May 'First Saturday of the Month,' Recycling Drop-off, Holiday Closing

BRIDGEWATER – Somerset County Freeholder Patricia Walsh, recycling liaison, invites Somerset County residents to take advantage of the next First Saturday of the Month Drop-off event on May 2 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Somerset County Recycling Center, located at 40 Polhemus Lane, Bridgewater, NJ 08807, to clean up around their homes.

First Saturday drop-off events enable busy residents to recycle tires, clean textiles and usual curbside items in one fell swoop, as well as help people in the community who are less fortunate by donating food items for a local food bank.

As part of the program, residents can drop off up to eight tires - with or without rims, scrap metal, used motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze and usual curbside materials, including chipboard items and plastic bottles and containers, marked #1 through #7. Chipboard includes gift, shoe, shirt and all retail boxes, as well as cereal, cookie, pasta, cake and cracker boxes, without the plastic liners. Also poster board, backing from writing pads and empty, dried-out steel paint cans are accepted.

Residents have the option of disposing of clean dry textiles throughout the year and usual curbside items at once, as well as help people in the community who are less fortunate by donating items for a local food bank.

No household hazardous waste is accepted at First Saturday Drop-off events.

For a complete listing of recyclable items, recycling events and much more, visit www.co.somerset.nj.us/recycle or call the Somerset County Recycling Center at (732) 469-3363.

Residents wishing to help the needy during these difficult economic times have two options. They can bring canned goods and non-perishable food donations to First Saturday of the Month drop-off events or they can put out canned goods in a plastic bag on their usual recycling pickup dates. Items are delivered to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County. Perishable items and foods in glass containers are not accepted by food banks.

Somerset County no longer accepts consumer electronics (e-waste) at First Saturday of the Month events. Residents can recycle e-waste, free of charge, at Newtech Recycling Inc., located at 600A Apgar Drive, Somerset, NJ 08873, on selected Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday drop-off dates in 2015 are May 2, June 6, July 11, Aug. 1, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5. For more information about Newtech Recycling Inc., call (732) 564-3110 or visit www.newtechrecycling.com.

Recycling Pick-up Date Adjusted for Memorial Day

The Somerset County Recycling Center, located at 40 Polhemus Lane, Bridgewater, NJ 08807, will be closed Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day.

Curbside collection for residents of Branchburg, Hillsborough and Raritan will be Tuesday, May 26.

For more information, call the Somerset County Recycling Center at (732) 469-3363. To view the 2015 Recycling Collection Schedule and more, go to www.co.somerset.nj.us/recycle/recyclescedule.html.