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A to Z Disposal Guide

Overview

Montclair's A to Z Disposal Guide provides handy information on the proper disposal, recycling, or reuse of items in your home.

A-B

Aerosol cans (paint or household cleaner) • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Aerosol cans (personal use) • Refuse

Air Conditioner • Household Appliances (sticker required)

Aluminum Foil • Refuse

Montclair's recycling vendor does not accept aluminum foil with recycling.

Ammunition, boxed • Special Disposal

Contact the Montclair Police Department at (973) 744-1234 for instructions.

Antifreeze • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Appliances, small • Donate, or Household Appliances

For donations:

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

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Freecycle

Asbestos • Special Instructions

See the Asbestos Disposal Guide.

Automobiles, Used • Donation

Wheels for Wishes newjersey.wheelsforwishes.org

Automotive Fluids • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Baby Items • Donate

For donations:

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

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Freecycle

Bath Tub • Bulky Waste

Batteries, car • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Batteries, rechargeable • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Batteries, standard/household/alkaline: AA, AAA, C, D, 9-volt • Refuse (see explanation)

Most of the heavy metals in household batteries were removed in 1992. Therefore, they are no longer HHW and residents may dispose of them as refuse.

Bed Frame • Donate, or Bulky Waste

For donations: Freecycle

Bicycles • Donate, or Bulky Waste

For donations:

Give your bike a second life with Pedals for Progress (P4P), a NJ non-profit organization which rescues bicycles destined for overburdened landfills – or the Essex Incinerator – and ships them to developing countries where they are sorely needed and highly valued.

The group hosts drop-off collection events in and around the Montclair area. To find the closest upcoming events, go to www.p4p.org and click on "Collection Schedule".

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Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

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Freecycle

Black Light • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Bleach • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Boats, Used • Donation

Wheels for Wishes newjersey.wheelsforwishes.org

Bookcase, metal • Scrap Metal

Bookcase, wood or plastic • Donate, or Bulky Waste

For donations:

Freecycle

Books, hardcover • Donate, or Special Disposal

Donate to the Hillside Swap, used book store, library, hospital, etc.

If in bad condition: If the hardcover can be removed, pull the cover off and the pages can go with mixed paper recycling

OTHERWISE: discard of the book with your household refuse

Books, paperback • Donate, or Mixed Paper Recycling

For donations:

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

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Hillside Swap

Bottle Caps • Refuse

Bottles, glass or plastic • Commingled Recycling

Box Spring • Bulky Waste

Boxes, cardboard • Mixed Paper Recycling

Boxes, corrugated cardboard • Mixed Paper Recycling

Corrugated cardboard must be flattened and preferably tied with twine (not tape), with any non-paper packaging removed.

Boxes, waxed corrugated cardboard • Refuse

Branches • Yard Waste

Brillo Pads • Refuse

Bubble Wrap (tape removed) • Special Recycling or Refuse

Drop off at one of the following locations for recycling:

The UPS Store
41 Watchung Plaza
(973) 744-6611

Montclair Shipping Plus
551 Valley Road
(973) 746-5500

C - D

Cans, food and beverage (aluminum, tin, and bi-metal) • Commingled Recycling

Cans, other (clean) • Scrap Metal

Car Seats • Refuse

For safety reasons, car seats should be disposed of as refuse.

Cars, Used • Donation

Wheels for Wishes newjersey.wheelsforwishes.org

Carbon Monoxide Alarm/Detector • Special Smoke Alarm Disposal

Cardboard, boxboard or corrugated • Mixed Paper Recycling

Cardboard, waxed • Refuse

Carpet, rolled or bundled • Bulky Waste (see note)

1 roll = 1 bulky waste item

Cartons, milk or OJ • Commingled Recycling

Cassette, audio • Refuse

Cassette, video • Refuse

Cat Litter • Refuse

CD Cases (jewel cases) • Electronics

CDs/DVDs • Donate, or Electronics

If playable, donate to the Hillside Swap.

CD/DVD players • Electronics

Ceramics • Sell, Donate, or Refuse

Chairs • Donate, or Bulky Waste

For donations: Freecycle

Chemicals, crystallized (identified) • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Chemicals, crystallized (unidentified) • Special Disposal

Contact the Montclair Fire Department at (973) 744-1234 for instructions.

Chemistry Sets • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

China • Refuse (see note)

If in good condition, bring to a consignment shop or donate.

Christmas Holiday Trees • Yard Waste (seasonal) Christmas trees placed at the curb are picked up on a weekly basis during the entire month of January. All decorations, lights, etc. must be removed. Wreaths collected separately with refuse.

Cleaning Fluids • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Clothes Dryer • Household Appliances

Clothing • Donate or Refuse (depending on condition)

If the items are in good condition: Look for a new home for them (donate or sell).

Some options include:

Second Time Around Shop

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Used clothing bins

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The Vietnam Veterans (VVA) program: www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

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The Hillside Swap

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Freecycle

If your items are in poor condition, dispose of them as refuse.

Coat Hangers, plastic • Refuse

Coat Hangers, wire • Special Recycling or Scrap Metal

Clean wire hangers can be brought back to your local dry cleaner or disposed of as scrap metal.

Commode • Bulky Waste

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), or Special Disposal

Spent CFLs are also accepted at any Home Depot, Lowes, or Ikea locations.

Computers • Electronics

Construction/Demolition Debris (C&D) • Bulky Waste (see note) or Special Disposal

For Bulky Waste: One (1) can only, weighing no more than 75 pounds

For larger quantities: see Construction/Demolition Disposal Guide

Cooking Oil (Vegetable Oil) • Special Recycling

Bring used cooking oil to the Essex County Utilities Authority located at 125 Fairview Avenue (next to the old hospital center), Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 (973)-857-2350.

You may also call to find out when the next collection day is scheduled.

Cork • Special Recycling

Whole Foods Market provides a cork recycling receptacle (in their exit doorway) which collects cork for the Cork Forest and Conservation Alliance (www.corkforest.org), a non-profit organization.

Cork is a 100% natural, renewable, recyclable and biodegradable material that is obtained through an environmentally-friendly harvesting process. Recycling corks conserves cork forests.

Cosmetics • Refuse

Couch • Donate, or Bulky Waste

For donations: Freecycle

Degreasers • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Dehumidifiers • Household Appliances (sticker required)

Detergent • Refuse (liquid)/Commingled Recycling (container)

Give to a friend, family, or neighbor

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Discard liquid down the sink and recycle the container with commingled recycling

Dirt • Special Disposal

Residents must make their own arrangements for disposal (i.e. hire a landscaper)

Dishes • Donate or Refuse

Dishwasher • Household Appliances

Disinfectants • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Driveway Sealer • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Dryer • Household Appliances

E-F

Electronic Equipment • Electronics

Envelopes, paper • Mixed Paper Recycling

Envelopes with windows are also included.

Explosives/Highly Reactive Materials • Explosives

Call 911 (will alert the police and fire departments)

Eyeglasses • Special Recycling

Eyeglasses can be dropped off at Lens Crafters and Pearle Vision locations.

They can also be mailed to:

New Eyes for the Needy
PO Box 332
Short Hills, NJ 07078

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New Jersey Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center, Inc.
c/o The Katzenbach School for the Deaf
320 Sullivan Way
West Trenton, NJ 08628

Fans, window-sized or ceiling • Bulky Waste

Fences, metal • Scrap Metal

Fences, other (wood, plastic) • Bulky Waste

File Cabinets, metal • Scrap Metal

File Cabinets, other • Bulky Waste

Fire Extinguisher • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Fireworks • Special Disposal

Contact the Montclair Fire Department at (973) 744-1234 for instructions.

Flag, American • Special Disposal

The United States Flag Code states: "The Flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning."

If you have such a flag, put it in the special bin outside the Brookdale ShopRite, or contact the American Legion or VFW who will accept the flag and properly dispose of it.

Floor Wax • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Spent CFLs are also accepted at any Home Depot, Lowes, or Ikea locations.

Foil, aluminum • Refuse

Montclair's recycling vendor does not accept aluminum foil with recycling.

Freezers • Household Appliances (sticker required)

Frozen Meal Boxes (clean) • Mixed Paper Recycling

Fungicides • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Furniture, large • Bulky Waste

Furniture, small • Donate

For donations:

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

G-I

Game consoles • Electronics

Garbage Cans, metal or rigid plastic • Bulky Waste

Gasoline • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Glass, bottles • Commingled Recycling

Glass, drinking • Refuse

Glass, window panes • Plate Glass

Drop-off at Community Services Yard (219 North Fullerton Avenue, Montclair) on Saturdays from 9am-4pm.

Glassware, kitchenware, homedecor • Donate

For donations:

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

Grass Clippings • Home Composting or Yard Waste

Grease (cooking) • Refuse

Grill, charcoal or gas • Scrap Metal

Headboard • Bulky Waste

Helium tank, empty • Scrap Metal

Once empty, unscrew the valve on the tank and bring to the Department of Community Services (219 No. Fullerton Ave),Wednesday/Friday between 2pm and 4pm and Saturdays between 9am and 4pm.

Herbicides • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Hole Punchers, metal • Scrap Metal

Hot Water Heater • Household Appliances

Ink Cartridges • Special Recycling

Bring to your local Staples store for recycling.

Insecticides • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Iron (light iron) • Scrap Metal

J-L

Jewelry • Donate

For donations:

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

Juice Box • Commingled Recycling

Note: container muse be emptied and the straw removed

Junk Mail • Mixed Paper Recycling

Kerosene • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Kitchen Scraps, animal products (meat, fish, chicken, bones, grease, fat, dairy) • Refuse

Kitchen Scraps, vegetative (fruit and vegetable) • Home Composting or Refuse

Lamps, large (more than 4 feet) • Bulky Waste

Lancets (medical) • Medical Waste

Latex Gloves • Refuse

Latex Paint • Refuse (see note)

2 cans per garbage collection, completely dried, lids off – the lids can go in garbage bags but paint cans must be placed on the ground next to the garbage.

Laundry Detergent Containers, plastic • Commingled Recycling

Lawn Chairs • Bulky Waste

Lawn Mower (oil and gas removed) • Scrap Metal (preferred), or Bulky Waste

Leaves • Home Composting or Yard Waste

Light Bulbs, CFL (compact fluorescent lights) • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), or Special Disposal

Spent CFLs are also accepted at any Home Depot, Lowes, or Ikea locations.

Light Bulbs, incandescent • Refuse

Lighter Fluid • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Linoleum, rolled • Bulky Waste (see note)

1 roll = 1 bulky waste item

Logs/Stumps • Yard Waste

Loveseat • Bulky Waste

M-O

Magazines • Mixed Paper Recycling

Mattress • Bulky Waste

Medications • Medical Waste

Mercury and products containing mercury (thermometers, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs) • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Metal (clean metal) • Scrap Metal

Metal Pipes (up to 10 feet in length) • Scrap Metal (preferred), or Bulky Waste

Metal Screens • Bulky Waste (see note)

If loose: one piece = one item

If tied in a bundle of three (3): one bundle = one item

Microwaves • Donate, or Electronics

If usable, for donations:

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

Mirrors• Donate, or Refuse

If usable, for donations:

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

If broken: Refuse

Motor Oil • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) or Special Recycling

Drop off motor oil at the following facilities:

Montclair MotorWerks
(973) 744-9839
40 Claremont Ave, Montclair, M-F 8-4:30, Saturday 8-noon
$1 per gallon charge

Pines Auto Service
(973) 744-9708
223 Harrison Ave, Montclair
$1 per gallon charge

Motorcycles, Used • Donation

Wheels for Wishes newjersey.wheelsforwishes.org

Nail Polish Remover • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Needles, hypodermic • Medical Waste

Newspapers • Mixed Paper Recycling

Notebooks, spiral • Refuse

Notepad Backing, cardboard • Mixed Paper Recycling

Notepad Paper • Mixed Paper Recycling

Office Paper • Mixed Paper Recycling

Oil, cooking • Special Recycling, or Refuse

Bring used cooking oil to the Essex County Utilities Authority located at 125 Fairview Avenue (next to the old hospital center), Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 (973)-857-2350.

You may also call to find out when the next collection day is scheduled.

P-R

Packing Material • Special Recycling, or Refuse

Drop off at one of the following locations for recycling:

The UPS Store
41 Watchung Plaza
(973) 744-6611

Accepts packing peanuts, bubble wrap, flat Styrofoam (polystyrene)

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Montclair Shipping Plus
551 Valley Road
(973) 746-5500

Accepts packing peanuts, sealed air bags, bubble wrap (tape removed)

Packing Peanuts • Special Recycling, or Refuse

Drop off at one of the following locations for recycling:

The UPS Store
41 Watchung Plaza
(973) 744-6611

Montclair Shipping Plus
551 Valley Road
(973) 746-5500

Padded Envelopes • Refuse

Paint Cans, empty • Refuse

Paint Thinners • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Paint, latex • Refuse (see note)

Paint cans containing small amounts of latex paint can be disposed of by first drying out the paint: open the lid and let the paint dry outdoors, away from children and pets.

If the can of latex paint still has a substantial amount of liquid paint (one inch or more) it will not dry; you can simply add a paint hardener/drying product, which can be purchased at any hardware store. Once the latex paint has completely hardened you may dispose of it as refuse.

Of course, if the latex paint is usable and there is a significant quantity, try to use it up; or, try to donate it to a community organization.

Paint, oil based • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Paints, aerosol spray • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Paper Bags • Mixed Paper Recycling

Perfume • Refuse

Pesticides • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Pet Waste • Refuse (see note)

Due to health concerns, dog and cat waste should not be composted.

Dog walkers should dispose of their pet waste in their household refuse, not in a public container in the commercial districts.

Photography/Darkroom Chemicals • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Pizza Boxes • Refuse

Plastic Bags • Special Recycling, or Refuse

Plastic bags can be recycled at many supermarkets (A&P, Kings, Whole Foods).

Plastic Bottles • Commingled Recycling

Plastic Cutlery • Refuse

Plastic Wrap • Refuse

Plate Glass • Special Disposal (see below)

Drop-off at Community Services Yard (219 North Fullerton Avenue, Montclair) on Saturdays from 9am-4pm.

Pool Chemicals/Cleaners • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Pool, baby swimming pool • Bulky Waste

Porcelain Sink • Bulky Waste

Pots and Pans • Donate, or Refuse

Prescription Medications • Medical Waste

Pressure Treated Wood • Construction and Demolition (C&D) Debris

Printers • Electronics

Propane Tank • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

PVC Pipes (up to 10 feet in length) • Bulky Waste

Radios/Stereos • Donate, or Electronics

For donations:

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

Refrigerator • Household Appliances (sticker required)

Remotes • Electronics

Rugs, rolled or bundled • Donate, or Bulky Waste (see note)

If usable, for donations:

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

If bulky waste:

1 roll = 1 bulky waste item

S-T

Sharps (syringes, hypodermic needles, and lancets) • Medical Waste

Shipping Boxes, cardboard • Mixed Paper Recycling

Shoes • Donate

For donations:

Planet Aid bins around town

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Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

Shrubs • Yard Waste

Sink, cast iron • Bulky Waste

Smoke Alarm/Detector • Special Smoke Alarm Disposal

Return to manufacturer or contact appropriate facility.

Snow blower (oil and gas removed) • Bulky Waste

Soaps • Refuse

Sofa • Bulky Waste

Sponges • Refuse

Sports Equipment • Donate

If in good condition:

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

Spot Remover • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Spray Paints, aerosol • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Staplers, staples (metal) • Scrap Metal

Steering Fluid • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Stereos/Radios • Donate or Electronics

For donations:

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

-OR-

Freecycle

Sticky Notes • Mixed Paper Recycling

Stones • Special Disposal

Residents must make their own arrangements for disposal (i.e. hire a landscaper)

Styrofoam

Bring select Styrofoam waste to Montclair’s Community Services Yard every other Saturday.

When: Every other Saturday, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. or until the collection truck is full.

Where: 219 North Fullerton Avenue, Montclair (where other recycled goods are collected)

We’ll recycle these:

(Items accepted ONLY if they are in a clear plastic bag)

clean, white, hard molded foam coolers
protective Styrofoam commonly used in shipping: large, white, hard molded pieces and foam sheets, e.g., material used to protect furniture & e-commerce deliveries

We will not accept these:

Styrofoam cups
Styrofoam food trays / plates (even if clean/unused)
Styrofoam egg cartons
Styrofoam packing peanuts
Styrofoam products not in clear plastic bags – Styrofoam products not in clear plastic bags will not be accepted and will be turned away. DCS does not provide clear plastic bags.

Please remove any tape, paper, cardboard, etc. also, be sure to check for the number 6 recycling symbol.

Styrofoam (polystyrene), packing peanuts • Special Recycling or Refuse

Drop off at the following location for recycling:

Montclair Shipping Plus
551 Valley Road
(973) 746-5500

Swimming pool (baby pool) • Bulky Waste

Syringes • Medical Waste

Tables • Bulky Waste

Telephone Books • Mixed Paper Recycling

Televisions • Electronics

Thermostats • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Tires • Special Disposal

Tires (up to 1100 series) are accepted for recycling in Montclair Tires and can be dropped off at the Public Works Center (219 North Fullerton Avenue) on Saturday between 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There is a fee of $2.00 per tire without the rim or $5.00 per tire with rim, which must be paid before drop-off.

The office is only open on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Toaster • Scrap Metal

Toilet • Bulky Waste

Toilet Cleaner • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Tools • Donate

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

Toys • Donate

For small toys: drop off in the Planet Aid bins around town

For large toys: contact the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): www.scheduleapickup.com or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387)

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Freecycle