Union County announces its 2023 recycling schedule

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is advising residents that schedules for free countywide, drivethrough recycling programs are now available online at ucnj.org/recycling. Along with two locations for scrap metal recycling, there will be traveling locations for secure paper shredding of personal documents and for safe disposal of unwanted household chemicals and other potentially hazardous home and yard products.

“We encourage everyone in the whole Union County community to use our countywide drive-through recycling programs to recover valuable metals for recycling, prevent identity theft, and help keep hazardous products out of the environment,” said Union County Commissioner Chairperson Sergio Granados. “I would also like to thank our municipal partners for helping to stem the tide of waste with local drop-off programs.”

Union County’s recycling programs are run by the Bureau of Recycling and Planning, and are for household use only. Residents must arrive in a vehicle and remain in their vehicle while staff on-site unload the items.

The following Union County drivethrough recycling programs can be used by any county resident this year, regardless of hometown.

• Scrap metal recycling: Drop off metal appliances, fencing, gutters, kitchenware and more at two locations, in Rahway and Kenilworth. This program begins in April and continues on the first Thursday and third Saturday of each month until November. Visit ucnj.org/recycling/scrapmetal for details.

• Secure paper shredding: Union County’s secure, mobile paper shredding program will visit locations in Scotch Plains, Plainfield, Berkeley Heights, Hillside, Clark, Cranford, Rahway, Union Township and Westfield this year. The shredding events, 13 in all, will take place from March to October. Visit ucnj.org/recycling/mobile-paper-shredding for details.

Residents can contact their municipal recycling coordinator to inquire about drop-off locations for recycling plastic film including shopping bags and bubble wrap, block-type Styrofoam packing material, fluorescent light bulbs, electronic goods, motor oil and oil filters. A list of municipal recycling coordinators is available at ucnj.org/recycling/municipalrecycling-coordinators.

The free Recycle Coach mobile app provides a handy way to find out what items are included in curbside recycling programs and drop-off sites in Union County.