The compost provided by the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County meets the U.S. Composting Council’s Seal of Testing Assurance Standards, according to a third party analysis

A&L Great Lakes Laboratories was hired by the district to analyze the compost available at the district’s compost sites.

Though compost producers are not required to have their compost tested, meeting these standards identifies quality so users know what they are getting.

“The numbers are good,” said district Executive Director Therese Davis. “If we screened it, we’d have a marketable product. It meets the requirements for health, safety and maturity.”

In order to determine if the compost meets the standards, manufacturers are required to perform the C10 test that identifies and measures elements including solids, total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, pH, soluble salts, organic matter, and fecal coli form.

The district’s Valparaiso compost site, 2150 W. Lincolnway, and the Boone Grove site, 546 S. 400 W., are open to all Porter County residents. The Crocker site on Tower Road is not open to the public. The Town of Chesterton takes the finished product to its street department where Chesterton residents can haul it away.

For more information, see ItMeansTheWorld.org or call 465-3694.

Posted 7/5/2012