Randolph Hazardous Waste Drop‑Off: Everything You Need to Know for the Sept. 26 Event

If you’ve been putting off that half‑empty can of motor oil or the stack of old paint brushes, now’s the time to act. The Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority is holding its regular household hazardous‑waste collection on Saturday, September 26, and the venue has shifted to Parking Lot 9 at the County College of Morris.

Doors open at 9 a.m. and close promptly at 2 p.m., so plan to arrive with a little wiggle‑room. The address is 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph, NJ – just follow the signs to Lot 9. And a quick heads‑up: you’ll need to show a piece of mail, a utility bill, or any other document that proves you live somewhere in Morris County. No proof, no entry.

What can you bring? The list is fairly broad, covering most of the “icky” stuff that lands in the garage or basement. Acceptable items include:

• Aerosol cans (empty or partially full)
• Automotive fluids – think brake fluid, transmission fluid, coolant
• Oil‑based paints, stains, varnishes, lacquers and the solvents that go with them
• Lead‑acid, button‑cell, lithium‑ion and other rechargeable batteries
• Mercury‑containing bulbs and devices
• Mercury, muriatic acid, and other strong acids
• Fire extinguishers
• Gasoline, kerosene and diesel (in containers of 20 lb or less)
• Pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and other garden chemicals
• Pool chemicals, including chlorine tablets
• Propane tanks up to 20 lb
• Asbestos (no more than 100 lb total, wet, double‑bagged and taped securely)

On the flip side, a handful of items are strictly off‑limits. If you’re unsure, it’s safest to keep them at home. The prohibited list covers:

• Alkaline and carbon‑zinc batteries
• Compressed gas cylinders larger than 5 gal
• Explosives or fireworks
• Medical waste, sharps, or anything that might be bio‑hazardous
• Radioactive materials and smoke/CO detectors
• Unlabeled or unknown substances
• Business‑generated waste and e‑waste (old phones, computers, etc.)
• Water‑based, latex or acrylic paints – those should be dried out and tossed with regular trash

Also note that commercial vehicles aren’t allowed to enter the lot, so a standard passenger car or a small pickup is your best bet.

Why bother? Disposing of these items the right way protects our water supplies, keeps landfills from becoming chemical dumping grounds, and helps the township stay in compliance with state regulations. Plus, it’s free – no charge for the drop‑off, just a little of your time.

Got a question or need clarification? The event organizers can be reached via email at dani.sepe@patch.com. And if you want to stay in the loop on future clean‑ups, sign up for the Patch newsletter – it’s a quick way to get local updates straight to your inbox.

So, round up those old paint cans, empty pesticide bottles, and any other household chemicals you’ve been storing. Head to CCM Parking Lot 9 on September 26, show your proof of address, and help keep Randolph clean and safe.