WHAT DO I DO WITH Leftover LATEX paint ?

1. REDUCE:

Buy only the Paint You Need That way, you reduce the chance of having any paint leftover in the first place.

2. Store Paint So It Lasts for Years

Just cover the opening with plastic wrap and replace the lid. Then, store the paint can UPSIDE DOWN!

3. REUSE:Use Up All Your Paint

Now that you know how to keep your leftover paint fresh for years, don't forget about it. Use it up!

4. Recycle the Empty Paint Can

Once you have used up your paint, find out if your municipality recycles empty steel cans. If your municipality does not recycle empty steel cans, the cans can be disposed of in your normal household trash after the paint has dried.

5. As a Last Resort Dispose of Paint Properly

If the latex paint has already solidified in a closed can you can dispose of it in your normal trash. If the paint is still a liquid you will need to dry the paint.

One method to quicken the drying is to add an absorbent material such as speedy dry, cat litter or shredded newspaper. Once the latex paint has dried it is safe to dispose of in your normal trash.

Union County, NJ

Contacts:

• JoAnn Gemenden, Bureau Chief
  County of Union
  Bureau of Environmental Services
  Division of Environmental Health and Emergency Management
  Department of Public Safety
  300 North Avenue, East
  Westfield, NJ  07090
  
  Tel: (908) 654-9890 - Fax: 908-527-4901
  
  Website: http://www.ucnj.org

  Hotline: 908-654-9889

  Page Contents

  • Household Special Waste Days
  • Schools
  • Municipal Recycling Coordinators
  • Residential Recycling
  • Business Recycling
  • Used Motor Oil & Filter Program
  • Demanufacturing (Electronic Collection Days)
  • Propane Tank Disposal

Household special waste days are held four times a year in Union County. The events, which are held both in the Spring and the Fall are held at various locations throughout the county for accessibility to all county residents. Programs are for Union County residents only with proof of residency required.   Pre-registration is no longer required.

Year 2008 Collection Days

From Route 22 (East or West) - Take Route 22 to Cranford/Westfield Exit (Springfield Avenue).  proceed toward Cranford.  At fourth light, turn right onto Springfield Avenue.  The College is two blocks down on the right side.  make a right turn into the main parking lot and proceed to the BACK parking lot.

Acceptable Materials

• Aerosol Cans
• Antifreeze
• Batteries
• Caustics
• Corrosives & Cleaners
• Fire Extinguishers
• Fluorescent Bulbs (unbroken)
• Gasoline
• Mercury Switches
• Motor Oil & Motor Oil Filters
• Oil based Paints & Varnishes
• Pesticides & Herbicides
• Pool Chemicals
• Solvents and Thinners
• Thermostats

Notes:

• Unknown or unidentified materials, explosives, radioactive materials, gas cylinders and materials containing PCB’s will NOT be accepted.
• Only materials in their original or labeled containers will accepted. No containers larger than five (5) gallons.
• No waste from commercial or industrial sources can be accepted.
• No latex paint or empty cans will be accepted.
• UNION COUNTY RESIDENTS ONLY, PROOF OF RESIDENCY IS REQUIRED!

All Union County Schools (public, private and parochial) can also dispose of their laboratory chemical waste at these events. Any school interested in participating in this program, please contact the County at least two weeks in advance of the event if you would like to participate. It will be necessary at that time to provide the County with a list of materials to be disposed of.

• Berkeley Heights (908) 665-0086
• Clark (732) 396-1612
• Cranford (908) 709-7299
• Elizabeth (908) 820-4150
• Fanwood (908) 322-7404
• Garwood (908) 789-1522
• Hillside (973) 926-1110
• Kenilworth (908) 276-5073
• Linden (908) 474-8666
• Mountainside (908) 232-2409
• New Providence (908) 665-1129
• Plainfield (908) 226-2518
• Rahway (908) 827-2159
• Roselle (908) 245-9195
• Roselle Park (908) 245-2721
• Scotch Plains (908) 233-6707
• Springfield (201) 912-2225
• Summit (908) 273-7768
• Union (908) 688-4636
• Westfield (908) 789-4100
• Winfield (908) 925-3850

The following materials are mandated recyclables for Union County Residents:

• Aluminum
• Tin Cans
• Consumer Household and Lead Acid Batteries
• Corrugated Cardboard Glass Bottles
• Plastic Bottles (HDPE & PET)
• Newspapers
• Mixed Paper Leaves
• Used Motor Oil
• Grass & Brush
• White Goods

The following materials are mandated recyclables for Union County commercial, institutions or industrial sources:

• Aluminum
• Tin Cans
• Consumer and Lead Acid Batteries
• Corrugated Cardboard Glass Bottles
• Plastic Bottles (HDPE & PET)
• Newspapers
• Mixed Paper
• Used Motor Oil
• Office Paper
• Grass & Brush
• Leaves
• Wood
• White Goods (i.e. refrigerators, appliances, etc.)

Residents can dispose of used motor oil numerous ways throughout Union County. The County has provided its municipalities with used motor oil "igloos" for collection and eventual recycling of used motor oil.   Residents should contact their municipal recycling coordinator for location and exact hours of operation of the used motor oil collection sites (phone numbers listed above).

The County developed a demanufacturing program in 1995 with the assistance from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and large electronic appliance companies. The purpose of the program is to remove and recycle specific electronic items from the solid waste stream which in turn provides environmental benefits and economic development in Union County.

2008 Computer and Electronics Drop-Off Days:

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT ACCEPTED: Monitors, Hard Drives, Modems, Keyboards, CPU’s, Mice, Printers, Scanners, VCR’s, Fax Machines, Circuit Boards

NOT ACCEPTED: MICROWAVES, REFRIGERATORS, FREEZERS, AIR CONDITIONERS, WASHERS/DRYERS, Business Equipment

Lucent Technologies
600 Mountain Ave.
New Providence, NJ
Saturday, April 12, 2008
8:00am - 2:00pm rain or shine

Directions to Lucent Technologies

• From ROUTE 22 WEST:  Traveling West into Scotch Plains take Exit for Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Berkeley Hghts. & New Providence/Route 78 (2^nd right after McDonalds, before Blue Star Shopping Center).  At 1^st light, turn right onto New Providence/Diamond Hill Rd.  Continue straight for 3 lights.  At 3^rd light, make a right.  Lucent is the 1^st light on the right. 

• From ROUTE 22 EAST:  Traveling East into Scotch Plains take Exit for Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Berkeley Hghts. & New Providence/ Route 78 (immediately past Snuffy’s).  Make first right, crossing over Route 22.  At the light, follow signs for New Providence continuing straight onto New Providence/Diamond Hill Rd.  Continue straight for 3 lights.  At the 3^rd light, make a right.  Lucent is the 1^st light on the right. 

Union County College
Cranford Campus
Saturday, June 7, 2008
8:00am - 2:00pm rain or shine

Directions to Union County College, Cranford Campus

From the Garden State Parkway  Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 137.  bear right onto Westfield Avenue (Route 28) which turns into North Avenue.  Just past the second light make a right onto Springfield Avenue.  Union County College is 3/4 of a mile on the left.  Make a left into main parking lot and proceed to BACK parking lot. OR

From Route 22 (East or West) - Take Route 22 to Cranford/Westfield Exit (Springfield Avenue).  proceed toward Cranford.  At fourth light, turn right onto Springfield Avenue.  The College is two blocks down on the right side.  make a right turn into the main parking lot and proceed to the BACK parking lot.

Lucent Technologies
600 Mountain Ave.
New Providence, NJ
Saturday, September 27, 2008
8:00am - 2:00pm rain or shine

Directions to Lucent Technologies

• From ROUTE 22 WEST:  Traveling West into Scotch Plains take Exit for Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Berkeley Hghts. & New Providence/Route 78 (2^nd right after McDonalds, before Blue Star Shopping Center).  At 1^st light, turn right onto New Providence/Diamond Hill Rd.  Continue straight for 3 lights.  At 3^rd light, make a right.  Lucent is the 1^st light on the right. 

• From ROUTE 22 EAST:  Traveling East into Scotch Plains take Exit for Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Berkeley Hghts. & New Providence/ Route 78 (immediately past Snuffy’s).  Make first right, crossing over Route 22.  At the light, follow signs for New Providence continuing straight onto New Providence/Diamond Hill Rd.  Continue straight for 3 lights.  At the 3^rd light, make a right.  Lucent is the 1^st light on the right. 

Demanufacturing is the process of dissembling products such as televisions, computers, and VCRs where the parts are then sold and reused in new products, recycled or disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.