April Recycling Drop-Off Events: ‘First Saturday of the Month,’ Tire and Household Hazardous Waste

‘First Saturday of the Month’ Drop-off 

BRIDGEWATER – Somerset County Freeholder Patricia Walsh, recycling liaison, invites Somerset County residents to take advantage of the next First Saturday of the Month Drop-off event on April 5 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Somerset County Recycling Center, located at 40 Polhemus Lane, Bridgewater, NJ 08807, to clean up around their homes

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.

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 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.

 

Free Tire Drop-off for Somerset County Farmers, Residents

April 21-25 in Hillsborough

HILLSBOROUGH – Somerset County Freeholder Patricia Walsh, recycling liaison, encourages residents and farmers to take advantage of an opportunity to dispose of unwanted tires from their property, which can attract mosquitoes due to standing water.  Up to eight tires per household can be dropped off.

The Somerset County Division of Solid Waste Management is partnering with the county Road Department to collect old scrap tires, with or without rims, Monday, April 21, through Friday, April 25, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the South County Public Works Garage.  The Garage is located at 410 Roycefield Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844.

Proper disposal of tires benefits communities.  Scrap tires can collect standing water and attract mosquitoes in warm weather, which may carry the West Nile virus. 

Tires also can be dropped off during the year at the county Recycling Center, located at 40 Polhemus Lane in Bridgewater, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., as part of the First Saturday of the Month drop-off program. Upcoming drop-off dates are April 5, May 3, June 7, July 12, Aug. 2, Sept. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 1 and Dec. 6.

The tire drop-off program is funded through a grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

For more information, contact the Somerset County Road Division at (908) 541-5021 or roaddiv@co.somerset.nj.us.

 

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off April 26

WARREN – Somerset County Freeholder Patricia Walsh, recycling liaison, invites Somerset County residents to take advantage of the next Household Hazardous Waste drop-off event to clean up any household hazardous waste items that have accumulated around their home this winter.

The next Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off for Somerset County homeowners and farmers will be Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Warren Township Public Works Garage, located at 1 Bardy Rd., Warren, NJ 07059.

No registration is necessary, but proof of Somerset County residency is required.  The program is free to county residents.  

Household hazardous waste includes banned or outdated pesticides, antifreeze, transmission fluids, brake fluids, wet-cell car batteries, motor oil (2-gallon maximum), ammonia-based cleaners, gasoline, kerosene, oil-based paints, pool chemicals, propane tanks, rechargeable and button cell batteries, and items containing mercury, including fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent light bulbs, mercury switches, thermometers and thermostats.

At the March drop-off, 475 residents and three schools disposed of approximately 27,650 pounds of potentially hazardous materials. In addition, 53 lead acid batteries, 56 barbeque propane tanks, 275 gallons of used motor oil and 110 gallons of antifreeze were collected for proper disposal.

For more information on types and quantities of materials accepted, contact the Somerset County Division of Solid Waste Management at (908) 231-7031 or email solidwaste@co.somerset.nj.us or visit the Somerset County website at www.co.somerset.nj.us/recycle for recycling programs and information.

No tires, electronics (computers and televisions), infectious waste, gas cylinders, smoke detectors, air conditioners or dehumidifiers are accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off events.

Residents can dispose of tires each month at First Saturday of the Month Drop-off events, doing away with unsightly clutter around the home. First Saturday Drop-off events are held at the Somerset County Recycling Center in Bridgewater on the first Saturday of the month.  In July, the “First Saturday” event will be held July 12 due to the Independence Day holiday. For more information, call the Recycling Center at (732) 469-3363.

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. Upcoming Saturday drop-off dates at Newtech are 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.