Conservation Center
Live Greener in 2022 By Recycling At The Conservation Center!
Welcome to the newly established Westfield Green Corner, where you'll find information on local sustainability and climate news, green tips and tricks to use in your everyday life, as well as eco-friendly opportunities and events to enjoy in our town. We wanted to start off this column with making sure you were aware of all of the recycling opportunities available at the Conservation Center (1300 Lamberts Mill Road) for Westfield residents beyond what you can recycle curbside every other week.
Recycling can help us all live more sustainably, and we are lucky to live in a town that offers a wide variety of recycling programs. In fact, the Westfield Conservation Center has been named "the best run Conservation Center in the county with the most recycling opportunities (both free and paid) for residents." by JoAnn Gemenden, the former Union County Recycling Coordinator.
Did you know that you can recycle all of the following items for free at the Conservation Center? No permit is required.
- #5 plastics (make sure they are clean, please!)
- plastic bags, wrappers and film
- household batteries
- books
- styrofoam (only large pieces that come in boxes, not peanuts)
- food waste (which can be brought in plastic bags; check the town's website for more details)
- clothing and shoes
- corks
- crayons
- household electronics
- plastic toys (gently used)
- fluorescent bulbs (long tubes)
- scrap metal
- tennis balls
- Plus cardboard boxes, paper, glass & aluminum cans, #1 and #2 plastics and all items you can recycle curbside
As program availability can sometimes reach capacity, it’s always a good idea to check the Town website (westfieldnj.gov/conservation) for updates before bringing your items to the Center.
The Center also offers fee-based recycling services for mattresses and household bulk waste, which require a daily permit that can be purchased on the Town’s website. And of course, annual permits are sold each year beginning in March for organic waste like grass clippings and leaves. Residents with an annual permit can also obtain woodchips, mulch and firewood for free too.
Back by popular demand, the Center’s winter hours for February and March have been expanded to include Monday-Friday, 9:00AM - 12:00PM, for recycling only. This is in addition to the designated Saturday hours of 9:00-3:00 on February 12, February 26, March 12, and March 26. For the complete schedule, visit the Town website.
These recycling programs do so much more than protect the environment. Plastic toys and books get donated to those in need, and your food waste gets turned into biofuel to create green energy at the Rahway Valley Sewerage Authority! Amazing! So what new recycling programs will you take advantage of this year? Hopefully all!