Recycling Collection: New Brunswick, Nj

Recycling is mandatory in New Jersey, and New Brunswick offers a variety of services to help residents comply with the law. The city provides detailed information on how to recycle properly, including what items are accepted, how to prepare them, and when to put them out for collection. Curbside recycling collection is performed by the Middlesex County Improvement Authority (MCIA) and follows a single stream program, meaning residents can put all their recycling together in the same container. Residents are responsible for purchasing their own recycling containers, which must not exceed 32 gallons or 50 pounds. The city also offers workshops on composting and rain barrel usage, and provides information on how to recycle special items such as electronics, paint, and hazardous waste.

Curbside recycling collection

Recycling is mandatory in the state of New Jersey. Residents of New Brunswick can obtain a recycling bin from the Department of Public Works (DPW) at 400 Jersey Avenue. The bins are provided by the Middlesex County Improvement Authority (MCIA) and are to be used only for specified recyclable materials.

The City of New Brunswick has contracted with the MCIA to perform the curbside recycling collection using a "single stream" program. This means that residents can put all their recycling together in the container. However, residents are free to continue separating their recycling if they choose to do so.

Each resident must purchase their own recycling container, as the Township does not provide them. Any color of recycling container is allowed, and the size of the container must not be more than 32 gallons or weigh over 50 pounds. Residents must place their recycling out the night before (or no later than 6 am) on the collection day.

Recyclables will be collected between 6 am and 6 pm on the assigned dates for each zone. Recyclables must be placed curbside after 5 pm on the evening before the scheduled collection day or by 6 am on the scheduled day. Bags cannot be used as recycling containers and will not be collected. No recyclables will be collected on holidays.

There are four major components to curbside recycling in New Brunswick:

• Co-mingled recyclables: Glass bottles, jars, plastic containers (#1 & #2), aluminum cans, steel cans, and tin cans. Please do not include plastic or paper bags with your recycling materials.
• Mixed paper: Mail, envelopes, catalogs, magazines, office paper, and used books (tied and bundled). No hard covers on books. Bundles should be no more than 20 pounds.
• Newspapers: Newspapers must be tied in bundles no more than 12 inches high.
• Cardboard: Flatten cardboard and tie the sheets into stacks no larger than 48 inches square and 48 inches high. Bundles should not weigh more than 40 lbs. This includes non-wax-coated food and cereal boxes, tissue boxes, shoe boxes, and gift boxes.

Electronic Waste Disposal

Electronic waste (e-waste) such as computers, printers, monitors, and TVs is not collected by the township curbside. Residents can drop off e-waste items at New Tech Recycling at 600 Apgar Drive, Somerset, NJ 08873. Residents should call (732) 564-3110 to schedule a drop-off appointment.

Recycling containers

The City of New Brunswick provides recycling containers through the Middlesex County Improvement Authority (MCIA). These containers are for specified recyclable materials only and can be picked up from the Department of Public Works (DPW) at 400 Jersey Avenue. Bags cannot be used as recycling containers and will not be collected.

Each resident in North Brunswick Township must purchase their own recycling container, as the Township does not provide them. Any colour is permitted, and the size must not exceed 32 gallons or 50 pounds in weight. Residents can use any style of container, including old garbage cans, for their recyclables.

Recycling schedule

Recycling is mandatory in New Jersey and the City of New Brunswick provides a free recycling collection service for its residents. The city has a 'single-stream' program, which means that residents can put all their recycling together in one container.

Recycling Containers

Each resident must purchase their own recycling container, which must not be more than 32 gallons in size or weigh over 50 pounds. Any colour or style of container is allowed, including old garbage cans.

Collection Times

Recyclables will be collected between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM on your zone's assigned dates. Residents must place their recycling containers outside after 5:00 PM on the evening before the scheduled collection day, or by 6:00 AM on the day of collection.

What to Recycle

The City of New Brunswick provides a list of four categories of items that can be recycled:

• Co-mingled recyclables: glass bottles and jars, plastic containers (#1 & #2), aluminium cans, steel cans, and tin cans.
• Mixed paper: mail, envelopes, catalogues, magazines, office paper, and used books (tied and bundled).
• Newspaper: tied in bundles no more than 12 inches high.
• Cardboard: flatten cardboard and tie into stacks no larger than 48 inches square and 48 inches high, and no heavier than 40 lbs.

What Not to Recycle

The following items cannot be recycled:

• Plastic bags
• Hardcover books
• Food waste
• E-waste (computers, printers, monitors, and TVs)

Bulk collection

To schedule a bulk pickup in New Brunswick, New Jersey, residents must call the Department of Public Works at (732) 745-5104. Each residence is limited to 2 cubic yards of trash per pick-up and 5 bulk pickups per calendar year. Bulk appointments are limited to five appointments per year for each address.

Bulk pick-up service covers items that are too big to place in your automated carts for curbside collection. For most residents with once-a-week, automated collection, bulk materials are picked up by appointment the day after your normal trash day. Residents with twice-a-week, manual trash collection should call the Department of Public Works for more information.

Bulk materials or debris generated as a result of work requiring a Township permit may not be picked up curbside and must be disposed of privately. Concrete, asphalt, and brick are not collected by the Township Department of Public Works. Residents should contact a private vendor for disposal.

Mattresses and box springs placed curbside for bulk collection must be wrapped in plastic or placed in disposable plastic bags. Plastic wrapping or bags must cover all exposed areas of the mattress and box spring.

Carpeting, sheet flooring, and similar materials must be cut into lengths not exceeding 4 feet and securely tied in bundles no thicker than 2 feet and/or 40 pounds.

Larger furniture, such as couches and mattresses, may be placed curbside. Metal bed frames should be disassembled and will be picked up by appointment with the metal pick-up each Wednesday.

Wooden fencing should be cut into lengths not exceeding 4 feet by 2 feet. There is a limit of 3 panels per pickup.

Construction materials that do not require a Township permit should be stacked and securely tied in bundles not exceeding 4 feet in length by 2 feet thick and/or 40 pounds per bundle. Protruding nails or other sharp objects must be removed from all materials before collection. Window glass should be removed from window casings, packaged for disposal, and free of sharp edges.

Missed collections

If your recycling collection has been missed in New Brunswick, NJ, there are a few potential reasons. Firstly, check that you placed your recycling out for collection at the correct time. In New Brunswick, recyclables must be placed curbside after 5:00 pm on the evening before the scheduled collection day, or by 6:00 am on the day of collection. No recyclables will be collected on holidays, so check the schedule to ensure you placed your recycling out on the correct day.

Another reason for a missed collection could be an issue with your recycling containers. Recycling containers in New Brunswick are provided by the Middlesex County Improvement Authority (MCIA) and can be collected from DPW at 400 Jersey Avenue. These containers are to be used only for specified recyclable materials. If trash is placed in your recycling container, it will not be collected. Containers must not be larger than 32 gallons in size or weigh over 50 pounds. Bags cannot be used as recycling containers and will not be collected.

Other common issues for missed collections include having less than 3 feet of clearance around your cart (for example, due to a car, utility pole, or mailbox), an incorrect or overflowing cart, or a cart that is blocked, hidden, or too far away from the roadway.

If you believe none of these issues apply, you can report a missed trash or recycling collection to the New Brunswick DPW. Contact Victor Fair, Superintendent of Public Works, on 732-745-5105, or Erin Maguire, Recycling Coordinator, on 732-745-5059, or email [email protected].

Frequently asked questions