def #203 09/26/07

OCEAN COUNTY KICKS OFF FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULB RECYCLING; CONTINUES EFFORTS TO KEEP MERCURY OUT OF THE WASTESTREAM

TOMS RIVER - If you were thinking about throwing those old fluorescent light bulbs in the trash, Ocean County recommends you recycle them instead.

"We encourage our residents to recycle," said Freeholder Director John P. Kelly. "Recycling fluorescent light bulbs falls in line with our programs to keep mercury out of the wastestream."

Starting Thursday, Sept. 27 Ocean County will kick off a new recycling pilot program for fluorescent light bulbs.

According to Freeholder James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the county's recycling programs, residents can drop off a maximum of five bulbs or lamps between 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the county's regional recycling centers, the Ocean County Northern Recycling Center in Lakewood and the Ocean County Southern Recycling Center in tafford Township.

The program will accept 4-foot, 6-foot and 8-foot fluorescent lamps as well as u-shaped, circular and compact fluorescents. There is no cost to drop off the bulbs after which they will be recycled. The drop off at the recycling centers is for residents only.

"This pilot program is part of our continuing mission to expand the county's recycling efforts and also to make sure products made with mercury are disposed of properly," Lacey said. "As a coastal county it's especially important that we keep this material out of our waterways and one way to do that is to recycle it."

Businesses have an opportunity to recycle the fluorescent fixtures by using Supreme Asset Management and Recovery in the Lakewood Industrial Park, which is a recycler of electronic equipment including the fluorescent bulbs, computers, televisions.

The fluorescent fixtures and light bulbs are also accepted during the county's household hazardous waste collection, which starts on Oct. 17 in Lacey Township.

"Ocean County still has a number of appointments available for the upcoming fall household hazardous waste collection," Lacey said. "We urge all of our residents to take the time to look around their homes, garages and attics and rid them of products that have the potential to be dangerous."

Materials will be accepted at six municipal sites throughout the County. Residents can dispose of materials free of charge at any site but they do need to register.

Materials accepted at the household hazardous waste collection sites are: paints, thinners, boat paints, solvents, pool chemicals, pesticides and herbicides, aerosol cans, auto products, toilet and drain cleaners, silver polishes, oven cleaners, photographic chemicals, rug and upholstery cleaners, polishes and bleaches, waste oil and used gasoline.

The following is the schedule for the fall household hazardous waste collection: Lacey Township Recycling Center, Municipal Lane, noon to 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 17; Long Beach Township Public Works Garage, Long Beach Boulevard and 80th Street, noon to 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 19; Stafford Township Public Works Garage, 320 Hay Road, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 20; Lakewood Township Municipal Garage, One American Way, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 24; Point Pleasant Beach Municipal Parking Lot, Arnold and Ocean avenues, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 26 and Toms River Township Garage, Church Road, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 27.

To register for the drop-off sites in Lakewood and Point Pleasant Beach call 732-367-0802; for Toms River and Lacey townships call 732-506-5047 and for Stafford and Long Beach townships, 609-978-0913.

"In order to make this program as convenient as possible we are having Saturday hours at both the Stafford Township site and the Toms River Township site," Lacey said. "In addition, collection runs until 6 p.m. at both the Lacey Township and Long Beach Township dropoff sites in order to better accommodate the schedules of our citizens."

More than 154,000 pounds of household hazardous waste was disposed of properly during the spring collection.

Lacey noted the county also was continuing the thermometer exchange program - for every mercury thermometer dropped off, the county provides a new digital one also as part of the effort to reduce the mercury in the waste stream.

"I want to encourage all of our residents to include recycling in their daily lives and take advantage of the free programs offered by the county," Lacey said. "These programs come with environmental and economic benefits that will be everlasting."


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