BRIDGEWATER – Somerset County residents can take advantage of the next First Saturday of the Month Drop-off event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 5 at the Somerset County Recycling Center , located at 40 Polhemus Lane , to clean up around their homes and yards.

First Saturday drop-off events enable busy residents to recycle outdated electronics, tires, clean textiles and usual curbside items in one fell swoop, as well as help people in the community who are less fortunate by donating food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, 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 and backing from writing pads are accepted. In addition, residents may drop off empty, dried-out steel paint cans.

Residents also have the option of disposing of clean dry textiles throughout the year by bringing them to scheduled Saturday drop-off events.  Textiles include drapes, curtains, sheets, towels, belts, handbags, shoes (pairs), clean cloth and small stuffed animals. Textiles only will be accepted in a plastic bag.

Additionally, residents can drop off consumer electronics (e-waste). E-waste includes computers (CPUs), servers, monitors, terminals/CRTs, televisions, printers, fax machines, copiers, computer/laptop peripherals, telecommunication equipment (telephones, cell phones/smartphones, telephone mainframes), keyboards, mice, cables, wiring, circuit boards, modems, power supplies, laptops, docking stations, audio visual equipment, electronic tablets, eReaders and chargers for electronic devices.  

Also typewriters, VCRs, mainframe equipment and controllers, camcorders, CDs, DVDs, computer disks, diskettes, videotapes, cassette tapes, and rechargeable and button-cell batteries will be accepted.  Residents should individually bag each battery or tape each terminal to avoid short-circuiting of batteries.

Residents also can drop off electronics at Newtech Recycling Inc., located at 600A Apgar Drive , Somerset 08873 , weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Both drop-off opportunities are free.  For more information about Newtech Recycling Inc. contact them at (732) 564-3110 or www.newtechrecycling.com.

No household hazardous waste will be accepted at First Saturday Drop-off events.  The next Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off event will be on June 9 in Hillsborough.  For more information, contact the Somerset County Division of Solid Waste Management at (908) 231-7031 or solidwaste@co.somerset.nj.us. 

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 now have two opportunities. They can continue to bring canned goods and non-perishable food donations to First Saturday Drop-off events or can put out canned goods in a plastic bag on their usual recycling pickup dates.  Items will be delivered to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County.  Perishable items and foods in glass containers are not accepted by food banks.