Union County Review

Union County residents can safely dispose of their unwanted household chemicals, pool supplies, used motor oil, old fire extinguishers, propane tanks and many other potentially hazardous items at Union County’s next free Household Hazardous Waste drop-off event.

The event will take place on Saturday, October 22, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus, located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains. Any Union County resident may participate, regardless of their home town.

Participants will enter the front of the campus from Raritan Road, and follow directions to the back area by West Hall and the Police Academy.

“Our Household Hazardous Waste events provide a convenient way for residents to remove unwanted chemicals and other potentially hazardous items from their homes and yards, and dispose of them safely,” said Commissioner Board Chair Rebecca Williams. “As this is the last event of 2022, we encourage all residents to take advantage of this opportunity rather than leave items in their houses all through the winter.”

Items accepted for disposal include outdated or unwanted household chemicals, mercury thermostats and thermometers, propane tanks, and automobile tires among many other items such as oil-based paint (no latex paint) and varnish, antifreeze, aerosol cans, pool chemicals, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, thinners, fire extinguishers, motor oil and oil filters, gasoline, batteries, fluorescent bulbs (unbroken), mercury switches, and more. 

A list of accepted items is available at ucnj.org/recycling/household-special-waste.

Residents with questions about unlisted items can use the online form at ucnj.org/recycling to contact the Bureau of Recycling and Planning.

Only materials in original or labeled containers will be accepted. No containers larger than five gallons will be accepted. 

Car tires are accepted at these events. There is a limit of eight automobile tires, without rims, per household.

Please note that latex paint (water-based) wall paint is NOT accepted.  Leftover latex paint can be used around the house, shared, donated, or allowed to dry in the can. The dried can may be discarded in regular household garbage, with the lid off. To reduce drying time, add kitty litter, newspaper scraps or a commercial paint hardener. 

Union County’s Household Hazardous Waste events are drive-up only, and contact-free. Items for disposal should be brought in the vehicle’s trunk or cargo area, where they can be easily unloaded by staff at the site.

The events are held rain or shine, for Union County residents only, not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required.

The October 22 event is part of Union County’s annual series of recycling programs for household hazardous waste, scrap metal and personal paper shredding. These recycling programs will be on hiatus over the winter and will restart in 2023. 

Visit ucnj.org/recycle for dates, times and locations, and for additional recycling resources and information in Union County. Information is also available by recorded phone message at the Recycling Hotline, 908-654-9889.

For quick links to all environmental programs and activities in Union County visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.

View this press release on the Union County website: https://wp.me/p4sLwl-pUH

Original source can be found here.