Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Freehold Township
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.
Varies by private hauler Bin (Trash)
Because garbage collection is privatized in Freehold Township, residents must adhere to the specific bin colors, sizes, and placement rules dictated by their chosen commercial hauler.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Standard refuse
Any hard-sided open container (Max 30 gallons) Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables are collected every other week by recycling sector. Items must be at the curb by 6:00 AM in a hard-sided open container. Cardboard must be securely tied.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and bi-metal cans
- ✓Number 1 and number 2 plastic pourable bottles
- ✓Mixed paper, newspaper, and junk mail
- ✓Cardboard (folded and tied no larger than 30 inch x 30 inch x 6 inch)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Plastic bags or brown paper bags
- ✕Plastic tubs and trays (non-pourable)
- ✕Food-soiled paper
- ✕Cardboard boxes used as recycling bins
Yard Waste Bin
Brush is collected in Spring and must be under 8 feet long and 8 inches in diameter. Leaves are collected in Fall and must be piled adjacent to the curb, free of branches.
Accepted Items
- ✓Brush and branches (Spring collection)
- ✓Leaves (Fall collection)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One-time collection in the Fall (Scheduled by Sector)
Placement
Items must be placed neatly at the curb by 6:00 AM on the Monday of your sector's scheduled pickup week. Once a street is completed, the DPW will not return.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and tables
- ✓ Carpeting
- ✓ Dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers
- ✓ Ovens, barbecue grills, and toys
Not Accepted
- ✕ Items weighing over 200 pounds
- ✕ Construction trash, concrete, and building materials
- ✕ Motor vehicles, tires, and batteries
- ✕ Appliances containing Freon (refrigerators, AC units)
The fall bulk collection is a free municipal service. However, disposal of excluded items (like heavy construction debris or Freon appliances) requires hiring a private contractor at your own expense.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
For regular household garbage, holiday delay schedules are entirely dependent on the private commercial hauler you have contracted. Check with them directly for holiday shifts.
Yard Waste Exception
The Freehold Township Recycling Drop-Off Center closes on major holidays, including Thanksgiving. Check the DPW website for specific municipal closures.
If your municipal recycling is missed or delayed due to a holiday, you must contact Interstate Waste Services of New Jersey directly at (866) 342-5497.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Pizza Boxes Out of the Mix
Even if they appear clean, pizza boxes are strictly banned from Freehold Township's recycling program due to inherent grease and food residue. Place them in your privately contracted trash.
Strictly Pourable Plastics Only
When sorting plastics for curbside pickup, only include number 1 and number 2 plastic pourable bottles (like water bottles and milk jugs). Plastic tubs, food trays, and non-pourable containers will contaminate the batch.
No Plastic Bags or Box Bins
Never bag your recyclables in plastic or brown paper bags. Furthermore, you cannot use an empty cardboard box as your recycling bin. All items must remain loose in a hard-sided, open 30-gallon container.
Seasonal Information
Spring
March - MayThe annual brush collection occurs by sector during the early spring. Brush must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on Monday of your scheduled week, but no earlier than two days prior to prevent road hazards.
Autumn
September - DecemberFreehold Township conducts its sector-based leaf collection and the annual one-time bulk collection during the fall months. Ensure leaves are piled adjacent to the curb and never blown into the street.
Winter
December - FebruaryThe Jackson Mills Road Recycling Drop-Off Center may close without notice for snow and ice removal emergencies. Residents must remove all vehicles and portable basketball hoops from roadways to allow DPW snowplows unrestricted access.
About Freehold Township Waste Management
Navigating Waste Management in Freehold Township
Unlike many municipalities, Freehold Township uniquely operates a privatized system for standard household garbage. The Township does not provide curbside trash pickup; instead, each resident is responsible for independently contracting with a licensed private waste hauler. However, the Township's Department of Public Works (DPW) remains highly active in the community, fully managing bi-weekly curbside recycling, seasonal brush and leaf pickups, and a designated annual bulk collection.
Strict Guidelines for Curbside Recycling
Freehold Township mandates that residents place recyclables at the curb by 6:00 AM on their specific sector's designated collection day. Materials must be placed loosely in hard-sided, open containers that do not exceed 30 gallons in capacity. The DPW strictly forbids the use of plastic bags, brown paper bags, or cardboard boxes as makeshift recycling receptacles, ensuring the automated sorting facilities remain untangled and efficient.
The Annual Fall Bulk Collection Strategy
Rather than offering weekly or monthly bulk item pickups, Freehold Township coordinates a single, township-wide bulk collection event every fall. Organized by designated sectors, residents can dispose of up to 8 cubic yards of household items, including furniture, dishwashers, and carpets. Heavy items exceeding 200 pounds, construction debris, concrete, and Freon-containing appliances are strictly excluded from this municipal service and require private disposal.
Spring Brush and Fall Leaf Programs
To manage seasonal yard waste, the DPW schedules specific sector-based weeks for brush collection in the spring and leaf collection in the fall. Brush must be trimmed to a maximum length of eight feet and a diameter of eight inches, and it cannot be placed at the curb more than two days prior to pickup to ensure traffic safety. During the fall, leaves must be piled neatly adjacent to the curb—never in the street—and kept completely free of twigs and branches.
The Jackson Mills Road Recycling Drop-Off Center
For residents with excess recyclables, permitted brush, or specific electronics, the Township operates a localized Recycling Drop-Off Center at 66 Jackson Mills Road. The facility is open exclusively on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Access is strictly limited to Freehold Township residents who can provide valid proof of residency, such as a driver's license or utility bill. Commercial vehicles and vehicles larger than a pickup truck are entirely prohibited.
Drop-off Facilities
Freehold Township Recycling Drop-Off Center
66 Jackson Mills Road, Freehold, NJ 07728
Materials Accepted
Monmouth County Household Hazardous Waste Facility
6000 Asbury Avenue, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up garbage collection in Freehold Township?
Garbage collection in Freehold Township is not a municipal service provided by the town. To have your household trash collected, you must independently contact and contract with a licensed private commercial waste hauler of your choosing.
When is bulk trash collected in Freehold Township?
The Township provides a one-time bulk collection event during the fall season. It is scheduled by recycling sector, and all permitted items must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on the Monday of your assigned collection week.
Can I drop off an old television at the Freehold Township Recycling Center?
The local center accepts electronics only from Freehold Township residents, but with strict limits. Televisions with screens larger than 42 inches and televisions with wooden consoles are not accepted and must be taken to specialized county e-waste recyclers in Tinton Falls or Bricktown.
How should I prepare my cardboard for curbside recycling?
All corrugated cardboard must be folded down and securely tied with string. The resulting bundles cannot be any larger than 30 inches by 30 inches by 6 inches. Additionally, you cannot use an empty cardboard box to hold other recyclables.