The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to continue its seasonal recycling events this September. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of these free annual programs, which offer a safe and responsible way to dispose of personal documents, scrap metal, and household hazardous waste at designated drop-off locations throughout Union County.
“When residents take part in our recycling events, they’re not just being responsible citizens; they’re also playing a vital role in conserving resources and fostering a healthier environment for future generations to enjoy,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “Join us this September, and let’s continue working together to keep Union County safe, clean, and sustainable.”
Residents are encouraged to securely shred personal documents at the County’s upcoming free paper shredding events, taking place on Saturday, September 20th, and Friday, September 26th, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the following locations:
- Saturday, September 20th: UCNJ – Parking Lots 5A/5B, 1033 Springfield Avenue, Cranford
- Friday, September 26th: Westfield Pool – Parking Lot, 713 Cumberland Street, Westfield
This event is part of Union County’s annual paper shredding program, which runs from March through October. All documents are shredded on-site, and the shredded paper is transported to a recycling facility for processing. Events will take place, rain or shine, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., or until the shredding trucks reach capacity.
Events are free and open to all Union County residents, regardless of their municipality, and are intended for the secure disposal of personal and sensitive documents only. Business papers will not be accepted. Residents are reminded that magazines, junk mail, and other non-sensitive papers should be recycled through their regular municipal recycling programs. Before attending, please remove all bindings, large plastic or metal clips, and other non-paper materials (staples are allowed). Pre-shredded, damp, or wet paper will not be accepted.
Union County’s Scrap Metal Recycling Program also continues in September, providing residents with an opportunity to recycle various metal items. Drop-off events will be held on Thursday, September 4th, and Saturday, September 20th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at two convenient locations:
- Cranford: Emergency Services Building, 151 Kenilworth Boulevard, Kenilworth
- Rahway: Rahway River Park (follow Park Drive, Rahway off St. George’s Avenue to service yard across from swimming pool)
Accepted items include refrigerators (with doors removed), metal cabinets, appliances, bicycles, aluminum scrap, air conditioners, and other metal household goods. The scrap metal program operates on the first Thursday and third Saturday of each month, April through November.
Union County’s next Household Hazardous Waste event will take place on Saturday, September 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Kean University’s Kean Hall Parking Lot, located at 1000 Morris Avenue in Union. At this event, residents can bring a variety of household chemicals for proper recycling or disposal. These items include, but are not limited to, oil-based finishes, motor oil, gasoline, propane tanks, pool chemicals, pesticides, fluorescent lightbulbs, and more. Latex paint (water-based) will not be accepted. Residents are advised to dry latex paint out at home using commercial paint hardener, sand, kitty litter, or sawdust. Once hardened, it can be thrown in your household trash. Please note that fireworks will no longer be accepted for disposal at the Household Hazardous Waste events. However, ammunition will still be accepted for disposal.
All Union County recycling events are contact-free and drive-up only. Residents must remain in their cars while staff unloads materials from their trunks.
Union County Recycling Programs are funded through Recycling Enhancement Act (REA) funds, which are applied for and received by the County of Union.
For a complete schedule and more information on all recycling programs hosted by Union County, please visit ucnj.org/recycle/ or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889. Residents may also contact their municipal recycling coordinator for more details about recycling in their community.