LIVINGSTON, NJ — Days ahead of this weekend’s Electronics Recycling and Paper Shredding Event, being held on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Livingston Senior and Community Center, the Township of Livingston announced that there is now a 24/7 drop-off container for unwanted electronics situated behind the community center at 204 Hillside Avenue.

During Monday’s Livingston Township Council meeting, Livingston Recycling and Reclamation Committee chair Scott Goldman explained that the committee was able to create and operate the self-service electronics-recycling drop off at no cost to residents. He noted that the committee announced the new drop-off on Saturday morning, and by Sunday afternoon, residents had already filled up the container.

“We did a survey a couple months back on recycling, and the biggest request we had was for self-service drop off," said Goldman. "So now we've got a full-time, drive-up drop-off container for electronics. We've already had the recycling company come and collect a 40-yard container, and the DPW also took away what would have been at least 30 at-home metal-item pickups that were staged next to it.”  

Goldman noted that because residents often bring items to the recycling events that are not really considered “electronics,” such as toasters and microwaves, a place has been set aside near the container for these items as well “so that residents don't have to drag those things back home.”

“Just to remind folks, we do this not just because it's the law, but because old electronics have lead and arsenic and mercury and chromium and nickel and just stuff that we need to keep out of the waste stream,” he said. “So we're doing that in a big way with this container.”

Goldman explained that the idea for the container came about last year after the two electronics collections were cancelled in October 2020 due to the pandemic. He noted that many residents took advantage of the expanded early drop-off options for the next event, which ultimately led to the record collection of about 90,000 pounds of electronics.

He also stated that there are plans in the works for “an even more complete drop-off center” at the future Livingston Circle DPW site and thanked DPW Superintendent Chris Southworth, Deputy Township Manager Russ Jones, Township Communications Coordinator Judith Heller and all members of the “dedicated recycling volunteer committee” for their hard work in seeing this project through to fruition.

Members of the Livingston Township Council also commended Goldman and his team for their commitment to making Livingston an environmentally friendly place to live.

“Scott, in his job as recycling chairman, goes above and beyond,” said Mayor Shawn Klein. “This is an initiative that he wanted to work on, and it's something that the whole town is going to benefit from.”

In addition to the 24/7 drop-off container, Saturday’s event will provide a drive-through service for residents to dispose of unwanted electronics and small appliances and to have confidential papers shredded.

Volunteers will be stationed on site to guide residents to the correct location in the rear and side parking lots, depending upon the types of items to be recycled.

Participants are asked to drive slowly through the parking lot and follow the directions of any volunteer wearing a safety vest. COVID-19 protocols will also be followed during this event.

Acceptable items for electronics recycling include the following items:

• Cellular Telephones*
• Computers & Components*
• Copiers
• DVD Players
• Electronic Games
• Fax Machines
• Fluorescent light bulbs
• Keyboards
• Laptops
• Mainframes
• Monitors/Flat Screens+
• Pagers
• PDAs
• Portable Electronic Music Devices
• Printers
• Radios
• Scanners
• Speakers
• Stereos
• Telecom Equipment
• Televisions+
• Typewriters
• USP & Other Cables
• VCRs

Residents are reminded to erase any hard drive/memory being recycled.

No televisions or screens with broken glass or sharp edges will be accepted.

The following items will also not be accepted:

• Exercise equipment
• Alkaline batteries
• Car batteries
• Light bulbs
• Smoke detectors
• Household hazardous materials 
• Incandescent light bulbs

About Paper Shredding:

There will be a limit of five boxes of paper accepted per household during this event. Shredding is for Livingston residents only. Home-based businesses or institutions are not eligible to use this service.

The following will not be accepted:

• Hard-cover books
• Three-ring binders
• Paper clips
• CDs
• Computer disks
• Pendaflex-type folders 
• Other fastened documents