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Recycling Other Materials

Hopewell Valley Green Team’s 2025 recycling flyer is available here (click to open).

➜ Jump down to Plastic Film/Bags (NexTrex Challenge collection by HVGT)

In September 2019 the Mercer County Planning Department issued “Beyond The Bucket: A resource guide for recycling uncommon objects”; it was updated in September 2022. You may download it here (click to open) or by visiting the Mercer County website.

Steven Rinaldi of NJDEP’s Bureau of Sustainability has published a list of Reuse Organizations and Opportunities as a Google Document here.

For other materials not listed below, consult https://search.earth911.com/

Additional recycling help is available from Recycle Coach: http://www.mcianj.org/Recyclecoach

Bags

Donate your reusable shopping bags to a community food pantry or soup kitchen. See: https://cfbnj.org/donate-reusable-shopping-bags/

Batteries – alkaline, rechargeable and sealed lead acid

Regular household alkaline batteries may be placed in your trash due to the fact that mercury levels have been significantly reduced and fall within DEP standards. However, if trashing them doesn’t agree with you, the Recycling Services at Staples accepts single-use batteries.

Rechargeable batteries should be recycled. You can take them to Staples, The Home Depot, Lowe’s and other retail stores like West Trenton Hardware (TrueValue affiliate) or Niece Lumber (Ace Hardware affiliate).

Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries, such as the back-up battery in a Verizon FiOS control box, should also be recycled. They are accepted at The Home Depot and Staples.

✻ You can also buy a recycling kit for nearly all types of batteries at cirbasolutions.com

More information at https://www.call2recycle.org/locator

NJ Department of Environmental Protection publishes a helpful guide about batteries: click here to open (PDF).

Batteries – button cell

Most button cell batteries found in watches, digital scales, etc., still contain mercury and should be taken to a hazardous waste disposal event (see MCIA collections under Events), or brought to a Hopewell Valley Green Team collection day at the Pennington Farmers Market (last Saturday of the month June through October; see Events).

Bikes

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County Bike Exchange is a volunteer-led enterprise that repairs donated bicycles and sells them at modest prices at its Ewing location at Capitol Plaza, raising funds for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County and promoting biking for transportation and pleasure among low-income families. Proceeds from the Bike Exchange sponsor the Club’s after-school programs. https://www.bgcmercer.org/bgc-bike-exchange
Pedals for Progress rescues bicycles destined for overburdened U.S. landfills and ship them to developing countries where they are sorely needed and highly valued. https://www.p4p.org Note: Pedals for Progress also collects sewing machines.

Books

Bryn Mawr-Wellesley Book Sale accepts books on Wednesday and Saturdays 10 AM to 12 noon at their site, 812 State Route 206, Princeton. https://bmandwbooks.com/donations/
Mercer County Library Hopewell Branch (call 609-737-2610 for updates about what is accepted)
NewLegacyBooks.com Drop-off boxes, https://newlegacybooks.com/ (books must have ISBN barcodes)
• Stony Brook Elementary School, 20 Stephenson Rd, Pennington, NJ 08534
• Princeton Elks Lodge 2129, 354 Georgetown-Franklin Turnpike (Rt 518), Skillman, NJ 08558
BetterWorldBooks Drop-off boxes, https://www.betterworldbooks.com/go/donate
• Hamilton Marketplace, NJ State Hwy 130 & Klockner Rd., Hamilton, NJ 08691

Bras & Lingerie

I Support the Girls accepts donations of gently used bras by mail or at drop-off locations: Twine (8 Somerset St., Hopewell) and Hopewell Valley Self Storage (Route 31). https://isupportthegirls.org/get-involved/how-to-donate/

The Bra Recyclers has a mail-in program and there are several lingerie stores in NJ which accept drop-offs. https://thebrarecyclers.com/

Brita Products

All Brita filters, pitchers, dispensers, bottles, faucet systems, and packaging can be recycled. Find out more at https://www.brita.com/recycling-filters and review an illustration of what is accepted. Bring them to a Hopewell Valley Green Team collection day at the Pennington Farmers Market (last Saturday of the month June through October; see Events).

Building Materials

Habitat for Humanity ReStores are home improvement stores that accept small and large donations of new or gently used furniture, appliances, housewares, building materials and more. Proceeds from the sales of these items help Habitat’s work in your community and around the world. https://habitat.org/restores/donate-goods

Bricks, Block, Concrete, Natural Lumber, and Pallets: J. Vinch & Sons in Ewing accepts a wide variety of sorted waste materials from construction and landscaping.

Candles

Yankee Candle partners with TerraCycle to recycle their own brands of candles (Yankee Candle, WoodWick, and Chesapeake Bay Candle) including auto and home fragrance products. It is a free mail-in program: https://www.yankeecandle.com/terracycle.html

Cars (including Trucks, Motorcycles, SUVs, RVs) or Boats

Wheels For Wishes benefitting Make-A-Wish New Jersey: https://newjersey.wheelsforwishes.org
Vehicles For Veterans: https://www.vehiclesforveterans.org

Cell Phones

Check with your local phone companies and electronics stores — use your ZIP code to find locations at https://search.earth911.com or bring them to a Hopewell Valley Green Team collection day at the Pennington Farmers Market (last Saturday of the month June through October; see Events). Cell phones can be dropped off at Staples.

CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lighting) Bulbs

Take to The Home Depot, Lowe’s or MCIA Household Hazardous Waste Collection (see Events)

Clothes Hangers

Dry cleaners may take metal hangers back for reuse. Clothing stores can reuse hangers that are left at the store.

Clothing, Other Textiles and Shoes

Drop off at consignment stores, charities (check websites), and local collection boxes.
➤ Hopewell Valley CHS organizes a year-round textile collection in partnership with Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D) and Turnkey Enterprises. Donations support the L.E.A.D. curriculum in HVRSD schools. A used clothing donation bin is located in Solar Lot at the high school. The following items are acceptable: clothing, shoes, sneakers, belts, purses, blankets, sheets, drapes, pillow cases and stuffed animals. Not acceptable: rags, pillows, scraps of fabric, toys or other household items.
➤ Rescue Mission of Trenton has many collection bins (see map here) for gently used clothing. One is located at Rosedale Mills on Rt 31 N in Pennington; another is at Buxton’s Boxes on Lower Ferry Road in Ewing.
➤ The North Face offers a donation program for used apparel and footwear (any condition, any brand), Clothes The Loop in partnership with Soles4Souls. The closest North Face retail store to Hopewell is on Route 38 in Cherry Hill.
➤ DSW at the Mercer Mall (and their other locations) provides a shoe drop-off box for Soles4Soles.
➤ Eileen Fisher has a buy-back program for used clothing (only their label), Renew.
➤ Smartwool has partnered with Material Return to “collect and deconstruct hard-to-recycle socks and turn them into new goods” via their Second Cut Project. See also “Socks” below.

Contact Lenses and Empty Blister Packs

Drop-off at Eye Care Associates (in Princeton) or mail https://www.bauschrecycles.com/. A related article about not flushing your contacts: https://earth911.com/living-well-being/recycle-your-contact-lenses

Crayons

Take to Staples or use a mail-in program https://nationalcrayonrecycleprogram.org/

Electronics

An array of old and new electronics are accepted by Recycling Services at Staples stores including computers, monitors, printers (and ink/toner cartridges), fax machines, shredders, phones, CD/DVD/Blu-ray discs & players, gaming consoles & controllers, stereo receivers, and much more. Also collected are single-use alkaline and lithium batteries, as well as various rechargeable batteries. Writing instruments (pens, markers, mechanical pencils and crayons) and a few small kitchen items (coffee brewers, SodaStream CO2 cylinders) are accepted, too. NOT accepted are: air conditioners, appliances, floor-model printers or copiers, lamps or bulbs, large servers, large speakers, medical devices, records or record players, smoke detectors, televisions, or vaporizers. Staples also offers a mail-in tech recycling program.

Regular MCIA and Hopewell Township collections (see Events)
TechnicianX in Montgomery: https://www.technicianx.com/
Magnum Computer Recycling: https://www.magnum-llc.us/
Best Buy: check list at https://www.bestbuy.com/site/services/recycling
Staples: check list at https://www.staples.com/stores/recycling#whatcanberecycledinstore

Eyeglasses

All types of used eyeglasses and sunglasses, prescription and non-prescription, for children and adults are accepted by the New Jersey Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center. See http://www.njlerc.org/donations. A local collection box (“yellow mail bin”) can be found at Pennington Quality Market, 25 Route 31 South, Pennington; at the Hopewell Township Library; and, in Hopewell Borough outside Michael’s Deli & Bakery on East Broad Street.

Fire Extinguishers

Recharging or recycling: http://fyrfyter.net/services/fire-extinguishers/

Fluorescent Light Bulbs (Tubular)

Take to a MCIA Household Hazardous Waste Collection (see Events). The Home Depot does not accept tube bulbs.

Food Scraps

Compost in your backyard. Find out more from Master Gardeners of Mercer County here.
Alternatively, set up an indoor worm composting bin. Find out more at https://www.epa.gov/recycle/how-create-and-maintain-indoor-worm-composting-bin

Furniture

Goodwill has a convenient donation center on Route 31 in Pennington https://goodwillnj.org
HomeFront will accept better quality furniture for their Treasure Trove store on West Broad Street in Hopewell Borough (pre-approval needed – write to treasuretrove@homefrontnj.org) https://www.homefrontnj.org/donate-food-furniture-and-clothing
Habitat for Humanity ReStore https://habitat.org/restores/donate-goods
Princeton Elks Club Thrift Shop will accept furniture without upholstery at their location on Route 518 in Blawenburg

Greeting Cards

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children accepts new and the front cover of used greeting cards (except from Hallmark, American Greetings and Disney) through a mail-in program https://stjudesranch.org/recycled-card-program/

Holiday Lights

Bring your broken and old strings of holiday lights to a HVGT scrap metal collection, or ship them to HolidayLEDs.com for recycling (the company will send you a coupon for a discount off the purchase of new lights). Lowe’s also accepts these during the holiday season.

Leaves and Brush

See the website of your Public Works Department.

Mattresses and Box Springs

Dispose of your used mattress and/or box spring in an eco-friendly way.
In NJ: Northeast Recycle Mattress https://northeastrecyclemattress.com/
Selected states: https://byebyemattress.com/

Medical Equipment

Used medical equipment, such as canes, bath chairs, walkers, wheelchairs, ramps, and tray tables can be donated to Goodwill Home Medical Equipment in Bellmawr (or at any Goodwill Store or Donation Center in the NJ & Philadelphia Region). For lists of acceptable and not acceptable items see: https://www.goodwillhomemedical.org/equipment-donation.

Medications

Please review disposal information available at https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/meddrop.
There is a 24/7 drop-off box at the Hopewell Township Police Department, 201 Washington Crossing-Pennington Rd, Titusville, NJ 08560. Phone: (609) 737-3100. hopewelltwp.org/735/Prescription-Drug-Disposal

Metals

Scrap metals (ferrous and non-ferrous) can be sold to:

  • Alpha on Enterprise Avenue in Trenton
  • Scarpati on New York Avenue in Trenton
  • Sims on Calhoun Street Avenue in Ewing
  • Klein on Camplain Road in Hillsborough

Pet Food, Treat, and Litter Products and Packaging

In-store collection box at PetSmart in Princeton (Nassau Park). Flexible pet food, treat, and cat litter bags from all brands are accepted. Not acceptable: aluminum cans, rigid pet food containers, paperboard packaging, pet toys, beds, or accessories.

#5 Plastics: Rigid Containers and Caps Stamped with a ♷ Symbol

Beginning 2025 this type (polypropylene) can go in curbside bins. All containers must be clean.

  • Be sure to look at the bottom of the containers you plan to recycle since some yogurt containers are actually #6 plastic; also, lids are sometimes #4 plastic. Those should go in the regular trash.
  • Most prescription medicine containers and plastic flower pots from garden centers are #5.

Plastic Bags and Film Packaging

Clean & dry soft plastic bags free of food and organic residues can be processed into new composite building material by Trex. The nationwide NexTrex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge rewards collection efforts by community organizations: a Trex furniture bench will be awarded for collecting 1000+ pounds of material within a 12-month span.

Hopewell Borough is participating in the Trex Recycling Challenge. Plastic film is being collected in the special bins located in the rear entrance foyer of Borough Hall (33 East Broad Street) during regular business hours.

Trex accepts types of soft plastic film that can stretch – not crunchy or crinkly.

Typically these are marked #2 (HDPE) or #4 LDPE. Alternatively some acceptable plastic bags display this symbol:

Trex accepts these types of plastic film and bags:

  • bread bags
  • bubble wrap and air pillows
  • case wrap
  • cereal box liners
  • dry cleaning bags
  • grocery bags
  • ice bags (remove any staples)
  • newspaper sleeves
  • plastic wrap around many products (e.g., around paper towels, napkins, etc.)
  • plastic shipping envelopes
  • produce bags
  • salt bags
  • soft bendy foam padding (thin)
  • wood pellet bags
  • zip locking bags

Plastics must be clean, dry and free of food and organic residue. Double-check that bags are completely empty — no crumbs, paper receipts, desiccant pouches, hard plastic clips, etc. It is not necessary to peel or cut off paper labels before dropping off your bags/film. Please refer to https://nextrex.com/view/educate and check out this video on YouTube: Trex Eco Friendly Decking | Plastic Recyclables List

  • NO bags marked with a #5 or #7 symbol
  • NO hard plastic
  • NO compostable plastic
  • NO pre-washed salad bags
  • NO frozen food bags
  • NO meat packaging
  • NO chip bags or cracker box liners
  • NO candy & granola wrappers
  • NO six-pack rings
  • NO sealing film (e.g. top of a dairy container)
  • NO mesh bags
  • NO pet food bags (take to PetSmart)
  • NO bedding/linen packaging
  • NO vinyl tablecloths
  • NO shower curtains
  • NO archival magazine/comic book sleeves
  • NO floral or other stiff/crinkly plastic wrap
  • NO paper, metallic or Tyvek mailing pouches

Refrigerators & Freezers

As of July 1, 2021 the Clean Energy Program run by the state of New Jersey ceased management of appliance recycling and bulk recycling. Instead, your local gas and electric utility company is now responsible for their own initiatives. In Hopewell Valley, both PSE&G and JCP&L currently replicate the program previously run by NJ that offers their customers an incentive per qualifying refrigerator or freezer ($100 rebate from PSE&G, $50 cash from JCP&L). A working room air conditioner and/or dehumidifier ($35 rebate from PSE&G, $25 cash from JCP&L) can be picked up along with a fridge or freezer.

  • Learn more about PSE&G’s appliance recycling program here.
  • Learn more about JCP&L’s appliance recycling program here.

Hopewell Township residents can pay a fee to have appliances containing freon (including refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers and air conditioning units) picked up from their curb. Monthly dates and more information can be found here.

Sewing Machines

Pedals for Progress collects sewing machines (as well as bikes) https://www.p4p.org

Shoes

See Clothing, Other Textiles and Shoes above. Additionally, athletic shoes (without cleats) of any brand and in any condition can be dropped off at a Nike Factory Store for their Reuse-A-Shoe program. The closest store is at the Jackson Premium Outlets.

Socks

Used or unwanted socks are collected through a free mail-in program, SmartWool Second Cut Project in partnership with Material Return.

Styrofoam Coolers and Shipping Blocks

White Styrofoam coolers and packaging blocks can be dropped off at:

Styrofoam Packing Peanuts

Although New Jersey banned the sale of polystyrene peanuts you might receive them in the mail or dig up old ones from storage. If clean they can be reused: drop off at …

Tires

Drop off at Mavis Discount Tire, Pennington. Residents of Hopewell Township can pay a fee ahead of time to have tires picked up from their curb on May 3 & November 1, 2024 (see information here).

Tennis Balls

ReBounces mail-in program: https://rebounces.com/about-us/recycle-tennis-balls

Toys & Games

Many brands of toys can be recycled through the Hasbro Toy Recycling program (a partnership with TerraCycle): https://csr.hasbro.com/en-us/toy-recycling.
Plastic toys can be taken to Second Chance Toys which donates toys to organizations that care for children in need: https://www.secondchancetoys.org/initiative. The closest drop off site in Central NJ is in Belle Mead; check the website for dates and hours.
Donate your LEGO bricks via the company’s Replay program: https://www.lego.com/en-us/sustainability/environment/replay. See also https://www.fox13news.com/news/lego-starts-recycling-program-for-unwanted-bricks.

Video Games and Gadgets

Take to Best Buy or Staples.

Vintage or Antique Architectural Items

Architectural Salvage: https://www.recyclingthepast.com 381 North Main Street, Barnegat, NJ 08005. Call: 609-660-9790

Wine Corks

We collect real (not synthetic) corks at the Pennington Farmers’ Market in the summer. After we accumulate a large box full we send it to CorkClub in Houston TX. If you think it’s worth the drive, Mom’s Organic Market in Cherry Hill, NJ, has a recycling center where you can drop off your collection.

Please note that the following wineries use synthetic plastic corks which we cannot accept:

X-Rays (Film Type)

The silver from x-rays can be recovered: https://www.xrayfilmsdisposal.com

Yard Waste

Compost in your backyard (see Food Scraps above) and/or use municipal pick-up programs (for Hopewell and Pennington Boroughs).