Ocean County announces dates for annual hazardous waste collection

Ocean County is kicking off its annual Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program on March 31 with its first stop in Lakewood.

“This year we have reached a milestone as we enter the 30^th year of collections under this program," Freeholder Gary Quinn, who serves as liaison to the county’s recycling program and Department of Solid Waste Management, said. “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."

In 2018, the County collected 352,522 pounds of household hazardous waste at a cost of $164,904.00.

The program is funded in part by the State Recycling Enhancement Act Tax Fund.

The 2019 spring program runs from late March through June and county officials may announce additional dates in the 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 spring dates, times and locations for the 2019 collection are:

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sunday, March 31 at the Lakewood Township Public Works Yard, 1 America Avenue.

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday, May 4 at the Toms River Township Public Works Garage, 1672 Church Road.

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday, June 1 at the Stafford Township Public Works Garage, 320 Haywood Road.

The program is free but registration is required.

To register for the Lakewood Township collection site call 732-367-0802.

To register for the Toms River Township collection site call 732-506-5047

To register 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.

The three spring dates will be serviced by Radiac Environmental Services at a cost of almost 50 cents a pound.

Municipal recycling centers and the county’s recycling centers also allow for year-round 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,” Quinn 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.

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