‘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 on March 1 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Somerset County Recycling Center, located at 40 Polhemus Lane, Bridgewater, NJ 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, used motor oil, oil filters, 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.

Textiles (clean and dry) include drapes, curtains, sheets, towels, belts, handbags, shoes (pairs), clean cloth and small stuffed animals. Textiles only will be accepted in a plastic bag.

No household hazardous waste is 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 have two options. They can bring canned goods and non-perishable food donations to First Saturday of the Month drop-off events or they can put out canned goods in a plastic bag on their usual recycling pickup dates.  Items are 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, NJ 08873, on selected Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Saturday drop-off dates at Newtech are March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7, July 12, Aug. 2, Sept. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 1 and Dec. 6. For more information about Newtech Recycling Inc., call (732) 564-3110 or visit www.newtechrecycling.com.

 

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off March 22

BERNARDS - Have you been thinking about cleaning out your garage, basement or other storage areas of hazardous waste items, but want to do it in a safe and environmentally responsible way? 

The next Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off for Somerset County homeowners and farmers will be Saturday, March 22, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bernards Township Public Works Garage, located at 277 S. Maple Ave., Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.

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, rechargeable and button cell batteries, and items containing mercury, including fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent light bulbs, mercury switches, thermometers and thermostats.

In 2013, 2896 county residents dropped off close to 173,000 pounds of hazardous materials for proper disposal, including 536 car and wet-cell batteries, 1,352 gallons of used motor oil, 605 gallons of antifreeze and 252 propane tanks. 

For more information on types and 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. First Saturday Drop-off events are held at the Somerset County Recycling Center in Bridgewater on the first Saturday of the month. However, in July, the “First Saturday” event will be held July 12 due to the Independence Day holiday. 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, NJ 08873, on selected Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Upcoming Saturday drop-off dates at Newtech are March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7, July 12, Aug. 2, Sept. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 1 and Dec. 6.

For more information about Newtech Recycling Inc., call (732) 564-3110 or visit www.newtechrecycling.com.

Learn About Composting at April Workshop 

Registration deadline is March 26

BRIDGEWATER - The Somerset County Division of Solid Waste Management and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County will hold backyard-composting workshops for Somerset County residents on Wednesday, April 2, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The workshops will be held at the Somerset County Ted Blum 4-H Center, located at 310 Milltown Rd, Bridgewater, NJ 08807.  A $50 registration fee includes attendance at a workshop, a compost bin and literature.  Registration is required by Wednesday, March 26.

Participants will learn how to compost kitchen and yard debris into a "black gold" organic material for use in the yard, garden and for houseplants.

The program also will include a brief presentation titled "Cut It & Leave It," and other environmentally friendly lawn-care strategies.

Composting reduces the amount of discarded garbage, acts as a natural fertilizer by returning nutrients to the soil, improves soil aeration and reduces soil diseases. It also helps to conserve the Earth's resources.

For more information and to register, contact Recycling Coordinator Melissa Harvey, Somerset County Division of Solid Waste Management, at (908) 231-7109 or harvey@co.somerset.nj.us. A registration form is available at www.co.somerset.nj.us/recycle/composting.html.