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 June 7 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 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. 

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off June 21

FRANKLIN – 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 that has accumulated around their homes.

The next Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off for Somerset County homeowners and farmers will be Saturday, June 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Franklin Township Sewerage Authority, located at 70 Commerce Drive, Somerset, NJ 08873.

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

Household hazardous waste includes used cooking oil, 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.

In April, 525 county residents brought in approximately 35,475 pounds of hazardous materials for proper disposal.  In addition, 330 gallons of used motor oil, 110 gallons of antifreeze, 125 lead acid batteries and 54 propane tanks were collected.

Additional Household Hazardous Waste drop-off dates are Sept. 13 in Branchburg and Oct. 25 in Hillsborough.  Household Hazardous Waste events are held at different locations around the county for the convenience of residents.

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 at the Somerset County Recycling Center in Bridgewater.  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 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.

To learn about proper disposal of home medical waste, visit www.co.somerset.nj.us/recycle/medicalwaste.html.