County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents that plastic bags and other excluded items cannot be recycled through their local curbside pick-up programs.

“Union County residents have a good recycling rate compared to other counties in our state, and we want to improve on this record and set a high bar,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Every household can pitch in by following some simple guidelines that help our local recyclers operate more efficiently, especially when it comes to keeping excluded items out of the recycling stream.”

In particular, Chairman Granados noted that plastic bags are prohibited in all curbside pickup programs.

“As a matter of convenience some residents use plastic bags to carry cans, bottles and other items to the curbside, but that interferes with the recycling process and contaminates the recycling stream,” said Granados.  “Items should always be put directly into bins, without the bag.”

Plastic bags can be recycled through a designated retailer, such as a local supermarket or department store. To search for a convenient drop-off site, use the free location finder at plasticfilmrecycling.org.

Chairman Granados also reminded residents to be alert for changes in recycling guidelines.

“Efficient recycling programs must follow market trends for raw materials, so it is not unusual for the guidelines to change occasionally,” he said. “It’s always a good idea to check with your local program to make sure you’re up to date.”

Common items that are currently accepted by local recycling programs include:

• Plastic bottles and containers that are coded with #1 or #2 on the bottom.
• Aluminum and steel (tin) cans and lids.
• All sizes, shapes and colors of glass bottles and jars.
• Corrugated cardboard boxes such as cereal and clean pizza boxes; and milk, juice and fruit cartons.
• All mixed paper, including newspapers, magazines, junk mail, catalogs and phone books may be recycled. The exception is pre-shredded paper. Residents who need secure shredding for personal documents can use Union County’s free mobile shredding events.

The following items CANNOT be recycled at curbside:

• Plastic bags or other plastic film.
• Styrofoam — check your municipality for drop-off location, if any.
• Dishware, glass and mirrors — can be thrown in regular garbage.
• Dirty pizza boxes — no leftover food or grease can be included.
• Shredded paper – bring personal documents to a free mobile shredding event.
• Pots, pans and small appliances – check with your municipality for scrap metal drop-off location, if any.
• Plastic containers and plastic ware.

For more information on local and countywide recycling programs, FAQs about curbside recycling and a list of municipal recycling coordinators, visit the Union County Bureau of Recycling & Planning at 908-654-9890 or online at ucnj.org/recycling.

Recycling supports the goals of Chairman Granados’s Moving Union County Forward “Plant a Seed” initiative for building participation in recycling countywide and engaging the public in conservation and environmental education.

The Freeholder Board also encourages residents to sign up for Recycle Coach, a free app that makes it easier to stay up to date about countywide recycling information and municipal recycling schedules.

More information on the Recycle Coach app can be found at ucnj.org/recycling/recycle-coach-app.

Quick links to all Union County environmental programs can be found at ucnj.org/green-connection.

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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

$134,600 distributed to 15 municipalities across Union County

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that 15 municipalities have received a total of $134,600 in Recycling Enhancement Grants. The grant program, which aims at improving local recycling rates, is administered by Union County with funding from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

“Union County is proud to partner with our municipal governments to conserve resources and protect the environment, by providing the equipment and infrastructure that helps our residents send more waste into the recycling stream,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

To receive a Recycling Enhancement Grant, applicants must submit detailed plans that fit specific requirements for promoting recycling and protecting the environment.

The projects that received funding include infrastructure improvements to public recycling centers, and new recycling bins or storage containers for schools, parks, train stations and other public facilities.

The municipalities that received funding from the 2018 Recycling Enhancement Grant program are:

Berkeley Heights: $7,200

Clark – $10,000

Cranford – $7,500

Elizabeth – $10,000

Hillside – $7,600

Kenilworth – $9,000

Linden – $9,500

New Providence – $10,000

Rahway – $10,000

Roselle – $10,000

Scotch Plains – $7,800

Springfield – $6,000

Summit – $10,000

Union Township – $10,000

Westfield – $10,000

Total: $134,600

The grants support the goals of Chairman Granados’s Moving Union County Forward “Plant a Seed” initiative for engaging and the public in conservation and environmental education.

The Freeholder Board is also encouraging all residents to sign up for “Recycle Coach,” a free app that makes it easier to stay up to date about countywide recycling information and municipal recycling schedules. More information on the Recycle Coach app can be found at ucnj.org/recycling/recycle-coach-app.

For more details on all upcoming recycling events, and contact information for municipal recycling coordinators, visit ucnj.org/recycling.

Quick links to all Union County environmental programs can be found at https://ucnj.org/green-connection.

#  #

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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents that trained counselors at NJ Hopeline will provide confidential, anonymous guidance for people who may be having suicidal thoughts, or who know someone at risk.

NJHopeline may be contacted 24/7 by phone at 855-654-6735 or by live chat at njhopeline.com.

In addition, Union County residents can contact the County’s Behavioral Health office during regular business hours at 908-527-4846 for information on local resources for counseling and treatment.

“The recent deaths of designer Kate Spade and chef Anthony Bourdain remind us that anyone, at any stage or station of life, can be overwhelmed by their circumstances,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “If you have the warning signs of suicide, or if you know someone who has these signs, please reach out to NJ Hopeline, or to anyone who can offer help.”

Common warning signs of suicide include talking about feeling trapped, hopeless or in unbearable pain; researching ways to kill oneself, such as obtaining a gun; and behavior changes involving sleep habits, drugs, alcohol or mood swings.

Behavioral Health is part of the Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Planning. More information is available at ucnj.org/departments/human-services.

NJ Hopeline is administered by Rutgers University Behavior Health Care, a member of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The  Lifeline may be contacted for help at 1-800-273-8255.

Photo credit: by Jeff Turner/flickr.

# #

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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs hosted its first “Back in Time” history program last week at the Deserted Village of Feltville in the Watchung Reservation. The new program aims to provide an interactive learning opportunity for County residents including those with disabilities and special needs.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to support our parks, our history and our local historical organizations, and we strive to ensure that our recreational programs are accessible to all Union County residents,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “The ‘Back in Time’ event combined all of these elements into an enriching and educational experience.”

“Back in Time” featured representatives in historically accurate costumes from the Deserted Village and two other historic sites in Union County, the Miller-Cory House in Westfield and the Caldwell Parsonage in Union.

Each of the sites portrayed a different time period: Colonial life for the Miller-Cory House, the Revolutionary War for the Caldwell Parsonage, and the Early Industrial Period for the Deserted Village.

The event was attended by 22 clients from the Arc of Union County, a nonprofit organization located in Springfield with a mission to empower and support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

The participants handled and smelled herbs commonly used during in Colonial times, played popular games of the Revolutionary War era like hopscotch and nine-pin bowling, and explored artifacts and documents at the Deserted Village, the site of an Early Industrial paper mill and planned community owned by the 19^th century entrepreneur David Felt.

Back in Time was developed by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, which is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of Cultural Affairs in the New Jersey Department of State.

For information on Back in Time and other activities of the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, call 908-558-2550, email culturalinfo@ucnj.org, or visit online at ucnj.org/parks-recreation.

The Back in Time program supports the goals of the Union County Office for People with Special Needs. The first office of its kind in New Jersey, the Office for People with Special Needs was established under Chairman Granados’s 2018 Moving Union County Forward initiatives for inclusiveness, diversity and individual empowerment.

To learn more about services and resources provided through the Office of Special Needs, contact Manuel Ramirez at mramirez@ucnj.org or call 908-527-4781.

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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Photo Credit (photo attached): An instructor in historical costume provides a glimpse into Union County’s past for participants in the “Back in Time” event hosted by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs. County of Union, NJ.

Union County, NJ – Union County is offering a free electronics recycling event on Saturday, June 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

Any Union County resident may bring unwanted televisions, computers, printers, and other electronic equipment to this e-cycling site. There is a limit of six items per vehicle. 

“Through this free event, Union County residents can help conserve resources and keep hazardous materials out of the environment. Everyone can make a real difference by using this opportunity to clear their homes, basements and garages of old computers and other unwanted electronic goods,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

“In addition to our countywide events, we also encourage residents to stay up to date with their local curbside pickup programs,” added Chairman Granados. “These local programs benefit when residents stay informed and follow the instructions for proper recycling.”

For more details on local curbside recycling visit the “Curbside Recycling” link at ucnj.org/recycling or contact a local recycling coordinator.

Union County residents can also sign up for Recycle Coach, a free app that makes it easy to keep up to date with countywide recycling information and municipal recycling schedules. For more information visit ucnj.org/recycling/recycle-coach-app.

Countywide recycling supports Chairman Granados’s Moving Union County Forward “Plant a Seed” initiative for environmental engagement, education and empowerment.

For more details on all upcoming recycling events including paper shredding and household hazardous waste visit ucnj.org/recycling. Quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities can be found at The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.

##

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.

Connect with Union County on social media.