TOMS RIVER – Lakewood Township is first up in Ocean County’s 30th year of the Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program.
“This program has had a very successful run for 30 years. With the staff at Solid Waste Management and our contractors we have been able to keep thousands and thousands of pounds of hazardous materials out of our parks, our open spaces and our homes and disposed of safely and properly,” said Freeholder Gary Quinn, who serves as liaison to the county’s recycling program and Department of Solid Waste Management.
In 2018, Ocean County collected 352,522 pounds, of household hazardous waste, at a cost of $164,904.
For 2019, the program will run from March to June at the following locations:
- March 31, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Lakewood Public Works Yard
- May 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Toms River Township Public Works Garage, 1672 Church Road
- June 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Stafford Township Public Works Garage, 320 Haywood Road
These three spring dates will be serviced by Radiac Environmental Services at a cost of almost 50 cents a pound, stated officials. The county anticipates announcing additional dates in early summer.
“We work to make certain this program is accessible to our residents,” Quinn said. “It is held in towns, both large and small, and citizens in any Ocean County town can attend any site. Easy accessibility with our residents attending any location is one of the keys to the success of this program.”
The Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program is free, but registration is required. To register for the Lakewood collection site, call 732-367-0802. For Toms River collection, call 732-506-5047. For the Stafford collection site, call 609-978-0913.
“Spring is the time of year when people are cleaning out garages, basements and attics and seasonal homes are being reopened and prepared for summer,” said Ocean County Freeholder Director Virginia E. Haines. “We encourage our residents to use this free program to make certain chemicals, cleaners, solvents and other items we use around the house are disposed of properly.”
Those interested should note what materials are acceptable: paints, thinners, boat paints, solvents, pool chemicals, pesticides and herbicides, aerosol cans, auto products, toilet and drain cleaners, silver polishes, oven cleaners, photographic chemicals, rug and upholstery cleaners, polishes and bleaches, waste oil and used gasoline.
The maximum amount residents can drop off at a collection site is 200 pounds of dry material and 20 gallons of liquid. No containers over five gallons will be accepted.
“Our residents should check with us or their local recycling center to determine what is accepted year-round eliminating the need to store potentially hazardous items in their home,” Quinn said.
For more information, visit co.ocean.nj.us.
