Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Burlington
In New Jersey, municipal refuse and recycling routes operate weekly. Your exact collection days are determined by your local borough or township.
State Mandate
The NJ Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act requires all residents to separate designated recyclables.
Any standard color Bin (Trash)
Trash must be placed in approved receptacles weighing less than 50 pounds. Trash cannot pile higher than 3 inches above the rim. Loose bags on the ground are prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household solid waste
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓General refuse
Blue cart Bin (Recycling)
Collected every other Friday. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Pickups will be rejected if any unrecyclable item is found in the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2 (crushed, no lids)
- ✓Rinsed glass containers (unbroken)
- ✓Steel and aluminum cans
- ✓Empty aerosol cans
- ✓Paper and bundled cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Plastics #3 through #7
- ✕Lids from plastic bottles
- ✕Scrap metal
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Brush collection is by appointment only. Branches must be less than 6 inches in diameter and under 6 feet long. Do not mix with grass, soil, or rocks.
Accepted Items
- ✓Small branches
- ✓Sticks
- ✓Shrubbery clippings
- ✓Tree cuttings
- ✓Leaves (during seasonal pickup)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Every other Friday, strictly by appointment only.
Placement
Place your scheduled bulk items at the curb the night before your pickup date. There is a strict limit of two (2) items per household.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Wrapped mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household items (under 75 lbs)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronics and TVs
- ✕ Propane tanks
- ✕ Construction and contractor debris
- ✕ Concrete and metal items
- ✕ Appliances with freon (A/C units, refrigerators)
The collection of two bulk items is free with a confirmed appointment. Prohibited items like freon appliances or electronics must be handled separately or taken to the County landfill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a major holiday falls on or before your normal collection day, trash and recycling pickups are typically delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Scheduled brush collections and bulk trash appointments may be temporarily suspended or delayed during holiday weeks.
Residents should refer to the Burlington County Recycling schedule brochure for exact recycling holiday shifts and contact Interstate Waste for specific trash delays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Crush Plastics and Remove Lids
Burlington County recycling guidelines explicitly require that plastic bottles (#1 and #2) be crushed to save space, and all plastic lids must be entirely removed and thrown in the regular trash.
Do Not Break Glass Containers
When recycling glass bottles and jars, ensure they are rinsed out, but be careful not to break them. Broken glass poses a hazard and cannot be processed properly in the county's single-stream system.
Seal Mattresses and Box Springs
To protect sanitation workers from bedbugs and biohazards, all mattresses and box springs must be completely wrapped and sealed in plastic bags before they can be collected as bulk trash.
Seasonal Information
Autumn
November - DecemberThe City of Burlington runs a scheduled leaf collection program in specific intervals during November and December. Leaves must be placed neatly at the curb without mixing in brush or debris.
Summer
Memorial Day - Labor DayThe Public Works Garage operates on seasonal summer hours, opening at 6:00 a.m. and closing at 2:00 p.m. Keep these hours in mind when calling to schedule bulk trash or brush appointments.
Winter
December - MarchDuring winter snowstorms, residents must remove all non-essential vehicles from Broad and High Streets. Avoid piling shoveled snow into the street or gutters so plows can clear the roads for garbage trucks.
About Burlington Waste Management
Comprehensive Trash Collection in the City of Burlington
The City of Burlington manages residential garbage collection through a contract with Interstate Waste. Services are divided into specific municipal zones, with Zone 1 receiving Friday collections and Zone 2 scheduled for Mondays. To ensure a smooth pickup process, trash receptacles must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the day of collection, but no earlier than 6:00 a.m. the evening prior. Crucially, sanitation workers will not collect any loose trash bags left directly on the ground; all refuse must be securely contained within approved City receptacles that weigh less than 50 pounds.
Strict Appointment-Based Bulk Trash System
Disposing of large household items in Burlington City requires a bit of advanced planning. Bulk trash is collected every other Friday, but it is strictly by appointment only. Residents must call the Public Works Garage by 12:00 p.m. on the Wednesday immediately preceding the pickup date. The city imposes a strict limit of two bulk items per household per scheduled pickup, and no single item can exceed 75 pounds. For health and safety reasons, all mattresses and box springs must be completely sealed in plastic bags.
Navigating Burlington County's Recycling Mandates
Curbside recycling in Burlington City is facilitated by the Burlington County Regional Recycling Program. Recyclables are collected every other Friday using designated blue carts. The county enforces stringent single-stream rules: only plastics #1 and #2 are accepted, and they must be crushed with all lids removed. Glass containers must be rinsed and unbroken. If any unrecyclable items—such as plastic bags, Styrofoam, or scrap metal—are found in the cart, the entire load will be rejected with the simple rule: 'When in doubt, throw it out!'
Scheduled Brush and Yard Waste Protocol
Unlike standard weekly yard waste routes in some towns, Burlington City requires an appointment for brush collection. Residents must contact the Public Works Garage to schedule a pickup for shrubbery clippings, small branches, and sticks. Brush must be neatly stacked at the curb, with individual branches measuring less than six inches in diameter and no greater than six feet in length. It is strictly prohibited to mix soil, rocks, leaves, grass clippings, or construction debris into your brush piles.
Drop-off Facilities
Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex (Landfill)
22000 Burlington-Columbus Rd, Florence, NJ 08518
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a bulk trash pickup in Burlington City?
Bulk trash is picked up every other Friday, but you must make an appointment. Call the Public Works Garage at 609-386-0754, ext. 1 by 12:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before the scheduled pickup.
Can I leave trash bags directly on the curb?
No. The City of Burlington mandates that all household trash must be placed in approved receptacles that weigh less than 50 pounds. No trash bags placed directly on the ground will be collected by Interstate Waste.
What are the rules for recycling plastic bottles?
The Burlington County recycling program only accepts plastics numbered #1 and #2. Furthermore, the bottles must be crushed to save space, and all plastic lids must be entirely removed and thrown into your regular garbage.
How do I dispose of tree branches and brush?
Brush collection is by appointment only. You must call Public Works to schedule a pickup. Branches must be less than 6 inches in diameter, under 6 feet long, and neatly stacked at the curb without mixing in soil, leaves, or trash.