March Recycling Calendar: 'First Saturday of the Month,' Household Hazardous Waste Drop-offs

Two opportunities to clean up around your home


‘First Saturday of the Month’ Drop-Off Event March 5

BRIDGEWATER - Somerset County Freeholder Mark Caliguire, recycling liaison, invites residents to take advantage of the next First Saturday of the Month Drop-off event March 5 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.  They also enable residents to 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.

Residents have the option of disposing of clean, dry textiles throughout the year at 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.

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

For more information, 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.

Somerset County offers residents the opportunity to recycle electronic waste (e-waste) free of charge by dropping them off on selected Saturdays and weekdays.

Acceptable e-waste includes: Computers (desktops and laptops), monitors (cathode-ray tube and flat panel), televisions (cathode-ray tube and flat panel), copiers, digital cameras, DVD players, e-book readers, fax machines, MP3 players, personal digital assistants (PDAs), printers, stereos, radio equipment, VCRs, audio visual equipment, typewriters,  camcorders, telephones, cellular phones, circuit boards, modems, telephone mainframes, keyboards, mice, scanners, cables, wiring, power supplies, mainframe equipment and controllers.

Following are locations, dates and times of e-waste drop-offs:

  • Saturday drop-offs:  March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 9, Aug. 6, Sept. 10, Oct. 1, Nov. 5 and Dec. 3 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South County Public Works Garage, 410 Roycefield Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844. 
  • Weekday drop-offs:  Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the North County Public Works Facility, 411 Chimney Rock Road - north of Route 22 - Building B, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 and the South County Public Works Garage, 410 Roycefield Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844. 


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

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Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off on March 19

BERNARDS – Somerset County Freeholder Mark Caliguire, recycling liaison, invites county residents to take advantage of Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off (HHW) events to safely get rid of hazardous items that cannot go in the trash.

The first HHW drop-off opportunity in 2016 for Somerset County residents and farmers is Saturday, March 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bernards Township Public Works Garage, located at 277 S. Maple Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.

No registration is necessary, but proof of Somerset County residency is required.

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, helium balloon tanks, propane tanks, rechargeable and button-cell batteries, mercury switches, fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent light bulbs and old thermostats.

In 2015, 3,036 county residents dropped off approximately 247,260 pounds of hazardous materials for proper disposal, including 428 car and wet-cell batteries, 1,485 gallons of used motor oil, 495 gallons of antifreeze and 229 propane tanks.

For more information on types or quantities of materials accepted, contact the Somerset County Division of Solid Waste Management at (908) 231-7031 or email solidwaste@co.somerset.nj.us.

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. All First Saturday drop-off events are held at the Somerset County Recycling Center in Bridgewater. For more information, call the Recycling Center at (732) 469-3363.

Somerset County offers residents the opportunity to recycle electronic waste (e-waste) free of charge by dropping them off on selected Saturdays and weekdays.

Acceptable e-waste includes: Computers (desktops and laptops), monitors (cathode-ray tube and flat panel), televisions (cathode-ray tube and flat panel), copiers, digital cameras, DVD players, e-book readers, fax machines, MP3 players, personal digital assistants (PDAs), printers, stereos, radio equipment, VCRs, audio visual equipment, typewriters,  camcorders, telephones, cellular phones, circuit boards, modems, telephone mainframes, keyboards, mice, scanners, cables, wiring, power supplies, mainframe equipment and controllers.

Following are locations, dates and times of e-waste drop-offs:

  • Saturday drop-offs:  March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 9, Aug. 6, Sept. 10, Oct. 1, Nov. 5 and Dec. 3 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South County Public Works Garage, 410 Roycefield Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844. 
  • Weekday drop-offs:  Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the North County Public Works Facility, 411 Chimney Rock Road - north of Route 22 - Building B, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 and the South County Public Works Garage, 410 Roycefield Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844. 


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