Department of Solid Waste Management

Since 2010, Ocean County has been operating a single stream recycling system in order to collect and process recyclable materials.

Single stream means that all bottles, cans, newspapers, cardboard, junk mail, magazines, and mixed paper can be placed in ONE bin. Once those materials arrive at our Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Lakewood, sorting equipment (and workers) will separate them from one another so they may be sent to end markets for futher processing/recycling. Download our recycling guide and recycle like a pro!

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Acceptable

Plastic #1 #2 & #5

All plastics numbered 1, 2 or 5

Aluminum, Steel, & Tin.

Cans & Foil

Glass bottles, Jars, & Containers

Corrugated Cardboard Boxes

Look for the waffle pattern, please flatten all boxes and make sure they are clean and dry. Remove the greasy part of pizza boxes.

Paper

Office paper, magazines, cereal boxes, etc.

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Not Acceptable

NO bags, shrink wrap, plastic film, etc. -- Take these items to bins located at the entrances of grocery stores for proper recycling. find a drop off location HERE: plasticfilmrecycling.org

NO Plastic #3 #4 #6 & #7

All plastics numbered 3, 4, 6 or 7

Please wash containers, NO FOOD-CONTAMINATED ITEMS should be placed in your recyclables (soiled pizza boxes, peanut butter jars, etc.)

Plastic utensils, plates & cups (plastic disposable dishware)

CLICK HERE for information on Unconventional Recycling Programs

Garden Hoses & Bowling Balls -- believe it or not we see a ton of both of these items :)

Plastic flower or shrubbery pots (Home Depot and Lowes both accept them at their Garden Centers)

Rigid Plastics (laundry baskets, garbage cans or buckets, lawn furniture, toys, totes) Rigid Plastic Recycling Program (recycle separately)

PVC pipes/tubing, plastic & metal drums, 5-gallon water bottles.

Styrofoam

Bulky metal/Scrap

Scrap Metal

Cooking pots and pans.

Scrap Metal.

Aerosol cans for paint, lubricants, motor oil, or other hazardous materials

Serveware, windows, mirrors, ceramic

Dinnerware or glassware, window glass, mirrors, ceramic containers, ceramic knick knacks, Pyrex dishes or cookware. Donate these items to Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, another local thrift store.

Light Bulbs

Waxed Coated or Contaminated Paper

Please NO SHREDDED PAPER (may be brought to special drop-off areas at both recycling centers)

Aseptic Packaging (ice cream or juice containers, milk cartons, waxed paper or waxed cardboard cartons & food containers)

Telephone Books (may be brought to special drop-off areas at both recycling centers)

Please do NOT tie or bundle any materials (paper, cardboard, etc.)