Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – As the fall cleanup season begins, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is offering several free recycling events throughout October. These events are open to all Union County residents.

“The fall months are a good time to clear unwanted items from basements, attics, yards and garages, and our free events in October offer residents a convenient way to recycle any scrap metal they come across at home,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Residents can also securely shred their personal papers, and dispose of household chemicals and other potentially harmful materials in an environmentally responsible manner, at our October events.” 

Union County’s scrap metal recycling program is held on the first Thursday and third Saturday of each month. The next upcoming dates are Thursday, October 4 and Saturday, October 20.

Residents can use either of two drop-off locations for scrap metal: the Emergency Services Building at 151 Kenilworth Boulevard in Cranford and Rahway River Park off St. Georges Avenue in Rahway. Both locations are open for scrap metal drop-off from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on October 4 and October 20.

Metal appliances, bicycles, air conditioners, and metal lawn furniture are among the many kinds of scrap metal items that are accepted.

Union County will also host two mobile document-shredding events in October. The first will be held on Saturday, October 6 at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus, located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

A second event paper shredding event will be offered on Thursday, October 18 at Galloping Hill Golf Course, located at 3 Golf Drive in Kenilworth.

Both events will run from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 1:00 p.m., rain or shine. The events will end early if the shredding trucks reach capacity.

Residents can bring up to four bags of confidential documents for shredding weighing less than 10 pounds each.

The final Household Hazardous Waste recycling program of 2018 will take place on Saturday, October 27 at Nokia, located at 600 Mountain Avenue in New Providence. The event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Accepted items at the Household Hazardous Waste event include old pesticides and herbicides, pool chemicals, gasoline, oil-based paints, propane tanks, deck stain, automobile tires and more.

As part of Union County’s recycling programs, these events support the goals of Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados’s Moving Union County Forward “Plant a Seed” initiative for building countywide participation in recycling, and engaging the public in conservation and environmental education.

The Freeholder Board is also encouraging 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 can be found at ucnj.org/recycling/recycle-coach-app.

For more details on all Union County recycling events and programs, visit ucnj.org/recycling or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Five year agreement ensures continued care of Union County Juvenile detainees with Essex County;  Union County Detention Center to close on February 28^th, 2019

UNION COUNTY, NJ—In a cost-savings measure that will save millions, while ensuring the continued care of its youth offenders, the County of Union today announced it has finalized a five-year agreement with Essex County to provide juvenile detention services. The agreement has an option for renewal.

County officials decided to seek a shared services agreement as the number of County juvenile detainees at the facility have continued to show a long-term dramatic decline. The average daily population of County juveniles has declined from a high of more than 43 residents in January, 2012 to an average of just about ten this past year—a decline of more than 77 percent.

“While it is no longer feasible to continue to maintain a facility due to the declining numbers, we sought a solution that is aimed at preserving the rights, safety and dignity of incarcerated youth while minimizing the impact on any affected employees,” said Union County Manager Edward T. Oatman. “We believe this is the best possible course, and one that will realize  substantial savings for the County.”

The Union County Juvenile Detention Facility in Linden will close effective Feb. 28th, 2019, and Union County detainees will be transferred to the Essex County Juvenile Detention facility in Newark.

“We have been carefully reviewing the possibility of the juvenile detention center closure for months, and this decision has not been made lightly,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “This is a financially responsible agreement that provides benefits to our County’s taxpayers, realizes efficiencies and provides proper facilities for our juveniles with comparable services. This closure will bring a 24.6 million dollar savings to the County of Union within the first three years alone.”

Chairman Granados added the County had considered other facilities during the process: “The Essex County facility is nationally accredited, offers an all-day school, recreation programs including a swimming pool, and we will provide transportation for the youth and their families.”

In all, 82 County employees are impacted by the measure including: 56 juvenile detention officers, 12 senior juvenile detention officers, seven supervisors, and seven civilian employees. 

The civilian employees may be eligible to be rehired by Union County. Additionally, Essex County has agreed to interview qualified Union County Juvenile Center employees in good standing, including Juvenile Detention Officers and Supervisors for any openings that may occur in their facility. To the extent possible, the Essex County Juvenile Detention facility will hire these employees to fill any vacancies they have available.

Additional resources will be provided to remaining laid-off workers. The County’s Workforce Development Board will be made available and separated workers can take advantage of job training, resume assistance, and other employment programs.  Finally, the County of Union will contact other counties throughout New Jersey to attempt to place separated workers.

Overall, officials attribute the decline in detainees at the Union County facility in large part to the effectiveness of the state’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. This is a comprehensive approach that provides mechanisms to detain fewer youth and relies on proven, family-focused interventions, education, mental health treatment and opportunities for positive youth development.

In order to provide convenience to affected families of the detainees, the County of Union is planning to offer transportation to the Essex County facility. It should be noted that the Essex County facility is in close proximity, only an additional five (5.8) miles from the Union County Courthouse.

While no immediate determination has been made for the re-use of the Union County Detention Center once it is closed, the County will explore the most effective and efficient repurposing of the facility, added County Manager Oatman.

ELIZABETH, NJ—The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation invite youngsters 4 years old to 12 years old to participate in “Paint in the Pond” on Saturday, October 6 at the pond in Warinanco Park. This interactive art project will run from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

“The pond at Warinanco Park is a perfect setting for young artists to gather with family members to create beautiful projects while learning the importance of recycling,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

This will be the third year “Paint by the Pond” will be presented to allow children to paint cardboard model houses and create art on poster board. There will also be miniature houses made with the cardboard boxes floating in the pond during the event.

In case of rain, “Paint by the Pond” will be held on Sunday, October 7. For more information on this exciting event, please call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at (908) 527-4900.

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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.

Connect with Union County on social media.