Hazardous Waste Disposal

I have some old paint cans, asphalt patch, joint compound, etc. that was left in my garage by the previous owner. I'm just getting around to disposing of it, but have no idea where to go or who takes care of such waste. Does anyone have any leads?

Thanks!

Check with the town for the next hazardous waste disposal date and location in Cedar Grove where the material needs to be brought.

joan_crystal said:
Check with the town for the next hazardous waste disposal date and location in Cedar Grove where the material needs to be brought.

Just checked Essex county website. May 4th will be the next day for drop off. Thanks for the tip!

Latex paint is not considered hazardous. You can take the lids off,let the paint dry out and toss it in the regular garbage. Oil based paint is acceptable at the drop off. They won't take latex.

Essex county hazardous waste day is saturday 5/4 830-400 99 W. Bradford in Cedar Grove.  Google it for a list of items they will take. 

Jaytee said:
Latex paint is not considered hazardous. You can take the lids off,let the paint dry out and toss it in the regular garbage. Oil based paint is acceptable at the drop off. They won't take latex.

Put cat litter in the can if you want to accelerate the drying process.

Dropped off my hazardous waste at the event in Cedar Grove on Saturday and it couldn't have been easier.

I did, too.  That's always well run.

I just missed the hazardous and electrical waste disposal days.  

Bergen County does this eight (8) times a year.

Union County does it four (4) times a year.

Passaic County does it four (4) times a year.

Essex County last time I asked does it twice a year, though their Web site only lists the May pickup days for 2019 events, so one can be forgiven for assuming that's it until May 2020.

The Association of New Jersey Household Hazardous Waste Coordinators Web site, from which I got this information, has a link for Essex County that has no scheduling information and as far as I can tell has not been updated in several years.

FilmCarp said:
I did, too.  That's always well run.

I remember dropping off chemical waste at Essex County.  The people were very nice, as they handled dangerous chemical waste using cloth gloves.  OSHA would have shut it down and issued a fine to the county.  I hope they are being more careful now.

Is each County's hazardous waste day only for that county's residents?  It doesn't seem like they check at the Essex County site.

bub said:
Is each County's hazardous waste day only for that county's residents?  It doesn't seem like they check at the Essex County site.

 they just asked where i lived, that's as invasive as they got.

als4532 said:

bub said:
Is each County's hazardous waste day only for that county's residents?  It doesn't seem like they check at the Essex County site.

 they just asked where i lived, that's as invasive as they got.

 Ditto. They just wanted my town.

My problem with electronic and hazardous waste days is that you have to have a vehicle to take advantage of this service. While walking from Maplewood to Cedar Grove while lugging hazardous materialis problematic , there should be some provision for persons with small electronics to walk in to the recycling center on electronic disposal days.

bub said:
Is each County's hazardous waste day only for that county's residents?  It doesn't seem like they check at the Essex County site.

Passaic County and some others (can't remember which now) say that proof of residency is required.

I dropped off a keyboard at the Maplewood depository. There is a container that is specifically for electronic stuff.... tv's, computers and such.  Millburn also takes it in.

You don't have to wait for the town's electronics recycyling.  Staples takes up to seven items a day.  I have used this extensively for the past six months, giving them dozens of items from laptops, old towers, mice, game boys, tablets, modems, stereos,  etc.  https://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/sustainability-center/recycling-services/electronics/etc.  It's free, they are friendly and the parking is easy.  Plus you can also recycle batteries.  (Best Buy has something similar but I haven't used it.)

South Orange residents can drop off electronics recycling any day of the week at the Maplewood DPW. 

Taylor said:
I just missed the hazardous and electrical waste disposal days.  
Bergen County does this eight (8) times a year.
Union County does it four (4) times a year.

Passaic County does it four (4) times a year.
Essex County last time I asked does it twice a year, though their Web site only lists the May pickup days for 2019 events, so one can be forgiven for assuming that's it until May 2020.
The Association of New Jersey Household Hazardous Waste Coordinators Web site, from which I got this information, has a link for Essex County that has no scheduling information and as far as I can tell has not been updated in several years.

FilmCarp said:
I did, too.  That's always well run.

I remember dropping off chemical waste at Essex County.  The people were very nice, as they handled dangerous chemical waste using cloth gloves.  OSHA would have shut it down and issued a fine to the county.  I hope they are being more careful now.

What did you wear to load the hazardous chemicals into your car?

We aren't talking drums of hazardous industrial chemicals.  These are products that can be bought by consumers but can't be thrown in the regular garbage.

kthnry said:

als4532 said:

bub said:
Is each County's hazardous waste day only for that county's residents?  It doesn't seem like they check at the Essex County site.

 they just asked where i lived, that's as invasive as they got.

 Ditto. They just wanted my town.

I was there a year ago, and, IIRC, I had to fill out a form with my address while waiting in the dropoff lane in the road. Can't remember if they checked against my driver's license or not.

Does anyone know when Essex County will next have hazardous waste drop-off day?  The web site has nothing, and no way to register for notifications.

Parenthetically is there anywhere worse than Essex County for hazardous waste disposal?  Infrequent, not well publicized, and someone should invite OSHA to one of these drop-off days to see Essex County workers being exposed to hazardous chemicals with comically poor protection.  Not to mention you can't dispose of old gasoline without giving up the can.  I assume a lot of people just give up and pour their waste down the drain, and then we're shocked at cancer statistics for Northern NJ.

Taylor said:

Does anyone know when Essex County will next have hazardous waste drop-off day?  The web site has nothing, and no way to register for notifications.

Parenthetically is there anywhere worse than Essex County for hazardous waste disposal?  Infrequent, not well publicized, and someone should invite OSHA to one of these drop-off days to see Essex County workers being exposed to hazardous chemicals with comically poor protection.  Not to mention you can't dispose of old gasoline without giving up the can.  I assume a lot of people just give up and pour their waste down the drain, and then we're shocked at cancer statistics for Northern NJ.

Found on the Essex Fells website:

Essex County's Recycling Day - Household Hazardous Waste

Posted March 28, 2023

Essex County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day is May 6, 2023 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at Essex Fleet Management (Public Works) 99 W. Bradford Avenue, Cedar Grove. Free to all Essex County Residents.

For more information call 973-792-9060 or www.ecuanj.com.

jimmurphy said:

Found on the Essex Fells website:

Essex County's Recycling Day - Household Hazardous Waste

Posted March 28, 2023

Essex County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day is May 6, 2023 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at Essex Fleet Management (Public Works) 99 W. Bradford Avenue, Cedar Grove. Free to all Essex County Residents.

For more information call 973-792-9060 or www.ecuanj.com.

This doesn't help residents who have no way of getting to Cedar Grove or even the ability to transport their hazardous waste if they are able to get there.  This is just one example of ways in which County procedures discriminate against the elderly, the disabled, and those who can't afford a motor vehicle.