Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Hillsborough 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)
Trash collection is privately managed. Contact your chosen hauling company for their specific container requirements and weight limits.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
Yellow Lid (Commingled) / Green Lid (Paper) Bin (Recycling)
Cardboard must be placed loosely inside the green-lid tote. Ensure wheeled totes are placed with the metal grab bar facing the street and kept 2 feet apart from each other and parked cars.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean and dry cardboard
- ✓Paper and magazines
- ✓Plastics #1 - #7
- ✓Aluminum, steel, and bi-metal cans
- ✓Glass bottles
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and wrap
- ✕Wet cardboard
- ✕Plastic toys and flower pots
- ✕Lithium batteries
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Do not bag leaves for fall curbside vacuuming. Brush and grass clippings must be brought to the Auten Road Drop-Off site on designated program dates.
Accepted Items
- ✓Loose leaves (Fall vacuuming)
- ✓Brush and branches (Drop-off only)
- ✓Grass clippings (Drop-off only)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Monthly drop-off events (April - October) / Annual curbside for seniors
Placement
For the Senior Pickup Program, items must be at the curb by 7:00 am on the assigned Monday. All mattresses and box springs must be fully sealed in a plastic bag.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be bagged)
- ✓ Large household items
- ✓ Brush and yard clean-up debris
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Lithium and rechargeable batteries
- ✕ Contractor or commercial construction debris
- ✕ Propane tanks
The Auten Road Drop-Off program is free for registered Hillsborough residents. Residents hiring private haulers or dumpsters for bulk removal must pay out-of-pocket.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Private trash haulers dictate their own holiday schedules, so residents should check directly with their provider. For county recycling, collections may shift or be delayed; consult the Somerset County Recycling schedule for exact dates.
Yard Waste Exception
Auten Road drop-off events run strictly on pre-scheduled dates and are not open daily, regardless of holidays.
Somerset County advises placing recycling bins out the night before your scheduled collection to avoid missed pick-ups during holiday weeks.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Wet Cardboard Goes to the Landfill
In Somerset County, cardboard is baled tightly like hay for transport. Wet cardboard cannot be baled and will often be sent to the landfill as garbage. Keep cardboard clean and dry; if it rains heavily, hold it for the next collection cycle or bring it to a covered drop-off center.
Plastic Bags Sabotage Machinery
Never place plastic grocery bags or plastic film wrap in your curbside recycling totes. They quickly entangle the moving equipment at the county recycling facility, causing costly downtime. Recyclables should remain loose in the bins.
Don't Be Fooled By Plastic Labels
Not all plastics are accepted just because they feature a recycling symbol. Items like plastic toys, flower pots, and soft drink cups cannot be processed by the county's curbside program and must be thrown in your regular trash.
Seasonal Information
Fall
October - DecemberThe DPW leaf vacuum trucks hit the streets. Rake leaves to the curb line, but never bag them or mix in branches and grass clippings, which can cause severe mechanical damage to the vacuum trucks. Keep piles clear of storm drains.
Spring
AprilThe annual Senior Curbside Pickup Program runs in April. Seniors over the age of 65 must register in advance with the DPW to have up to 10 bulk household items picked up from their homes.
Summer
June - AugustThe Grass Drop-Off program operates on select Fridays from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Auten Road site. Grass must be bagged for transport in your vehicle, but the bags must be emptied into the site's containers and the empty bags taken back home with you.
About Hillsborough Township Waste Management
Navigating Hillsborough's Privatized Trash Collection
Unlike recycling, which is managed county-wide, standard household garbage collection in Hillsborough Township is fully privatized. Residents and Homeowners Associations must arrange and pay for their own curbside trash pickups by contracting with independent hauling companies, such as Republic Services or Dave’s Suburban Disposal. Be sure to check with your specific hauler regarding bin size limits, placement rules, and holiday schedule delays.
Somerset County Bi-Weekly Recycling
Curbside recycling in Hillsborough is conducted by the Somerset County Recycling Division, with collections occurring every other week. In an effort to modernize the process, the county is distributing 65-gallon wheeled totes—featuring a yellow lid for commingled items and a green lid for paper and cardboard. Those who still possess the legacy 20-gallon blue buckets must continue sorting their materials properly until their automated carts arrive.
The Public Works Membership Drop-Off Program
Hillsborough offers its residents exclusive access to the Auten Road Drop-Off site through a specialized Public Works Membership Program. Residents can register online via Community Pass to gain access to the township’s Annual Clean Up and Drop-Off events, which run periodically on select Saturdays from April through October. This facility accepts bulky waste and yard clean-up brush, though proof of residency is strictly enforced at the gate.
Senior Curbside Pickup Service
While most bulky waste requires a trip to the Auten Road site or hiring a private dumpster, the township offers an annual Senior Curbside Pickup Program each April. Eligible residents aged 65 and older can register in advance to have up to 10 bulk items—including wrapped mattresses and short bundled branches—collected directly from their curbside.
Managing Autumn Leaves and Grass
Hillsborough strongly encourages a 'Cut It & Leave It' approach to grass clippings to reduce municipal solid waste. However, the township does offer a Grass Drop-Off Program at the Auten Road site on specific Fridays throughout the year. During the fall leaf season, the DPW runs a dedicated leaf vacuuming program where residents must rake unbagged leaves to the curb edge, ensuring no branches or rocks are mixed in, as they severely damage the vacuum equipment.
Drop-off Facilities
Auten Road Drop-Off Site
280 Auten Road (opposite Auten Road Intermediate School), Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Materials Accepted
Somerset County Recycling Center (First Saturday Drop-Off)
40 Polhemus Lane, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hillsborough Township provide municipal trash collection?
No, Hillsborough Township does not provide residential garbage pickup. Homeowners must independently contract with a private solid waste hauling company, such as Republic Services or Dave’s Suburban Disposal, for weekly trash collection.
How do I dispose of bulk waste or large furniture in Hillsborough?
Residents can utilize the Annual Clean Up/Drop Off Program at the Auten Road site on designated Saturdays from April to October. You must register via Community Pass beforehand. Additionally, residents 65 and older can sign up for the Senior Curbside Pickup Program in April.
What is the rule for throwing away a mattress?
If you are utilizing the Senior Curbside Pickup or bringing a mattress to a county facility, the mattress and box spring MUST be enclosed in a sealed plastic bag. This prevents the spread of bedbugs and protects sanitation workers.
How does leaf collection work in Hillsborough?
During the fall, the DPW runs a leaf vacuuming program. Residents should rake leaves directly to the curb edge, taking care not to block traffic or storm drains. Leaves must never be bagged, and you should never mix sticks, pumpkins, or grass into the leaf pile, as it will break the vacuum equipment.