Protect the environment by properly disposing your household hazardous waste

CEDAR GROVE, NJ — Essex County resident are encouraged to participate in the Essex County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, sponsored by the county of Essex and the Essex County Utilities Authority, on Saturday, Oct. 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Old Essex County Hospital Center, 125 Fairview Ave. in Cedar Grove.

“There are some materials that should be removed from our regular waste stream because of their hazardous nature. This collection day provides our residents a place to properly and safely dispose of contaminants, protecting our precious environment for future generations,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said. “Our collection days are very popular and I am so glad our residents understand the importance of recycling. I encourage everyone to participate in our Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day.”

Materials being collected include pesticides and herbicides, paint thinners and solvents, oil-based paints and stains, chemistry sets, barbecue propane tanks, pool chemicals, automotive fluids such as antifreeze, motor oil and steering fluid, darkroom and photographic chemicals, lithium and NiCad batteries, fluorescent light bulbs and ballasts, mercury and products containing mercury, gasoline and kerosene, household cleaning fluids, car batteries, home fire extinguishers, driveway sealer, and aerosol spray paints. All containers must be 5 gallons or smaller or 10 pounds or lighter.

Items not being collected include latex paint — which can be dried and disposed of with regular waste, unlabeled or unidentifiable materials, asbestos, regulated medical or infectious waste, commercial or industrial waste, empty containers, explosives, munitions, ordnance or highly reactive materials, household batteries, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide alarms.

This event is for Essex County residents only. Residents are not charged when they bring materials, but they must provide proof of residency at the site. Commercial businesses may not drop off materials. For more information, call the Essex County Utilities Authority at 973-792-9060 or visit www.ecuanj.com.

  County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr.