MONTREAL (RecyclingMonster): Union County, New Jersey, has announced its October 2026 schedule for free paper shredding, scrap-metal recycling and household hazardous waste collection, giving county residents several opportunities to dispose of difficult-to-manage materials before the seasonal programs wind down.

The October schedule includes two mobile shredding events, two scrap-metal collection dates and the county's final Household Hazardous Waste event of 2026.

Union County's scrap-metal program will continue into November, with additional collections scheduled for November 5 and November 21.

Union County Paper Shredding Events: October 10 and 23

The county's final two mobile paper shredding events of 2026 will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine, although collection may end earlier if the shredding trucks reach capacity.

• Saturday, October 10: Berkeley Heights Municipal Building parking lot, 29 Park Avenue, Berkeley Heights.
• Friday, October 23: Wheeler Park, Spray Park parking lot, 234 W. Stimpson Avenue, Linden.

The shredding service is available only to Union County residents and is not open to businesses. Each vehicle may bring up to four bags or boxes of confidential documents, with each container limited to 10 pounds.

Residents should bring sensitive or confidential papers only. Pre-shredded, wet or damp paper will not be accepted. Plastic ring binders and large clips should be removed, while staples may remain in documents.

Paper bags are preferred. Boxes and plastic bags used to transport documents will be returned because the shredding events operate as garbage-free collections.

Union County Scrap Metal Recycling: October 1 and 17

Union County will offer scrap-metal recycling on Thursday, October 1, and Saturday, October 17, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Residents may use either of the county's two scrap-metal sites on either date:

• Cranford: Emergency Services Complex, 151 Kenilworth Boulevard.
• Rahway: Rahway River Park Service Yard, 3 Parkway Drive.

Accepted materials include air conditioners, aluminum scrap and cans, brass, copper, bicycles, dishwashers, gutters, microwaves, refrigerators, freezers, stoves, washers and dryers, metal cabinets, chain or wire fencing, metal sheds, tire rims, aluminum siding, railings, window frames without glass, lawn furniture, pots and pans, toasters and wire hangers.

Refrigerator and freezer doors must be removed before the appliances are brought to the collection sites.

Final 2026 Household Hazardous Waste Event Set for October 25

Union County's final Household Hazardous Waste collection of the year will be held Sunday, October 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools' West Hall/Police Academy parking lot, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

Accepted materials include aerosol cans, antifreeze, batteries, corrosive cleaners, fire extinguishers, unbroken fluorescent bulbs, gasoline, mercury switches, motor oil and oil filters, oil-based paints and varnishes, pesticides and herbicides, propane tanks, pool chemicals, smoke detectors and thermostats.

Automobile, motorcycle and bicycle tires are also accepted. The county limits automobile tires to eight per household and does not accept rims with tires at the HHW event.

What Union County Will Not Accept at the HHW Event

Latex and other water-based paint will not be accepted. Residents should also leave out alkaline batteries, medical sharps, empty containers, unknown or unlabeled materials, containers larger than five gallons, welding or oxygen cylinders, explosives, radioactive materials and PCBs.

The county advises residents with leftover latex paint to dry it completely at home using paint hardener, sand, cat litter or sawdust before placing it in household trash.

Drive-Up Rules Apply to Union County Recycling Events

All Union County recycling events are free, contact-free and drive-up only. Residents must remain in their vehicles while staff removes materials from trunks, cargo areas or truck beds.

The programs are funded through Recycling Enhancement Act grants that Union County applies for and receives through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Residents should review the current county schedule before traveling because shredding events may close early once truck capacity is reached and individual programs have different material restrictions.