Recycling Guidelines
Whether you choose to do curbside recycling or personally deliver recyclables to the Recycling Center, recycling is easier than ever…provided you follow the guidelines as outlined below.
If you have any questions, concerns, complaints (or compliments),
please call the Department of Health at 973.989.7050.
Accepted Materials
The following materials are accepted at the Recycling Center without restriction. Asterisks (*) indicate the items which are also eligible for curbside collection.
For items eligible for curbside collection, please note packaging requirements and/or restrictions before leaving materials out for pickup. Additionally, recyclables left for curbside collection must be placed in metal or plastic containers only. Attendants will not pick up items left out in cardboard boxes or plastic bags.
Please also note our list of prohibited as well as ineligible items to the right and the further explanation concerning these two categories which follows at the end.
- Batteries (updated January 2010)
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Alkaline batteries such as AAA, AA, C, D and 9-volt batteries now fall below federal and state hazardous waste standards and should be thrown out with your household trash. Rechargeable batteries must be recycled. Drop-off boxes are located at the Recycling Center and Health Department. Lead-acid car and motorcycle batteries will be accepted at the Recycling Center. Button batteries still contain hazardous elements such as mercury and should be disposed of at a household hazardous waste event. They will not be accepted at the Recycling Center.
- Books
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Books are now accepted at the Recycling Center and require no special handling. If your books are in good shape, consider donating them to a library. If your books are not added to the collection, they will be inventoried as stock for the library’s next book sale. All proceeds benefit the library and therefore, the community. Also, think about shelters, schools and religious organizations…books almost always have another life.
- Branches
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Basic yard debris. Maximum acceptable branch size is 4 feet long by 4 inches in diameter. Branches that meet specified size requirements are accepted at the Recycling Center year-round. Please, no stumps.
- Cans*
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Aluminum (soda) and tin/steel (tuna) food and beverage cans. Remove lids and rinse clean. No paint/aerosol cans, pie plates or aluminum foil. Okay to co-mingle with glass and plastic at the Recycling Center and for curbside collection.
- Cardboard and Chipboard*
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All corrugated paper materials, chipboard (cereal boxes, pizza boxes, gift boxes…no waxed chipboard, as in orange juice cartons). Flatten, bundle and tie securely with cord (no tape or metal wire). Only corrugated cardboard and chipboard go in the compactor at the Recycling Center. Curbside pickup rules are different. Okay to co-mingle chipboard, mixed paper and brown paper bags. Maximum bundle weight: 50 lbs.
- Clothing, Toys and Household Goods
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Non-profit drop-boxes are next to the attendant’s office. If the boxes are full, please notify the attendant. Do not leave food donations in these boxes.
- Fluorescent Lights
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Unbroken lights only. See recycling attendant for proper disposal.
- Glass*
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Clear, green/blue & brown beverage and food containers. No drinking glasses, ceramic dinnerware, crystal, light bulbs, plate, window glass, mirrors or lab (test tubes) glass. Remove caps and neck rings; rinse clean. Okay to co-mingle with plastic and cans at the Recycling Center and for curbside collection.
- Grass Clippings
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Grass clippings may be dropped off at the Recycling Center on weekends only. No other lawn debris. Put in containers (bags, garbage cans). Must bring to Recycling Center; no curbside collection.
- Mercury Thermometers
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Glass thermometers containing mercury may be disposed of at the Health Department which has a receptacle for the collection of this common household item. The Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (MCMUA) will retrieve them when necessary at no cost to the township.
- Mixed Paper*
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Newspapers, junk mail, telephone directories, catalogs, wrapping paper, magazines, books. We also accept computer paper, envelopes and card stock. These go in a specially designated container at the Center. Okay to co-mingle. Curbside collection: Place in recycling container or doubled brown bags and cross-tie with cord (no tape or metal wire); okay to include chipboard and brown bags. Secure mixed paper appropriately; you are responsible for retrieving loose paper. Do not use plastic bags, wire or tape to secure mixed paper. Maximum container/bundle weight: 50 lbs.
- Motor Oil
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All kinds accepted. Transport in appropriate containers.
- Plastic*
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Pourable plastic (mouth is smaller than the base) #1 and #2 containers only. Please, no tubs (ice cream/ butter/yogurt), motor oil or antifreeze bottles, any petroleum products, plastic bags, toys or trays. Remove caps, rinse clean and flatten. Okay to co-mingle with cans and glass at the Recycling Center and for curbside collection.
- Scrap Metal
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Lawn chair frames, filing cabinets, tools, window frames, metal railings, nails, metal hangers, and some small appliances. Strip all non-metal materials. Consult with Recycling Center attendants before leaving any scrap material. Must bring to Recycling Center; no curbside collection.
- Tires*
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Automobile, truck and bike tires. Remove steel rims. Limit 4 per resident if bringing to the Recycling Center; curbside collection is limit 1 per pickup.
- White Goods*
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Large household appliances (stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers etc.). No special handling required. Curbside collection is available year-round by advance arrangement. To have one or more of these items removed, all you need to do is call the Health Department at 973.989.7050. There is a fee of $30.00 per item.
Prohibited Materials
The majority of prohibited materials not accepted at the Recycling Center (listed in the “Recycling At-A-Glance” sidebar) may be brought to the Mt. Olive Transfer Station on Gold Mine Road. You will need to call and make a drop-off appointment with them. If generated in Morris County, this material is required to go to the MCMUA transfer station if it is being disposed of. Hazardous and non-hazardous waste, regulations, special handling and fees are explained in detail on the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (MCMUA) web site. If you have questions about household hazardous waste disposal, call the MCMUA at 973.829.8006. Note: there is a small fee to drop off some materials and payment is required by check, not cash or credit card. In addition, the MCMUA holds three household hazardous waste and computer/TV disposal events during the year. Check its web site for dates, times and places.
Ineligible Materials
Ineligible materials are simply those that are not recycled and are safe to include with regular household trash. Please note, however, that the following types of containers must be completely empty before being disposed of: motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, kerosene and latex paint.
Additional Information
- Latex Paint
Latex paint is not considered a hazardous waste, nor is it recyclable. It may be disposed of in one of two ways:
- If there is little paint left in the cans, open them and let them dry completely. The empty cans may then be thrown out with your regular trash. There are products on the market that will speed the drying process. You can also mix the leftover paint with kitty litter and put into a plastic bag. Mixture must be almost solid.
- If you have a lot of leftover paint, you may bring it to the Mt. Olive Transfer Station on Gold Mine Road. There is a $1.25 fee for each pound of paint.
- Mulch
Shredded wood mulch is available to residents April-September. You can help yourself (free) to these items at the Recycling Center. Delivery is available for a fee of $100.00 per truckload. Each load is approximately 6-8 cubic yards. All orders must be prepaid. Pay in person or send your check to the Randolph Engineering Dept., Municipal Building, 502 Millbrook Ave., Randolph NJ 07869. Make checks payable to the Township of Randolph. Please indicate your address, telephone number and the number of loads you want. Deliveries are made the second week of each month.
Where to donate cars, computers, cell phones, clothing, furniture, and eyeglasses.