Union County schedules hazardous waste, paper shredding, recycling days

Union County residents looking to dispose of personal documents, scrap metal and hazardous household items have several opportunities in August and September as part of the county’s seasonal recycling program.

The initiative provides safe and secure disposal options at designated drop-off locations throughout Union County

“Our recycling program offers residents an easy and effective way to contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future for Union County,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon.

“Any amount of recycling, no matter how small, can make a difference. Properly disposing of waste, unwanted, or expired items not only protects our wildlife and civilians, but also keeps these materials out of landfills. It’s a collective step in the right direction, and one we are committed to facilitating for our community.”

Paper Shredding

Residents are encouraged to securely shred personal documents at the mobile paper shredding event, taking place on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kean University’s Kean Hall Parking Lot, located at 1000 Morris Ave. in Union.

All documents are shredded on-site, and the shredded paper is taken to a recycling facility for processing. The event will conclude before 1 p.m., should the trucks fill up first.

This event is part of Union County’s annual paper shredding program, which runs each year from March through October. The shredding events are intended for the disposal of personal and sensitive documents only. Residents can recycle magazines, junk mail, and other papers through their municipal recycling program. All bindings, large plastic or metal clips, and other paraphernalia should be removed prior to the event (staples are allowed). Pre-shredded, damp, or wet paper will not be accepted.

Scrap Metal Recycling

Union County’s Scrap Metal Recycling Program also continues in August, providing residents with an opportunity to recycle various metal items. A drop-off event will be held Saturday, Aug. 16, from 9 a.m. to noon at the following locations:

• Cranford: Emergency Services Building, 151 Kenilworth Blvd., 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 runs on the first Thursday and third Saturday of each month, April through November.

Household Hazardous Waste

Union County’s next Household Hazardous Waste event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kean University’s Kean Hall Parking Lot, located at 1000 Morris Ave. in Union. At these events, 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 (water-based) paint (wall paint) 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.

For a complete schedule and more information on all recycling programs hosted by Union County, 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.

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Submit Union County community news to union@njadvancemedia.com.

Questions about this post may be directed to Linda O’Brien at lobrien@njadvancemedia.com.

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Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff.