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This course is required for the NJ Recycling Certification Program and can also be taken by current CRPs interested in learning how to minimize hazards and maximize safety at their job sites.
Open to Recycling Certification Series Students Only!
Registration for this course is only open to students who are currently enrolled in the NJ Recycling Certification Series. If you would like to enroll in the program to become a Certified Recycling Professional, please contact Pamela Springard-Mayer at pam.mayer@rutgers.edu or 848-932-7463.
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Register Now
Contact Pamela Springard-Mayer to Register
Email: pam.mayer@rutgers.edu
Phone: 848-932-7463
In addition to those enrolled in the NJ Recycling Certification Series, this course can be taken by active CRPs who would like to earn CRP recertification credits and those who wish to attain the Sustainable Resource Management Professional (SRMP) certification.
Course Details
Course Name: Recycling Health and Safety
Course Code: ER0108CA27
Date: September 9, 2026
Time: 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm (Check-in 12:00 pm)
Location: Ralph Geiger Turfgrass Education Center, 20 Indyk-Engel Way, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 (directions & map to building).
PARKING: Parking is only available in the gravel lot behind the Office of Continuing Professional Education (OCPE) located at 102 Ryders Lane (do not park in the paved area around OCPE or the spaces adjacent to the Geiger Center as they require parking permits). Geiger visitor parking lot map: https://go.rutgers.edu/geiger-parking
Format: Classroom
Registration Fee: $125 per person
Recycling Series Discount Fee: $100 per person (Save when you register for all courses in the Recycling Certification Series!)
Registration Closes: September 4, 2026
Paying with a check, money order, or purchase order?
Payments should be made out to: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Checks and money orders should be mailed to: Office of Continuing Professional Education, Attn: Registration Dept., 102 Ryders Ln, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8519
Purchase Orders can be mailed to the address above or electronically sent to registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.
Course Overview
This class is part of the NJ Recycling Certification Series.
Workers involved in the recycling field face a variety of health and safety issues on a daily basis. This half-day course was developed to present information on these hazards and to outline the “good practices” that everyone should participate in to make the workplace safe.
Featured Topics
- Hazards Associated with Recycling
- Regulatory Requirements
- Worker Safety and Equipment (Field and Facility)
- Equipment Maintenance Procedures/Recordkeeping
- Emergency Planning/Plans (including Hazardous Wastes)
- How to Make a Recycling Facility the Safest it Can Be, including Public Access and Drop-off Issues
Who Should Attend?
If you are completing the NJ Recycling Certification Program in order to become a Certified Recycling Professional, you must take this course. Current Certified Recycling Professionals and Certified Public Works Managers can also take this course to earn recertification credits.
Meet Your Instructor
Howard Spencer, Signature Safety
Howard W. Spencer is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Hazard Control Manager (CHCM), and Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI). He is a professional member of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), a member of the National Safety Management Society, and the past President of Veterans of Safety. He received a Master of Engineering degree from Texas A&M University. His Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering was conferred by Letourneau University in Longview, Texas.
With more than 40 years of experience in the safety field, he is currently employed as a safety consultant with Signature Safety. Prior to this position, Howard was employed by J.A. Montgomery Risk Control for 14 years as a Senior Risk Control consultant for 21 New Jersey municipalities and 29 utility authorities. Additional previous work experience includes serving as the Environmental Manager for The Minute Maid Company (previously Ocean Spray Cranberries) and positions at Mobil Oil Corporation as an Industrial Hygiene/Environmental Advisor, General Electric Corporate Research, Exxon Research and Engineering Company, Amerada Hess Oil Company, Wills Eye Hospital, INA, FMC Corporation, and Aetna Insurance.
Student Reviews
“Very thorough explanation of the course topic. The use of real-life examples throughout the lecture was an excellent addition to the course. [I learned] how to monitor for signs [of] heat illness in workers/select PPE for staying cool in the heat. I will use this information when working out in the heat. “
– Ali Baranowski, NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Environmental Specialist II“I felt the information was very helpful and clear to understand. [Learned] how important protective gear and protocols are; understanding the dangers involved with handling or being exposed to chemicals, bringing them home on clothing and shoes”
– Kathy Fischbach, Jackson Township Department of Public Works
Clerk I / Recycling Coordinator“The real life stories that the instructors share are priceless. You have to always think on your feet to avoid a lawsuit. Everything is not always textbook. You have to trust your experience.”
– Khayree Nuradeen, Pleasantville City Department of Public Works
DPW SuperintendentContinuing Education Credits
The Recycling Health and Safety course is approved for 0.3 Rutgers CEUs (3 contact hours), as well as the following credits from professional organizations.
New Jersey
NJ Certified Public Works Managers (CPWM): 1 Technical, 1 Management, 1 Government Contact Hours
NJ Certified Recycling Professionals (CRP): 3 Classroom Recertification Credits
Course Requirements and Policies
Meals
No breakfast will be provided. Lunch will be available for pre-registered attendees only.
NOTE: If you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies, please alert us at least one (1) week in advance of the course start date so that we can make reasonable accommodations. We cannot guarantee accommodations for special requests made after that time.
Email Requirement
A unique email address is required for each registrant to register and access our courses.
- If this is your first time registering with us, please provide your own unique email address when registering; do not provide an email address that you share with co-workers.
- If you have previously taken classes with us and have used an email address that you share with your co-workers or supervisor, your account must be updated with a unique email address. To do this, please send an email to us at registration@njaes.rutgers.edu stating that your email address needs to be changed and include:
- Your full name
- The shared email address that needs to be changed
- Your unique email address
- A phone number where you can be reached if we have any questions
Cancellations and Substitutions
A $50 cancellation fee applies for this course. Substitutions are permitted for only non-series recycling individuals. View our cancellation policy.
Program Questions? We’re Here to Help!
If you have any questions about Recycling Health and Safety, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Senior Program Coordinator: Pamela Springard-Mayer
848-932-7463
pam.mayer@rutgers.edu
For registration assistance, please contact our Registration Department at 848-932-9271, option 2 or email registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.
