Union County, NJ – The next free Household Hazardous Waste event will be held on Saturday, June 5, at Union County College, located at 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Any Union County resident may participate, regardless of their home town.

The Household Hazardous Waste events provide Union County residents with a free, environmentally safe way to dispose of outdated or unwanted household chemicals, mercury thermostats and thermometers, propane tanks, and automobile tires among many other items such as oil-based paint (no latex paint) and varnish, antifreeze, aerosol cans, pool chemicals, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, thinners, fire extinguishers, motor oil and oil filters, gasoline, batteries, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs (unbroken), mercury switches, and more.

Union County’s Household Hazardous Waste events are contact-free. Participants must remain in their vehicles while personnel at the site unload their waste items.

Only materials in original or labeled containers will be accepted. No containers larger than five gallons will be accepted.

Participants must be Union County residents and must observe the following rules for preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus:

·   Arrive by vehicle only. No walk-ins accepted.

·   Driver and all passengers must wear face coverings at all times.

·   Driver and all passengers must stay in vehicle at all times.

   Car windows must be kept closed at all times.

·   Materials should be placed in trunk, cargo area or truck bed where they can be easily identified and accessed by staff, who will remove them.

Car tires are accepted at these events. There is a limit of eight automobile tires, without rims, per household.

For a complete list of the materials that will be accepted on June 5, and information about all Union County recycling programs, visit ucnj.org/recycle.

Please note that latex paint (water-based) wall paint is NOT accepted.  Residents wishing to dispose of latex paint are advised to use it, donate it, or dry the paint in the can and discard it in regular household garbage with the lid off. To help dry out paint, add kitty litter, newspaper or a product called waste paint hardener.

The Household Hazardous Waste collection event will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only, not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required. For more information, please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.