Porter County, IN Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

" Section 18-119 defines recyclables to include steel, aluminum and bi-metal cans, glass bottles, No. 1 and No. 2 plastics, residential paper, paperboard and corrugated cardboard. Section 18-120 then sets four specific bans: nonresidents may not use a site at all, no one may dump anything that isn't a recyclable, no one may bring material generated by a commercial or small business, and only authorized personnel may remove material already left at a site, which stops scavenging or resale of dropped-off goods. Authorized personnel are defined broadly to include county health department staff, the recycling and waste reduction district, the state department of environmental management, local fire departments, law enforcement, or anyone contracted to remove material.

Section 18-121 lets the district enforce the article and seek an injunction in court, treating each day of noncompliance as a separate offense. Section 18-122 attaches a rising penalty table to each of the four Section 18-120 violations, and any fines collected go to the district's own budget along with recovered attorney fees and court costs.