds for the city to act under the ordinance. Location matters too: the pile belongs at the rear of the property, and if the residence itself sits at the back of the lot, the owner must contact the city's Recycling Department about approved placement instead of assuming the default rear-yard spot.

The ordinance also restricts what can go into the pile. Cooked food scraps, fish, meat or other animal products, manure of any type, and grease or animal bones are all barred outright. Allowed materials include yard waste, commercial compost additives, home-grown or commercially grown fruits and vegetables, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags, wood chips, straw and shredded paper. Every property owner or operator is personally responsible for keeping their compost pile within these limits.