OCEAN COUNTY residents and visitors that may have questions or need additional information of the many recycling programs offered by the County can find answers in the 2025 Ocean County Recycling Guide.

"In 2024, Ocean County received nearly 75,000 tons of recyclables," said Deputy Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Frank Sadeghi. "Our residents and visitors incorporate recycling into their daily routines and we appreciate those efforts."

In order to respond to questions about the County's and other recycling programs, the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management has produced a recycling guide annually to address recycling, composting and waste reduction.

The guide can be easily accessed from the website www.co.ocean.nj.us/recycle. Residents can also request a copy under the education tab or by emailing ocrecycles@co.ocean.nj.us. Hard copies are also making their way throughout the County heading to municipal buildings, town recycling centers, and the Northern and Southern Ocean County Recycling Centers in Lakewood and Stafford townships respectively. Additionally, copies will be available at the County Connection in the Ocean County Mall, Toms River and the One-Stop Resource Centers.

"Information is key to the success of all of the programs and services we provide to our residents and visitors," said Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners John P. Kelly. "The more people know about this the more benefits we all derive from it."

Recycling is known to provide environmental and economic benefits in Ocean County.

"The more we recycle the more landfill space that is preserved for the future of the County. That helps our towns when they save on tipping fees," Sadeghi said. "Recycling also keeps materials out of our preserved open space and provides another use for things like glass and cardboard."

The recycling guide provides information on Ocean County's popular document shredding program and household hazardous waste collection program.

"Last year we collected almost 92 tons of documents during our shredding program and more than 147 tons of household hazardous waste during that collection program," Sadeghi noted. "Both programs are free to residents and we encourage their use."

Sadeghi said the recycling guide helps to simplify the process for residents so they can recycle correctly, reduce waste, compost and use the products made available at the county regional recycling centers including mulch and compost.

"We also encourage our residents to use our special waste drop-off facilities that accept items such as batteries, paint, waste oil and more," he said. "This year we have added even more accepted materials for recycling including aerosols, and a wider range of electronic waste."

Sadeghi said about 100,000 people used the county's regional recycling centers last year.

"Our staff, in addition to providing presentations and outreach on our recycling programs, works to create unique and innovative programs that respond to the needs of our residents," Sadeghi said. "Always looking to improve on our programs helps to make this so successful."