OCEAN COUNTY – Collection dates for this year’s Ocean County Household Hazardous Waste Collection program will begin on March 26 in Lakewood Township.
The collection dates and locations will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include:
- March 26 – Lakewood Department of Public Works, 1 America Ave., Lakewood
- May 20 – Stafford Township Department of Public Works, 230 Haywood Road, Manahawkin
- June 10 – Manchester Township Department of Public Works, 1360 Route 70, Manchester Township
- Sept. 16 – Jackson Township Department of Public Works, 95 West Veterans Highway, Jackson Township
- Oct. 14 – Long Beach Township Department of Public Works, 7910 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach Township
- Nov. 4 – Toms River Fraternal Order of Police, 1791 North Bay Ave., Toms River
Ocean County has contracted with Radiac Environmental Services to oversee the collections at a disposal cost of 0.939 cents per pound. Last year, the program collected 222,388 pounds of household hazardous waste, at a disposal cost of $173,100.
“For over 30 years, this free program has provided an avenue for our residents to safely get rid of items such as pool chemicals, herbicides, stains, thinners and a host of other products we sometimes find collecting in our garages and homes,” Ocean County Commissioner Barbara Jo Crea said.
The program is open to all residents of Ocean County, but businesses and institutions are not eligible. Pre-registration is required, and can be done online at co.ocean.nj.us/recycle, or by calling 732-506-5047. Proof of residency is required.
Items that can be dropped off include aerosols, auto products, cleaning products, pool chemicals, compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), fire extinguishers, gasoline, pesticides/herbicides, mercury switches/devices (thermostats), stains/thinners, polyurethanes, and polishes.
Those items that are not being accepted include electronics, cylinders (oxygen tanks), asbestos, radioactive materials (smoke detectors), infectious wastes, explosives (fireworks, gunpowder, boat flares), scrap metal and unknown materials.
With the exception of oil and gasoline, all materials should be in the original containers. A limit of 200 pounds of dry materials and 20 gallons of liquid material is allowed per household. No containers larger than five gallons are accepted.
Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Joseph H. Vicari said, “the Household Hazardous Waste Collection program provides benefits to our citizens, our towns, and our environment which is something we take great pride in here in Ocean County.”
He also noted that residents can skip the line for many items and bring them to municipal recycling centers and the county’s recycling centers that allow for year-round drop off of other materials.
Those items include used paint, batteries, antifreeze, and waste oil. Residents can use the drop offs located at the Ocean County Northern Recycling Center in Lakewood, or the Southern Recycling Center located in Manahawkin from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Visit co.ocean.nj.us/OC/SolidWaste/ for more information.
