Recycling Calendar: ‘First Saturday,’ Holiday Closings in January

 

‘First Saturday of the Month’ Drop-off

BRIDGEWATER - Somerset County residents can take advantage of the next First Saturday of the Month Drop-off event to clean up around their homes on Jan. 4 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Somerset County Recycling Center, located at 40 Polhemus Lane, Bridgewater, NJ 08807.

First Saturday drop-off events enable busy residents to recycle tires, clean textiles and usual curbside items in one fell swoop, as well as help people in the community who are less fortunate by donating food items for a local food bank. 

As part of the program, residents can drop off up to eight tires - with or without rims, scrap metal, used motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze and usual curbside materials, including chipboard items and plastic bottles and containers, marked #1 through #7.  Chipboard includes gift, shoe, shirt and all retail boxes, as well as cereal, cookie, pasta, cake and cracker boxes, without the plastic liners.  Also poster board, backing from writing pads and empty, dried-out steel paint cans are accepted.

Textiles (clean and dry) include drapes, curtains, sheets, towels, belts, handbags, shoes (pairs), clean cloth and small stuffed animals. Textiles only will be accepted in a plastic bag.

No household hazardous waste is accepted at First Saturday Drop-off events. 

For a complete listing of recyclable items, recycling events and much more, visit www.co.somerset.nj.us/recycle or call the Somerset County Recycling Center at (732) 469-3363.

Residents wishing to help the needy during these difficult economic times have two options. They can bring canned goods and non-perishable food donations to First Saturday of the Month drop-off events or they can put out canned goods in a plastic bag on their usual recycling pickup dates.  Items are delivered to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County.  Perishable items and foods in glass containers are not accepted by food banks.

Also, residents can recycle Christmas trees at two Somerset County Park Commission parks through Jan. 31:  North Branch Park in Bridgewater in Parking Lot A and Colonial Park in Somerset in Parking Lot F.  Visit www.somersetcountyparks.org/genInfo/directions/NorthBranch.html for directions to North Branch Park and www.somersetcountyparks.org/genInfo/directions/ColonialPark.html for Colonial Park.

Somerset County no longer accepts consumer electronics (e-waste) at First Saturday of the Month events. Residents can recycle e-waste, free of charge, at Newtech Recycling Inc., located at 600A Apgar Drive, Somerset, NJ 08873, on selected Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Saturday drop-off dates at Newtech are Jan. 4, Feb. 1, March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7, July 12, Aug. 2, Sept. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 1 and Dec. 6. For more information about Newtech Recycling Inc., call (732) 564-3110 or visit www.newtechrecycling.com.

 

Recycling Pick-up Dates Adjusted for New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

BRIDGEWATER – The Somerset County Recycling Center, located at 40 Polhemus Lane, Bridgewater, NJ 08807, will be closed Wednesday, Jan. 1, in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday and Monday, Jan. 20, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Curbside collection for residents of Bridgewater will be Thursday, Jan. 2, for the New Year’s Day holiday.  Collection for residents of Branchburg and Raritan  will be Tuesday, Jan. 21, for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

For more information, call the Somerset County Recycling Center at (732) 469-3363.  To view the 2014 Recycling Collection Schedule and more, go to www.co.somerset.nj.us/recycle/recyclescedule.html.