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 Planning and Recycling
  Department of Parks and Community Renewal
  Elizabethtown Plaza
  Elizabeth, NJ 07207

  Tel: (908) 654-9890 - Fax: 908-527-4901
  
  Website: http://www.ucnj.org/recycle

  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)
  • Paper Shredding Events
  • 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 2009 Collection Days

• 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.

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

• From Garden State Parkway - Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 135.  From GSP South, stay to the right down the exit ramp.  This will be Central Ave.  Continue on Central Ave. to the first light and turn left onto Raritan Rd. (White Diamond is on the corner).  At the 4th light, make a right onto Lake Ave. (Rotundo’s Liquor Store will be on the left) and continue over the bridge.  At the third light, turn left onto Raritan Rd.   Approximately ½ mile down Raritan Rd. on the left is the Union County Vo/Tech School.

• From Route 22 - Take Route 22 (East or West) to the Terrill Road Exit (at Sears).  Continue on Terrill Rd. for a few miles, bearing left at the end.  Ashbrook Golf Course will be in front of you.  Terrill Rd. now becomes Raritan Rd.  Your landmark, the Union County Vocational/Technical School, is located on Raritan Rd. ¼ mile on your right.  Enter the Vo/Tech driveway and bear right.  The Academy is located in the back of the campus parking lot.

• 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.

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.

2009 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

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.

The County now sponsors paper shredding events during the year.  This program is for Union County Residents Only - Please No Businesses
In an effort to accommodate all those wishing to participate, please limit your documents to 4 bags/boxes weighing no more than 10lbs. each. 

• NO plastic binders
• LIMIT papers to confidential / sensitive materials only
• RECYCLE magazines and non-confidential papers curbside
• Events will end prior to 2pm in the event that the shredding truck reaches capacity!

2009 Paper Shredding Events:

Cedar Brook Park, Plainfield
Friday, April 24, 2009
10:00am - 2:00pm rain or shine

Directions to CEDAR BROOK PARK, PARK AVENUE, PLAINFIELD, 07090

• From Roselle / Linden / Rahway: Take St. George’s Avenue (Rt. 27) South. Make a right onto W. Inman Avenue and follow entire length. Make a left onto Old Raritan Rd. (Turns into Maple Avenue). Make a right onto Park Avenue. Cedar Brook Park entrance is on the left in approximately 1/2 mile.
• From Cranford / Westfield / Scotch Plains: Take South Avenue toward Plainfield, passing Terrill Rd. and Leland Avenue. Proceed .3 miles past Leland Ave. and make a left onto Woodland Avenue. In approximately 1.5 miles, turn right onto South End Avenue. Cross over Park Avenue, directly into Cedar Brook Park.

Orange Avenue Pool, Cranford
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
10:00am - 2:00pm rain or shine

Directions to Orange Ave. Pool, Orange Ave., Cranford, 07016

• From the Garden State Parkway North or South: Take the GSP to Exit 137. Bear right onto Westfield Ave. which turns into North Ave. Just past second light make a right onto Springfield Ave. Make a right onto Orange Ave (at canoe club). Continue on Orange Avenue for just under one mile. Pool will be on your left hand side

Union County VoTech, Scotch Plains
Thursday, June 25, 2009
10:00am - 2:00pm rain or shine

Directions to Union County Vo-Tech, 1776 Raritan Rd., Scotch Plains (Follow the blue and white John H. Stamler Police Academy signs)

• From the Garden State Parkway South: Take the parkway to Exit 135, stay to the right down the exit ramp. This will be Central Ave. At the first light and turn left onto Raritan Rd. (White Diamond is on the corner). At the 4th light, make a right onto Lake Ave. (Rotundo’s Liquor Store will be on the left) and continue over the bridge. At the third light, turn left onto Raritan Rd. Approximately ½ mile down Raritan Rd. on the left is the Union County Vo/Tech School.
• From Rt. 22 East or West: Take the Terrill Road Exit (at Sears). Continue on Terrill Rd. for a few miles, bearing left at the end. Ashbrook Golf Course will be in front of you. Terrill Rd. now becomes Raritan Rd. Your landmark, the Union County Vocational/Technical School, is located on Raritan Rd. ¼ mile on your right. Enter the Vo/Tech driveway and bear right. The Academy is located in the back of the campus parking lot

Rahway City Hall, Rahway
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
10:00am - 2:00pm rain or shine

Directions to Rahway City Hall, 2 City Hall Plaza/Main St., Rahway, 07065

• From the Garden State Parkway South: Take the GSP to Exit 135 and immediately bear left. Follow the traffic circle back under the Parkway and make the 1st right after the Parkway underpass onto Brant Avenue. Turn left at the next traffic light onto Westfield Ave. Take Westfield Ave. to St. Georges Ave. Make a right onto St. Georges Avenue. Go about 1 mile and make a left onto Milton Ave (Commerce Bank and Subway are on corner). Follow Mil-ton Avenue to center of town. Immediately after Main Street light (Post Office will be on your right), the Library/City Hall Complex will be on your right. Make a right into parking lot.

Kean University, Union/Elizabeth
Saturday, August 15, 2009
10:00am - 2:00pm rain or shine

Linden Recycling Center, Linden
Thursday, September 17, 2009
10:00am - 2:00pm rain or shine

Directions to Linden Recycling Center, 2 Donaldson Place, Linden, 07036

• From St. Georges Avenue: Turn on Stiles St. (make left from Elizabeth area, make right from Rahway area). Stay on Stiles to W. Elizabeth Ave. (approx. 1.3 miles) and turn left. Entrance to Linden Recycling Center is 300 feet on your right.

Warinanco Park, Roselle
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
10:00am - 2:00pm rain or shine

Directions to Warinanco Park, St. George's Ave., Roselle

• From St. George’s Avenue: Take St. George’s Avenue toward Elizabeth. Make a left at the Park Ave. stoplight (at the Coliseum Diner) into Warinanco Park.