Union County residents can give their Halloween pumpkins a second life through a recycling program running throughout November.
The Union County Board of County Commissioners and the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning are bringing back their Pumpkin Recycling Program from Monday, Nov. 3, through Friday, Nov. 28, at six locations across the county.
“Our pumpkin recycling program gives the pumpkins we’ve enjoyed carving, decorating and displaying this season a new, greener purpose,” commissioner board Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon said in a written statement. “It’s one more way we can reduce the strain on our public landfills and keep our environment clean and flourishing.”
Residents can bring their jack-o’-lanterns, decorative pumpkins and other gourds to any of the six participating locations during their operating hours, regardless of their hometown.
All candles and decorations must be removed before dropping off the pumpkins. Other food waste will not be accepted at these locations.
Drop-off sites
These are among the locations where pumpkins can be dropped off:
Berkeley Heights — DPW facility located next to Town Hall; Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon.Elizabeth — 523 Trenton Ave.; Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sundays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.Kenilworth — 401 Sheridan Ave.; Fridays from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; 2nd Saturday of the month from 7:30 a.m. to noon.Plainfield — 95 Rock Ave.; Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (drop-off until 2:45 p.m.)Union Township — 1 Swanstrom Place East; Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.Westfield — 1300 Lamberts Mill Road; Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
When the program concludes, the collected pumpkins will be transported to the CORe facility in Elizabeth, operated by Waste Management.
The facility uses a specialized process to convert the pumpkins into organic slurry, which enhances the production of biogas and other renewable products at local wastewater treatment plants.
For more information about this and other recycling programs, residents can visit www.ucnj.org/recycle or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.
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