Recycling and Trash Disposal in Millburn Township

Did you know that our regular household trash is incinerated, in Newark? In fact, all of Essex County's household trash is BURNED about 10 miles from where we live. The plant’s emissions are higher than average for US waste-to-energy plants, and it is scheduled for filtration upgrade, completion tentatively 2016.  It generates a relatively small amount of electricity through the process; indeed its power generation per ton of trash is below average for US plants.

It is therefore very important that we reduce our trash as much as possible, preferably through reduced consumption and re-use, and when disposal is necessary, recycling. Fortunately the Millburn Dept. of Public Works and other local resources offer convenient alternatives. 

Here is a comprehensive list of what should NOT be put in your regular trash, and what to do with it:

1)         Curbside recycling:

•  Plastics numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 (except Styrofoam - see (3) below)

•  All metals including aluminum foil and all types of metal cans

•  Empty spray cans

•  Glass containers

•  All paper except hard cover books (please break down boxes)

All of the above may be placed together in the same bin but please separate different materials: i.e. remove metal caps from glass bottles and paper labels from cans, in order to enable them to be processed separately. It is OK to leave some food residue on the items.

2) Drop at DPW yard (next to Millburn Middle School)

•  Electronics: computers, printers, TVs, etc.

•  All non-alkaline batteries and devices including auto batteries, button batteries and rechargeables (cell phone, laptop batteries, toothbrushes etc.)

•  Light plastic bags, cereal/cracker box liners and plastic film

•  Used cooking oil and motor oil

•  Fluorescent tubes

•  Antifreeze

•  Tires

•  large metal goods (call for appliance special pick up)

•  dried paint cans

•  brush/small branches

3) Styrofoam

The best solution is to avoid this nasty product whenever possible, for example by choosing eggs packaged in paper cartons and choosing non-styrofoam packing material when sending a package. Avoid purchasing perishable items mail order, as they are packaged in thick Styrofoam coolers…

However, if you are stuck with it:

•  Styrofoam peanuts/packing material as well as cardboard boxes may be dropped at the local Ebay store or Mailboxes etc. for re-use. Help a local business while helping the environment!

•  All white Styrofoam except egg cartons may be dropped for recycling at Foam Pack Industries, 72 Fadem Rd. (just off Route 22), Springfield (973) 376-3700 http://www.foampackindustries.com/  Styrofoam must be clean, and free of other materials such as tape or stickers. No colors besides white are accepted.