Ocean County Gets Ready to Wrap Up 2013 Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Ocean County's household hazardous waste collection program has just one more date set for 2013 - Oct. 5 in Point Pleasant Beach.

"This year we started a new approach to scheduling the collection of this material," said Ocean County Freeholder James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management. "Instead of grouping all the dates in one month in the fall and one month in the spring, we held the collection one day on a weekend each month up until October.

The remaining collection site is: Point Pleasant Beach Municipal Parking Lot, Arnold and Ocean avenues, Saturday, Oct. 5., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"By spreading out the collection days over several months the program will get even greater use," said Ocean County Freeholder Director John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety. "Making these programs convenient and easily accessible provides greater benefits to our citizens and our environment."

Last year, 306,951 pounds of household hazardous waste was collected and disposed of safely.

"In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy many homeowners continue to clean out their homes as they rebuild," Lacey said. "The new schedule provided more access to this program for both primary and secondary homeowners."

Lacey noted that municipal recycling centers and the county's recycling centers 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 so items do not have to take up space in their garage or basements," Lacey said.

While Ocean County's Household Hazardous Waste Collection program is free, citizens must register with the County. Residents can drop off a maximum of 200 pounds of dry material and 20 gallons of liquid. No containers over five gallons will be accepted.

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