TOMS RIVER – The Ocean County Household Hazardous Waste Collection program is scheduled to kick off its collection dates for 2024 on March 10 in Lakewood.

Sponsored by the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program is available to Ocean County residents through the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management.

"This free program continues to successfully provide an avenue for our residents to safely get rid of items such as pool chemicals, herbicides, stains and thinners, and a host of other products that we often find collecting in our homes and garages," said the Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Barbara Jo Crea, who is liaison to the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management. "I am happy to announce we are once again sponsoring the Household Hazardous Waste program for 2024."

The program is open to all residents of Ocean County, but businesses and institutions are not eligible. Pre-registration is required, and can be done online at www.co.ocean.nj.us/recycle, or by calling 732-506-5047, if preferred. Proof of residency is also required.

"Residents can attend whichever date or location is more convenient for them thanks to events scheduled throughout the County," Crea said.

The following are the collection dates and locations for the program. The collection events are scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.:

• March 10 – Lakewood Department of Public Works, 1 America Ave., Lakewood

• May 18 – Stafford Township Department of Public Works, 320 Haywood Road, Manahawkin

• June 8 – Manchester Township Department of Public Works, 1360 Route 70, Manchester Township
• Sept. 21 – Toms River Fraternal Order of Police, 1791 North Bay Ave., Toms River

• Oct. 12 – Long Beach Township Department of Public Works, 7910 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach Township

• Nov. 2 – Lacey Township Department of Public Works, 820 Municipal Lane, Forked River

Ocean County has contracted with Radiac Environmental Services to oversee the collections at a disposal cost of $1.269 per pound. In 2023, the program collected 266,526 pounds of household hazardous waste, at a disposal cost of $250,268.

The items that can be dropped off include aerosols, auto products, cleaning products, pool chemicals, compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), fire extinguishers, gasoline, pesticides/herbicides, mercury switches/devices (thermostats), stains/thinners, polyurethanes, and polishes.

Items that are not accepted include electronics, cylinders (oxygen tanks), asbestos, radioactive materials (smoke detectors), infectious wastes, explosives (fireworks, gunpowder, boat flares), scrap metal and unknown materials.

All materials, with the exception of oil and gasoline, should be in the original containers. A limit of 200 pounds of dry materials and 20 gallons of liquid material is allowed per household. No containers larger than five gallons are accepted.

"We always take great pride in our environment in Ocean County and strive to make sure that we keep it pristine," said Crea. "I encourage our residents to take advantage of the opportunities to dispose of waste safely."

Residents are also reminded that they can bring many items to their municipal recycling centers and the county's regional recycling centers that allow year-round drop off of some materials. Those items include used paint, batteries, antifreeze, and waste oil. Residents can use the drop offs located at the Ocean County Northern Recycling Center in Lakewood, or the Southern Recycling Center located in Manahawkin from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

For more information, visit http://www.co.ocean.nj.us/OC/SolidWaste/.