Includes “Mercury Bounty” $5.00 gift card for residents turning in mercury thermostats.
Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is offering a simple, easy way for everyone to pitch in and help improve the environment. Residents can safely dispose of unwanted household chemicals and other special waste by bringing these items to a free Household Hazardous Waste recycling event on Saturday, October 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Nokia campus, located at 600 Mountain Avenue in New Providence.
Residents with paint cans to dispose of are advised to bring only oil-based paints and varnishes. Paint cans with a missing or illegible label are not accepted, and latex paint is not accepted. Residents who need to dispose of latex paint should let it dry in the can, then discard with their regular garbage.
“The Household Hazardous Waste program for Union County residents is particularly important as we become more aware of the need for safe disposal and recycling of commonly used household products and other materials,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Everyone can pitch in to help improve the environmental health and safety of our community, by clearing potentially harmful items from their homes and yards.”
Residents only need to drive to the Household Hazardous Waste event with their household special wastes; no further handling is required. Workers at the site will unload the vehicles.
The October 27 event continues Union County’s “Mercury Bounty” collection program through a partnership with the company Covanta. Covanta offers $5.00 Home Depot gift cards to any residents turning in mercury-containing thermostats.
“Covanta is proud to continue its partnership with Union County for this important mercury take back event,” said Covanta’s Director of Environmental Science and Community Affairs Kenneth Armellino.
Accepted items at the Household Hazardous Waste recycling event include oil-based paint and varnish, antifreeze, aerosol cans, pool chemicals, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, thinners, fire extinguishers, motor oil and oil filters, gasoline, batteries, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs (unbroken), and mercury switches.
Only materials in original or labeled containers will be accepted. No containers larger than five gallons will be accepted. There is a limit of eight automobile tires (without rims) per household.
The household hazardous waste collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only, not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required.
For more information, call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889. For a complete list of the materials that will be accepted on October 27 as well as all recycling event dates and locations, visit ucnj.org/recycle.
Union County’s recycling programs support the goals of Chairman Granados’s 2018 Moving Union County Forward “Plant a Seed” initiative for environmental stewardship and individual empowerment.
For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities, visit The Green Connection at ucnj.org/green-connection.
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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.
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