Ocean County Household Hazardous Waste Program Starts On April 7

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ - Don't know what to do with all those containers in your garage and home with skull and crossbones emblems on them?

Gather them all up and take them to Ocean County's free annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection program which begins on April 7.

“This free program, which got started in 1989, provides an avenue to get rid of items like paints, paint thinner, and cleaners, properly and safely, keeping the material from entering our waterways and our preserved lands,” Freeholder Director Gerry P. Little said.

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

The spring collection hours will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following locations:

April 7 - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Toms River Township Public Works Garage, 1672 Church Road

May 12 - Manchester Township Public Works Garage, 1360 Route 70.

June 2 - Stafford Township Public Works Garage, 320 Haywood Road.

Ocean County residents can attend any location, but must register first.

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

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.

Additional dates, times and locations will be announced in the near future, 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.

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

Photo: Patch file photo