Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Jefferson 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.
Resident's own receptacle (standard dark colors preferred) Bin (Trash)
Trash is collected twice a week. Residents are limited to a maximum of two 32-gallon containers per pickup, with each container weighing no more than 50 pounds. Bins must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and packaging
- ✓Small electronics (radios, keyboards)
- ✓Dried latex paint (must be solidified)
Resident's own receptacle (must be clearly marked as recycling) Bin (Recycling)
Jefferson follows a dual-stream system alternating between paper and commingled weeks. Materials must be clean and unbagged in a 32-gallon container (max 50 lbs). Cardboard must be flattened.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics stamped #1, #2, and #5
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum, steel, and tin cans
- ✓Paper, magazines, and flattened cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Electronic waste (E-waste)
- ✕Construction debris
Yard Waste Bin
Up to two bags or cans of grass/leaves, or two tied bundles of twigs (max 36 inches long, max 40 lbs each) can be placed at the curb for collection strictly on Wednesdays.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Brush
- ✓Twigs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a week on your second scheduled garbage day.
Placement
Place one bulk item at the curb the night before your second garbage collection day. Note that Bulky Metal items require a separate Monday phone appointment for a Wednesday pickup.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and chairs
- ✓ Dressers and wooden furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
Not Accepted
- ✕ Homeowner construction debris (sheetrock, tile)
- ✕ Televisions and monitors (E-waste)
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Tires
There is no fee for standard bulk pickups or scheduled metal pickups. Dropping off tires at the local Recycling Center, however, incurs a per-tire disposal fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The contracted hauler only observes these six specific holidays. If your scheduled collection day falls on one of them, your regular pickup service will typically be delayed.
Yard Waste Exception
If an observed holiday falls on ANY day of the week, all Wednesday yard waste and bulky metal collections are entirely canceled for that entire week.
Always consult the Township's annual calendar or the Recycle Coach app to confirm holiday schedule shifts, as Wednesday suspensions are strict.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Bag Recyclables
Do not place your commingled glass, plastic, or metal in plastic garbage bags. The sorting facility cannot process film plastics, so all recyclables must be left loose inside your 32-gallon container.
Check Your Plastics carefully
Jefferson Township only accepts plastic containers marked with recycling codes #1, #2, and #5 (such as soda bottles and milk jugs). Plastics labeled #3, #4, #6, and #7 must be thrown into the regular household trash.
Separate Your Streams
Because Jefferson utilizes a dual-stream alternating system, mixing paper with your commingled glass and plastics on the same week is considered severe contamination. The hauler will leave mixed containers uncollected.
Seasonal Information
Fall
October to DecemberDuring heavy leaf seasons, you must still adhere to the strict limit of two bags or cans of yard waste per Wednesday pickup. Large volumes of autumn leaves should be composted or taken to a private vegetative waste facility.
Winter
December to MarchIn the event of snowstorms, Wednesday yard waste and metal pickups are usually the first services to be temporarily suspended. Keep all standard trash receptacles visible and slightly off the roadway to prevent interference with municipal snowplows.
Spring/Summer
April to SeptemberSpring yard cleanups generate extra brush. Ensure that your curbside bundles of twigs do not exceed 36 inches in length and are tied securely. The hauler will not pick up unbound, messy piles of loose brush.
About Jefferson Township Waste Management
Navigating Dual-Stream Recycling in Jefferson Township
Unlike single-stream systems used in neighboring towns, Jefferson Township strictly enforces a Dual-Stream Recycling Program. Residents must alternate their recycling categories each week: one week is dedicated solely to paper and cardboard, and the following week is for commingled plastics, glass, and metal containers. Placing mixed recyclables or the wrong materials out on an off-week will result in your container being left at the curb by the hauler.
Rules for Standard and Bulky Trash Collection Days
Household garbage is collected twice a week in Jefferson Township, with a strict limit of two standard 32-gallon cans per home per pickup. If you need to dispose of bulky items like a mattress, couch, or old dresser, you must wait until your second scheduled garbage day of the week. The hauler will collect this bulk item in lieu of one of your regular trash cans.
Scheduling Bulky Metal and Yard Waste on Wednesdays
While standard bulk furniture goes out on your second trash day, bulky metal items such as appliances require a special municipal appointment. Residents must call the Municipal Building receptionist on Monday mornings to secure a spot for a Wednesday metal pickup. Additionally, residents are allowed to place up to two bags or cans of yard waste at the curb every Wednesday without an appointment.
Utilizing the Sparta Mountain Road Recycling Center
The Jefferson Township Recycling Center in Oak Ridge serves as a vital drop-off location for items banned from curbside pickup. Homeowners can bring mandated electronic waste (e-waste), rechargeable batteries, and vegetative branches to the facility. With a scheduled Saturday appointment, residents can even drop off small amounts of homeowner construction debris, provided they can prove residency.
Drop-off Facilities
Jefferson Township Recycling Center
4 Sparta Mountain Road, Oak Ridge, NJ 07438
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I throw out a mattress or large piece of furniture in Jefferson Township?
You can place large items like mattresses, dressers, or sofas at the curb on your second scheduled garbage day of the week. The hauler will take the bulk item in place of one of your two allotted 32-gallon trash cans.
How do I schedule a pickup for old appliances or scrap metal?
Bulky metal is collected strictly on Wednesdays. You must call the Municipal Building Receptionist at 973-697-1500 on Monday morning starting at 9:00 AM to secure a spot on the Wednesday metal pickup schedule.
Are plastic bags recyclable in the Township's dual-stream system?
No, plastic bags are strictly prohibited in the curbside recycling bins. You should either throw them in the regular garbage or return them to a local grocery store that hosts a plastic film recycling drop-off program.
Where can I dispose of an old TV or computer?
Electronic waste is banned from curbside garbage pickup in New Jersey. Residents must transport TVs, laptops, computer monitors, and desktop printers directly to the Jefferson Township Recycling Center on Sparta Mountain Road.