Additional Recycling

At the Public Works Recycling Center and other locations.

You can recycle more items at the Recycling Center (300 Walton Ave.) than in curbside recycling. In addition to fibers and commingled items, we can accept metals, Freon (CFC) containing appliances, yard debris, used clothing, and even used motor oil. See the list of acceptable recycling center materials below. There are also specific electronics recycling events throughout the year (check the calendar for specific dates) and we recycle film plastics and batteries and cell phones via drop boxes at select locations. See details below.

Electronics Recycling |   Plastic Bags & Film Plastic Recycling |  Battery & Cellphone Recycling

Public Works Recycling Center (300 Walton Avenue)

Metal Pile:

  • Appliances
  • Wire
  • Fencing
  • Piping
  • Cast iron
  • Bicycles (aluminum or metal alloy)
  • Metal tools
  • Gutters

Freon Pile:

  • Air conditioners
  • Refrigerators
  • Mini-fridges
  • Freezers
  • Dehumidifiers

Brush Pile:

  • Branches and sticks (no lumber or treated wood)
  • Leaves and brush (no grass)
  • Organic yard debris (not grass)

High grade/Mixed Paper:

  • Office paper
  • Unsolicited mail (including window envelopes)
  • Newspapers & magazines

Used Clothing Shed (not textiles):

  • Clothing
  • Shoes
  • Sneakers
  • Belts
  • Purses
  • Blankets
  • Sheets
  • Drapes
  • Pillowcases

Used motor oil: See DPW attendant on duty

Cardboard Truck:

  • Corrugated Cardboard 
  • Corrugated brown pizza boxes (no grease, food, liner)
  • Boxboard (flattened cereal boxes, etc.)
  • Paper Bags

Bottles & Cans:

  • Nos. 1-7, plastic containers & bottles with caps
  • Glass bottles & jars with lids
  • Aluminum cans, pie tins, & catering trays
  • Steel/tin food cans
  • Gable-top cartons (e.g., juice & milk cartons)
  • Aseptic packaging (e.g., juice boxes)


Electronics Recycling

Residents may drop off electronic devices for recycling at 300 Walton Avenue during drop off events held four times annually. Check the calendar for specific dates. Check the list of acceptable and unacceptable items to be sure yours apply.

Please note, the Maplewood Department of Public Works welcomes South Orange residents to use their facility year round, strictly for the disposal of electronic items. Please reference Maplewood's hours of operation before heading out. Maplewood Public Works, 357 Boyden Avenue, Maplewood, NJ. (973)762-1175.



Plastic Bags & Film Plastic Recycling

TrexBinWebbkgYou can recycle your household single use plastic bags and film plastic wrap. Just drop your clean, dry, food residue-free, single use plastic items* in the box at any of these three locations.

  • Library lobby - 298 Walton Ave.
  • SO Recreation and Cultural Affairs lobby - 5 Mead Street
  • South Orange Village Offices - 76 South Orange Ave, 3rd Floor, Suite 302

*List of acceptable items: (Plastics must be clean dry and free of food and organic residue.) Produce Bags, Store Bags, Ice Bags, Ziploc and other re-closable bags, Cereal Box Liners, Case overwrap, Bread bags, Newspaper sleeves, Dry Cleaning Bags, Bubble wrap, Plastic and e-commerce mailers. Note, that reusable plastic grocery bags are not accepted by this program.



Battery & Cellphone Recycling Program at 298 Walton Ave.

In partnership with Call2Recycle, you can now drop off your single use and rechargeable batteries for recycling via a drop box located in the lobby of 298 Walton Avenue building. Some batteries will require terminal protection (must be individually bagged or taped) in order to be shipped safely. See the guidelines image below.

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List of acceptable items:

  • Rechargeable batteries
  • Lithium Ion (Li-Ion)
  • Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd)
  • Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)
  • Nickel Zinc (Ni-Zn)
  • Small Sealed Lead Acid (SSLA/Pb)
  • Single-use (such as alkaline)*
    • AA, AAA, 9V, C, D and button cells
    • Lithium primary
  • Cellphones: (all types and ages)

Unacceptable items:

  • NO damaged or defective batteries 
  • NO batteries part of a recall 
  • NO wet-cell batteries (car batteries) 
  • NO batteries weighing over 11 lbs 
  • NO batteries over 300 watt-hours (such as those in electric scooters, electric bikes, outdoor power equipment, etc.)

Bag or tape batteries to prevent terminals from touching. Place only one battery (or cellphone with battery) in a clear plastic bag. Non-conductive packing tape may also be used to cover the positive (raised) terminal. All button and coin cell batteries need terminal protection. DO NOT cover the battery brand name or chemistry.BatteryBag-TapeSq1