Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Livingston
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-provided (No official color) Bin (Trash)
Use up to three 30-gallon containers per pickup. Containers must weigh 50 pounds or less. Place bins out by 6:00 a.m. on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Broken household items
Resident-provided (No official color) Bin (Recycling)
Commingled recycling is picked up by Waste Industries on a zone-based schedule. Items must be placed at the curb loosely by 6:00 a.m. Do not bag recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper and office paper
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Grease-stained pizza boxes
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Hazardous waste
Yard Waste Bin
Branches and bagged trimmings can be put out during the monthly bulk collection. During the fall, follow specific zone rules for loose street pickup or bagged pickup depending on your road type.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves (seasonal)
- ✓Bagged garden and lawn trimmings
- ✓Bundled branches (max 4 feet long, 3-4 inches thick)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once per month
Placement
Place items curbside alongside your regular garbage. Do not block the street or sidewalk. Branches must be tied in bundles no larger than 4 feet.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Carpets (rolled and tied, under 4 feet and 50 lbs)
- ✓ Glass mirrors (with an 'X' taped across)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners
- ✕ Televisions and electronics
- ✕ Auto parts and rimless tires
- ✕ Construction materials
Standard monthly bulk pickup is included in municipal services. Rear-yard pickup of normal garbage is available through Basso Inc. for an extra monthly fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a designated holiday falls on a weekday, garbage and recycling services are generally pushed back by one day for the remainder of the week, with Friday collections happening on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Fall leaf collection schedules may also be paused or slightly shifted around Thanksgiving. Check the official leaf zone map for exact dates.
Always refer to the official Livingston Garbage & Recycling Calendar (available via Recycle Coach) for exact holiday shift confirmations.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
The Plastic Bag Nemesis
Livingston strictly prohibits the use of plastic bags for recyclables [1.3.1]. Never put your bottles and cans in garbage bags, and do not enclose paper recycling in plastic supermarket bags. Plastic bags jam the sorting facility's gears.
Grease Ruins Cardboard
Clean cardboard is highly recyclable, but a pizza box soiled with heavy grease or melted cheese is considered contaminated. Tear off the clean lid to recycle, and throw the greasy bottom half in the regular trash.
Separate Mixed Materials
When two or more materials are permanently connected—such as paper mailing envelopes lined with plastic bubble wrap, or cardboard boxes with foam glued inside—they cannot be recycled. Separate the materials, or throw them in the garbage.
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October - DecemberThe zone-based Leaf Collection Program is active [2.2.3]. Municipal street residents can rake loose leaves to the curb, while those on County/State roads must use paper leaf bags (available for free at Public Works).
Spring/Summer
April - JuneWatch the township calendar for scheduled Electronics Recycling Events and Paper Shredding days. TVs, computers, and monitors are banned from curbside garbage and must be saved for these special drop-off days.
Winter
December - MarchSnowfall can temporarily obscure or delay collections. Make sure to clear a path in the snow for your garbage and recycling containers so Basso Inc. and Waste Industries crews can safely reach them.
About Livingston Waste Management
Navigating Split Waste Contracts
Livingston Township utilizes two separate haulers to manage residential waste streams [1.1.1]. F. Basso, Jr. Rubbish Removal (Basso Inc.) handles your regular household garbage, while Waste Industries collects all curbside recycling. If you experience a missed trash pickup, do not call Town Hall; you must contact Basso Inc. directly at 973-868-8496 or email [email protected], as they manage their own dispatching.
Proper Garbage Containers and Rear-Yard Service
Residents are responsible for supplying their own heavy-duty garbage receptacles. Basso Inc. will collect up to three 30-gallon cans per pickup, provided that no single container exceeds 50 pounds. For homeowners seeking extra convenience, Basso Inc. offers an optional back door/rear-yard garbage removal service for a monthly fee. To utilize this service, you must register directly with the hauler on their website.
Monthly Bulk Pickup Guidelines
Bulk trash collection in Livingston is tied strictly to the calendar rather than a set day of the week—it is scheduled once per month on your last regular garbage pickup day. Households are restricted to exactly five bulky items per collection, with a combined total weight not exceeding 150 pounds. The items must be appropriately sized to fit inside a standard rear-loading garbage truck.
Handling Glass and Special Metal Collections
If you are disposing of large glass items, mirrors, or shower doors during bulk pickup, the township requires you to duct tape a large 'X' across both the front and back of the glass to prevent dangerous shattering. Furthermore, appliances (white goods) and scrap metal are banned from standard bulk collection. Residents must submit a specific Metal Pickup Request Form through the municipal website to secure an appointment for these materials.
Strict Leaf Collection Zones and Procedures
During the autumn months, Livingston orchestrates a highly structured, four-week leaf collection program divided by designated town sections. While residents on municipal streets can place loose leaves directly in the roadway during their scheduled week, homeowners living on Essex County roads or State Highway Route 10 face different rules. They must bag all leaves in biodegradable paper leaf bags, which the township provides for free at the Public Works Garage with proof of address.
Drop-off Facilities
Public Works Garage
235 S. Livingston Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I call if my garbage wasn't picked up in Livingston?
You must contact the contracted hauler, F. Basso, Jr. Rubbish Removal (Basso Inc.), directly at 973-868-8496 or by emailing [email protected]. Town Hall does not manage missed garbage pickups.
When can I put a mattress or couch out for garbage collection?
Mattresses and furniture can be placed at the curb during your once-a-month bulk pickup day, which occurs on the last regular garbage pickup day of the month. Limit your bulk pile to five items.
Does Livingston offer backyard or rear-yard trash pickup?
Yes. Basso Inc. offers an optional back door/rear-yard garbage removal service for a monthly fee of approximately $28.50. Residents must register and pay for this service directly through the hauler's website.
How do I throw out a refrigerator, AC unit, or scrap metal?
Metal items and white goods (like refrigerators and air conditioners) are strictly prohibited from standard bulk collection. You must fill out the Metal Pickup Request Form on the Livingston township website to schedule a specialized pickup.