July Dates Announced For Union County’s Free Recycling Program For Residents

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce that the 2026 seasonal recycling program will continue in July, featuring a variety of events designed to help residents recycle unwanted, expired, or hazardous items and to promote sustainable waste management practices in the community.

"We want residents to know that every celebration, barbecue, or beach day enjoyed this summer presents a new opportunity for them to responsibly recycle and care for their environment - we're here to make it as easy and convenient to do so," said Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek. "I encourage residents to review the dates, plan ahead, and take advantage of this free resource."

Union County offers free mobile paper shredding events from March through October, giving residents a secure and convenient way to dispose of personal documents on-site. Events run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., or until trucks reach capacity. Residents are encouraged to participate in the following July shredding event:

• Thursday, July 9th: Rahway River Park (Service yard across from swimming pool), 3 Parkway Drive, Rahway

Union County's paper shredding events are for sensitive and personal documents only, including legal, medical, and financial records. No businesses are allowed to participate. Junk mail, advertisements, magazines, and all other waste papers not considered sensitive or confidential should be recycled through a municipal recycling program.

Please remove all bindings, large plastic or metal clips, and other items prior to the event (staples are permitted). Pre-shredded, damp, or wet paper will not be accepted.

Union County's Scrap Metal Recycling Program also continues in July, providing residents with various opportunities to responsibly recycle various metal items, including refrigerators (with doors removed), metal cabinets, appliances, bicycles, aluminum scrap, and even air conditioners. The next scrap metal events of the season will take place on Thursday, July 2nd & Saturday, July 18th, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at two convenient locations:

• Cranford: Emergency Services Building, 151 Kenilworth Boulevard
• Rahway: Rahway River Park (service yard across from swimming pool), 3 Parkway Drive

Union County's next Household Hazardous Waste event will take place on Saturday, August 8th, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event will be held at Kean University's Kean Hall Lot, located at 1000 Morris Avenue in Union. At these events, residents can bring a variety of household chemicals for proper recycling or disposal. These items include, but are not limited to, oil-based finishes, motor oil, gasoline, propane tanks, pool chemicals, pesticides, fluorescent bulbs, and more. Latex (water-based) paint (wall paint), medical sharps, and welding gas/oxygen cylinders will not be accepted. Residents are advised to dry out latex paint at home using commercial paint hardener, sand, cat litter, or sawdust. Once hardened, it can be thrown in your household trash.

All Union County recycling events are contact-free and drive-up only. Residents must remain in their cars while staff unloads materials from their trunk.

For a complete schedule and more information on all recycling programs hosted by Union County, please visit ucnj.org/recycling/ or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889. Residents may also contact their municipal recycling coordinator for more details about recycling in their community. The free Recycle Coach Mobile app provides a handy way to find out what items are included in curbside recycling programs and drop-off sites in Union County. The app provides up-to-date information on both countywide and local recycling programs. Quick links to all environmental programs and activities hosted by Union County are available at The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.