Household Hazardous Waste Collection 2024 Dates Set In Ocean County

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — Ocean County residents who have pesticides or pool chemicals or other household hazardous waste to get rid of can mark their calendars for the county's annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection program.

The free program allows residents to safely get rid of items such as pool chemicals, herbicides, stains and thinners, and other products. It is open to all residents of Ocean County, but businesses and institutions are not eligible.

You must register ahead of time. Registration can be done online at www.co.ocean.nj.us/recycle, or by calling 732-506-5047. Proof of residency is also required.

"Residents can attend whichever date or location is more convenient for them," said Barbara Jo Crea, director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners and the liaison to the Ocean County Solid Waste Department.

Here are the dates and locations of the collections; they will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.:

• March 10: Lakewood Department of Public Works, 1 America Ave., Lakewood
• May 18: Stafford Township Department of Public Works, 320 Haywood Road, Manahawkin
• June 8: Manchester Township Department of Public Works, 1360 Route 70, Manchester Township
• Sept. 21: Toms River Fraternal Order of Police, 1791 North Bay Ave., Toms River
• Oct. 12: Long Beach Township Department of Public Works, 7910 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach Township
• Nov. 2: Lacey Township Department of Public Works, 820 Municipal Lane, Forked River

Ocean County has contracted with Radiac Environmental Services to oversee the collections at a disposal cost of $1.269 per pound. In 2023, the program collected 266,526 pounds of household hazardous waste, at a disposal cost of $250,268.

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.

Items that are not accepted include electronics, cylinders (oxygen tanks), asbestos, radioactive materials (smoke detectors), infectious wastes, explosives (fireworks, gunpowder, boat flares), scrap metal and unknown materials.

All materials, with the exception of oil and gasoline, 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 5 gallons are accepted.

Residents are also reminded that they can bring many items to their municipal recycling centers and the county's regional recycling centers that allow year-round drop-off of some 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 Saturday.

For more information, visit the Solid Waste Department's webpage.