Ocean County Household Hazardous Waste Program Kicks Off On April 1

Have too many of those skull-and-crossbones items in your garage or basement?

Gather them up and head one down to one of Ocean County's free annual Household Hazard Waste Collction programs. The first event begins on April 1 in Stafford Township.

"I am pleased to announce the first three dates for 2017 of this very popular program," said Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry P. Little, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management. "I am happy we can offer it again this year. It provides benefits to not just our citizens but also protects the environment."

The program is a way to keep items like paints, paint thinner, cleaners and other dangerous items out of the waste stream, waterways and preserved lands.

The program in 1989 and has kept many toxic substances out of garbage cans or being poured onto the ground.

The 2017 program will run at least once a month from April to October and will be held at different sites throughout the county.

"We work to make certain this program is accessible to our residents," Little said. "It is held in towns, both large and small, and citizens in any Ocean County town can attend any site. Our residents can attend any location."

The first dates, times and locations for the 2017 collection are: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 1 at the Stafford Township Public Works Garage, 320 Haywood Road; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., May 13, Toms River Township Public Works Garage, 1672 Church Road, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 3 at the Manchester Township Public Works Garage, 1360 Route 70.

Registration is required. To register for the Stafford Township collection site call 609-978-0913; for the Toms River Township site call 732-506-5047 and for the Manchester collection site call 732-367-0802.

Municipal recycling centers and the county's recycling centers also allow for drop off of a host of materials including used paint, motor oil and car batteries.

"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," Little said.

Residents can drop off a maximum of 200 pounds of dry material and 20 gallons of liquid at the County's household hazardous waste collection sites. No containers over five gallons will be accepted.

Materials accepted at the household hazardous waste collection sites are: 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.

Little said that additional dates, times and locations will be announced in the near future. The three spring dates will be serviced by Radiac Environmental Services at a cost of 45 cents a pound.

Program information also can be found on the county website at www.co.ocean.nj.us or by calling 1-800-55-RECYCLE.

Image: Patch file photo