1st Saturday of the Month Drop-off in Bridgewater & Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off in Franklin

First Saturday of the Month Drop-off

BRIDGEWATER – Somerset County residents can take advantage of the next First Saturday of the Month Drop-off event to clean up around their homes and yards.  The event will be held on Aug. 4 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Somerset County Recycling Center, located at 40 Polhemus Lane.

First Saturday drop-off events enable busy residents to recycle outdated electronics, tires, clean textiles and usual curbside items in one fell swoop, as well as help people in the community who are less fortunate by donating food items for a local food bank. 

As part of the program, residents can drop off up to eight tires - with or without rims, scrap metal, antifreeze and usual curbside materials, including chipboard items and plastic bottles and containers, marked #1 through #7.  Chipboard includes gift, shoe, shirt and all retail boxes, as well as cereal, cookie, pasta, cake and cracker boxes, without the plastic liners.  Also poster board and backing from writing pads are accepted. In addition, residents may drop off empty, dried-out steel paint cans and rechargeable and button-cell batteries. Residents should individually bag each battery or tape each terminal to avoid short-circuiting of batteries.

Residents also have the option of disposing of clean dry textiles throughout the year by bringing them to scheduled Saturday drop-off events.  Textiles include drapes, curtains, sheets, towels, belts, handbags, shoes (pairs), clean cloth and small stuffed animals. Textiles only will be accepted in a plastic bag.

Additionally, residents can drop off consumer electronics (e-waste). E-waste includes computers (CPUs), servers, monitors, terminals/CRTs, televisions, printers, fax machines, copiers, computer/laptop peripherals, telecommunication equipment (telephones, cell phones/smartphones, telephone mainframes), keyboards, mice, cables, wiring, circuit boards, modems, power supplies, laptops, docking stations, audio visual equipment, electronic tablets, eReaders and chargers for electronic devices.   Also typewriters, VCRs, mainframe equipment and controllers, camcorders, CDs, DVDs, computer disks, diskettes, videotapes and cassette tapes. 

The Aug. 4 drop-off will be the last time e-waste can be dropped off at First Saturday of the Month drop-off events.  Starting Sept. 8, 2012, consumer electronics will not be accepted at First Saturday of the Month drop-off events.  Residents can continue to bring electronics to Newtech Recycling Inc., located at 600A Apgar Drive, Somerset, N.J. 08873, Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For more information about Newtech Recycling Inc. contact them at (732) 564-3110 or www.newtechrecycling.com.

Future First Saturday of the Month events will be held on Sept. 8 (the second Saturday due to the Labor Day holiday), Oct. 6, Nov. 3 and Dec. 1.  Consumer e-waste will not be accepted.

No household hazardous waste will be accepted at First Saturday Drop-off events.  The next Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off will be Aug. 4 in Somerset (Franklin Township).  For more information, contact the Somerset County Division of Solid Waste Management at
(908) 231-7031 or solidwaste@co.somerset.nj.us. 

For a complete listing of recyclable items, recycling events and much more, visit www.co.somerset.nj.us/recycle or call the Somerset County Recycling Center at (732) 469-3363.

Residents wishing to help the needy during these difficult economic times now have two opportunities. They can continue to bring canned goods and non-perishable food donations to First Saturday Drop-off events or they can put out canned goods in a plastic bag on their usual recycling pickup dates.  Items will be delivered to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County.  Perishable items and foods in glass containers are not accepted by food banks.

County Residents Can Drop-off Household Hazardous Waste  

FRANKLIN  -  Take advantage of the next Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day to dispose  of hazardous waste items in your garage, basement or other storage areas.

Somerset County will be holding a Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off event for Somerset County homeowners and farmers on Saturday, Aug. 4, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Franklin Township Sewerage Authority, located at 70 Commerce Drive, Somerset, N.J. 08873.

Additional Household Hazardous Waste drop-off days will be held on Sept. 15 and Oct. 27 at different locations. 

No registration is necessary, but proof of Somerset County residency is required.  The program is free to county residents. 

Household hazardous waste includes banned or outdated pesticides, antifreeze, transmission fluids, brake fluids, wet-cell car batteries, motor oil (2-gallon maximum), ammonia-based cleaners, gasoline, kerosene, oil-based paints, pool chemicals, propane tanks and rechargeable and button-cell batteries.

Additionally, residents can help prevent mercury from entering the environment by dropping off mercury-containing devices such as thermometers and mercury switches, compact fluorescent light bulbs, fluorescent tubes and old thermostats.

No tires, electronics (computers and televisions), infectious waste, gas cylinders, smoke detectors, air conditioners and dehumidifiers are accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off events. 

In June, 601 county residents and one county division participated. Approximately 28,050 pounds of hazardous materials were dropped off for proper disposal.  In addition, 330 gallons of used motor oil, 110 gallons of antifreeze and 62 propane tanks were collected.

For more information on types and quantities of materials accepted, contact the Somerset County Division of Solid Waste Management at (908) 231-7031 or solidwaste@co.somerset.nj.us or visit www.co.somerset.nj.us/recycle for recycling programs and information.