Last Chance - Essex County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day

The Essex County Utilities Authority will host its spring Household Hazardous Waste Collection on Saturday, May 5, in nearby Cedar Grove. This is a convenient location for Montclair residents.

The easy drive-in and drop-off collection takes place from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., in the Essex County Fleet Maintenance Yard at 99 West Bradford Ave., one block past Pompton Avenue. 

West Bradford is the continuation of Bradford Avenue, which can be reached in Montclair from Upper Mountain Avenue, just north of Bellevue Avenue.

The event is free for Essex County residents only (proof of residency required). Commercial and large quantity users may not drop-off any items. No early arrivals are accepted, and it is a rain-or-shine event.

“There are some materials that should be removed from our regular waste stream because of their hazardous nature. This collection day provides our residents a place to properly and safely dispose of contaminants, protecting our precious environment for future generations,” Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. said. “Our collection days are very popular and I am so glad our residents understand the importance of recycling. I encourage everyone to participate in our Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day,” he added.

Materials being collected at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day include pesticides and herbicides, paint thinners and solvents, oil-based paint, chemistry sets, barbecue propane tanks, pool chemicals, photo developing chemicals, 9-volt and NiCad batteries, fluorescent light bulbs and ballasts, products that contain mercury, car batteries, home fire extinguishers, aerosol spray paint and automotive fluids.

Items not being collected include latex paint, unlabeled or unidentifiable materials, asbestos, AA, AAA, C and D household batteries, regulated medical waste or infectious waste, commercial or industrial waste, empty containers, explosives, munitions, ordinance or reactive materials.

Under DiVincenzo’s leadership, the county’s collection program has been expanded to include household hazardous waste, old computers and electronic equipment. In addition, the collection days are held in the spring and fall.

The Essex County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day is for Essex County residents only. Residents are not charged when they bring materials, but they must provide proof of residency at the site. Commercial businesses may not drop off materials. For more information, please call the Essex County Utilities Authority at(973) 792-9060 or visit ecuanj.com.