Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Ewing
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.
Standard sturdy container with lid (Resident-provided) Bin (Trash)
Trash containers must not exceed 50 pounds when full and must feature tight-fitting lids to deter pests. Place at the curb by 7:00 AM on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Small broken household items
Yellow or Green MCIA bucket/cart Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be rinsed clean and placed loosely in the MCIA-approved container. Do not bundle paper or place recyclables inside plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (#1, #2, #5)
- ✓Mixed paper and newspaper
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic shopping bags
- ✕Styrofoam packaging
- ✕Greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Hazardous chemicals
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in biodegradable paper bags or reusable open containers. No plastic bags. Branches must be tied in bundles weighing under 50 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs
- ✓Brush bundles (up to 4 feet in length)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Curbside on designated neighborhood days or via drop-off center
Placement
Place bulk items neatly at the curb no earlier than the evening before your scheduled collection day, keeping them completely separate from regular trash bins.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and wooden furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Rolled and tied carpeting (cut to 4ft lengths)
- ✓ Non-hazardous large household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Hazardous waste and paint
- ✕ Televisions, computers, and monitors
- ✕ Propane tanks and car batteries
Standard curbside bulk collection is tax-supported. However, certain materials or excessive volumes brought to the drop-off center by contractors may be rejected or subject to restriction.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling collections are typically delayed by one day for the remainder of that week, with Friday routes collected on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste routes may be entirely suspended during holiday weeks to reallocate municipal manpower to essential household trash collection.
The MCIA (for recycling) and Ewing DPW (for trash) may occasionally have slightly different holiday schedule shifts; always verify via the official township calendar.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ditch the Plastic Grocery Bags
The MCIA recycling facility strictly prohibits plastic bags. Never place your recyclables inside plastic garbage bags, and do not put loose plastic grocery bags in your curbside bin, as they severely damage mechanical sorting equipment.
Separate Your Caps and Lids
When recycling plastic water bottles or milk jugs, remember to empty all liquids and remove the plastic caps. While the bottles are highly recyclable, the tiny caps often fall through the sorting grates and contaminate other materials.
Pizza Boxes are Usually Trash
Despite being made of cardboard, pizza boxes saturated with oil, grease, and cheese cannot be processed into new paper. Always tear off the clean lid for recycling and throw the greasy bottom portion into your regular trash bin.
Seasonal Information
Spring
March - MaySpring cleanups generate heavy yard debris. Take advantage of the Jack Stephan Way Drop-Off Center for excess branches, brush, and yard waste that exceed the curbside bundle limits.
Autumn
October - DecemberEwing conducts an intensive curbside leaf collection program during the fall. Residents should rake leaves to the curb line just prior to their neighborhood's scheduled pickup week, ensuring leaves stay out of storm drains.
Winter
January - FebruaryDuring heavy Mercer County snowfalls, DPW plows take priority. Ensure trash cans and recycling buckets are placed in cleared areas behind the curb, not directly in the street where they can be struck by plows.
About Ewing Waste Management
Coordinated Waste Management in Ewing Township
Ewing Township operates a dual-pronged approach to residential waste. While the local Department of Public Works (DPW) diligently handles household trash, yard waste, and bulk item collection, curbside recycling is managed on a county-wide level by the Mercer County Improvement Authority (MCIA). This collaboration ensures that all Mercer County environmental standards are met efficiently while keeping local streets clean.
Utilizing the Jack Stephan Way Drop-Off Center
One of the standout features of Ewing's waste program is the resident Convenience Center located on Jack Stephan Way. This facility provides a reliable year-round destination for homeowners to responsibly dispose of excess bulk trash, electronics, and yard brush without having to wait for specific curbside collection dates. Access requires a valid ID showing proof of Ewing residency.
Strict Guidelines for Yard Waste Collection
To protect local stormwater systems and adhere to state composting regulations, Ewing strictly bans the use of plastic bags for yard debris. Grass clippings, leaves, and small twigs must be placed either in biodegradable brown paper bags or reusable open containers. Branches require special preparation; they must be securely tied into manageable bundles no larger than four feet in length and under fifty pounds.
Scheduling Bulk Waste Pickups
Ewing Township offers convenient curbside bulk waste collection for large, non-metal household items and furniture according to your specific neighborhood's collection schedule. However, appliances containing Freon or heavy metals, collectively known as 'white goods,' require residents to schedule a special pickup directly through the DPW office to ensure safe environmental handling.
Mercer County Household Hazardous Waste Days
Toxic household chemicals such as oil-based paints, pesticides, and solvents pose severe risks to sanitation workers and the local environment. Ewing residents are instructed to hold onto these dangerous materials and dispose of them at one of the scheduled MCIA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off events held at various Mercer County locations throughout the year.
Drop-off Facilities
Ewing Township Convenience Center
136 Jack Stephan Way, Ewing, NJ 08638
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ewing Township collect electronic waste at the curb?
No. By New Jersey state law, electronic waste such as TVs, computers, and monitors cannot be collected with regular household trash. Ewing residents must bring their e-waste directly to the Jack Stephan Way Convenience Center.
How do I dispose of a refrigerator or air conditioner in Ewing?
Appliances containing Freon, known as white goods, are not collected with standard bulk trash. You must contact the Ewing Department of Public Works to schedule a specialized metal and appliance pickup.
Can I put my yard waste in plastic garbage bags?
Absolutely not. The Township requires all grass clippings and leaves to be placed in biodegradable brown paper bags or reusable open containers. Plastic bags mixed with yard waste will be left at the curb.
Who do I call if my recycling bucket is missed?
Since recycling in Ewing is managed by the county, not the local DPW, you should contact the Mercer County Improvement Authority (MCIA) directly to report a missed pickup or to request a new recycling bucket.