Recycling saves resources and helps cut down landfill waste in landfills and incinerators.
Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of County Commissioners reminds residents that nine municipalities have locations available for their residents to recycle clean “block” type, #6 Styrofoam. These drop-off locations are free of charge and are for use by the residents of each municipality only, not for businesses.
Residents are also advised that dropping off Styrofoam at a commercial recycling establishment is prohibited. Commercial recycling businesses do not accept material from the general public.
“We encourage residents of these nine municipalities to participate in their local Styrofoam recycling program,” said County Commission Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Recycling ‘block’ Styrofoam enhances our County recycling efforts and ties in with other green initiatives we are actively promoting here in Union County.”
Union County supports municipal Styrofoam recycling programs by providing signs, educational materials, and recycling bins.
Typical examples of acceptable foam include furniture and appliance packaging stamped with the #6 symbol. Other types of foam items, such as packing “peanuts,” egg cartons, or food containers, are NOT accepted. Wet or dirty foam will be rejected. Foam items without the #6 stamp must be disposed with regular household garbage.
The drop-off locations are for residential use only, as a municipal service. Residents should never drop off unsolicited foam or other household waste at a commercial location.
Nine municipalities in Union County provide public locations for their residents to recycle Styrofoam. These sites are not available to out-of-town residents:
Berkeley Heights
Department of Public Works, 101 Berkeley Avenue, first Saturday of each month from 9:00 A.M. to Noon.
Cranford
Cranford Conservation Center, 210 Birchwood Avenue, Wednesdays from 9:30 A.M. to 3:20 P.M., and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 A.M. to 3:50 P.M.
New Providence
Department of Public Works, 29 Park Place, first and third Saturday of each month from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Plainfield
PMUA Transfer Station, 95 Rock Avenue, Monday through Friday from 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., and Saturdays from 8:00 A.M. to 1:45 P.M.
Scotch Plains
Department of Public Works, 2445 Plainfield Avenue, on Thursdays between 7:00 A.M and 2:00 P.M..
Springfield
Municipal pool parking lot, 40-44 Morrison Road, first Saturday of every month between 7:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M.
Summit
Summit Transfer station, 40 New Providence Avenue, Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 A.M. to 3:45 P.M., and Saturdays from 7:30 A.M. to 4:45 P.M.
Union
Department of Public Works, 1 Swanstrom Place, Monday through Friday from 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Westfield
Westfield Conservation Center, 1300 Lamberts Mill Road. Visit westfieldnj.gov for days and hours of operation.
Please contact your municipal recycling coordinator to confirm dates and times. As a reminder, these locations are only available to residents of their host municipality. To get more information about your local recycling program, contact your municipal recycling coordinator or download the free Recycle Coach app.
For information on free paper shredding, household hazardous waste disposal, scrap metal recycling and other programs hosted by Union County, visit ucnj.org/recycle or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.
Quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities are available at ucnj.org/green-connection.
For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Union County COVID-19 Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit, vaccination information, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.
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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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