First Saturday of the Month Drop-off

Somerset County residents can take advantage of the next First Saturday of the Month Drop-off event to clean up around their homes on April 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Somerset County Recycling Center, located at 40 Polhemus Lane, Bridgewater, N.J. 08807.

First Saturday drop-off events enable busy residents to recycle 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, backing from writing pads and empty, dried-out steel paint cans are accepted.

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. 

All First Saturday drop-off events in 2013 will be held on the first Saturday of the month, except for the month of July.  Due to the Independence Day holiday, the drop-off date will be July 13.

No household hazardous waste will be accepted at First Saturday Drop-off events. 

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.

Somerset County no longer accepts consumer electronics (e-waste) at First Saturday of the Month events. Residents can recycle e-waste, free of charge, at Newtech Recycling Inc., located at 600A Apgar Drive, Somerset, N.J. 08873, on selected 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., call (732) 564-3110 or visit www.newtechrecycling.com.

Upcoming drop-off dates at Newtech will be April 6, May 4, June 1, July 13, Aug. 3, Sept. 7, Oct. 5, Nov. 2 and Dec. 7.

Free Tire Drop-off Available to Somerset County Farmers, Residents

April 15 to 19 in Hillsborough

HILLSBOROUGH - Somerset County residents and farmers will have an opportunity to remove unwanted and unsightly tires from their property and protect themselves from the potential of West Nile Virus.   Scrap tires can collect standing water and attract mosquitoes, which may carry the virus.

The Somerset County Division of Solid Waste Management is partnering with the county Road Department to collect old scrap tires, with or without rims, Monday, April 15, through Friday, April 19, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the South County Public Works Garage.  The Garage is located at 410 Roycefield Road, Hillsborough, N.J. 08844.

The program is free and residents can drop off up to eight tires per household.  The drop-off program is funded through a grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Tires also can be dropped off at the county Recycling Center, located at 40 Polhemus Lane in Bridgewater, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., as part of the First Saturday of the Month Drop-Off Program. The next drop-off date is April 6.

For more information, contact the Somerset County Road Division at (908) 541-5021 or roaddiv@co.somerset.nj.us.  

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off On April 27

WARREN - Now’s a good time to safely dispose of those 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, April 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Warren Township Public Works Garage, located at 1 Bardy Road, Warren, N.J. 07059.

Additional Household Hazardous Waste drop-off days will be held on June 8 in Franklin Township, Sept. 14 in Branchburg and Oct. 26 in Hillsborough. 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), fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent light bulbs, ammonia-based cleaners, gasoline, kerosene, mercury switches, oil-based paints, pool chemicals, propane tanks and rechargeable and button-cell batteries.

At the March drop-off, 586 residents disposed of approximately 30,000 pounds of potentially hazardous materials. In addition, 140 lead acid batteries, 32 barbeque propane tanks, 142 gallons of used motor oil and 114 gallons of antifreeze were collected for proper disposal.

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

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

Residents can dispose of tires each month at First Saturday of the Month Drop-off events, doing away with unsightly clutter around the home. All First Saturday Drop-off events are held at the Somerset County Recycling Center in Bridgewater. For more information, call the Recycling Center at (732) 469-3363.

Residents can recycle e-waste, free of charge, at Newtech Recycling Inc., located at 600A Apgar Drive, Somerset, N.J. 08873, on selected Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Upcoming drop-off dates at Newtech will be April 6, May 4, June 1, July 13, Aug. 3, Sept. 7, Oct. 5, Nov. 2 and Dec. 7. For more information about Newtech Recycling Inc., call (732) 564-3110 or visit www.newtechrecycling.com.