Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Maplewood
Trash Day
Maplewood Township does not provide municipal trash collection. Residents must contract privately with a licensed commercial hauler (such as Waste Management or Waste Industries), which establishes individual pickup days.
Recycling
Curbside recycling is collected weekly by zone on an alternating dual-stream schedule (Fibers one week, Commingled the next): Sections 1 and 2 on Monday, Sections 3 and 4 on Tuesday, and Sections 5 and 6 on Wednesday.
Yard Waste
Seasonal curbside collection only: Spring Rake-Out for bundled branches and yard rakings (April–May) and multi-round Fall Leaf Collection (October–December) organized by township section. Yard waste can also be brought to the DPW Recycling Depot.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Household trash service is not covered by property taxes or town utility bills; you must subscribe directly with a private hauler for regular residential garbage collection.
Billing Cycle
Annually for municipal sewer and stormwater utilities; private trash service is billed separately by your chosen hauler.
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, Drop Box, In-Person
Resident-provided (varies by private hauler) Bin (Trash)
Trash collection guidelines, cart sizes, and placement times are determined by your private subscription hauler (e.g., Waste Management or Waste Industries).
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Resident-provided (Blue recommended) Bin (Recycling)
The Township does not provide toters. Residents must use a hard plastic container (maximum 64 gallons). Plastic bags are strictly prohibited and will result in rejected pickups.
Accepted Items
- ✓FIBERS WEEK: Cardboard, office paper, newspapers, magazines
- ✓COMMINGLED WEEK: Plastics #1-7, glass bottles/jars, tin/aluminum cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Batteries
- ✕Garden hoses
- ✕Broken glass
Yard Waste Bin
In spring, use reusable containers or paper bags. In autumn, loose leaves may be raked into the street. Never use plastic bags. Gas-powered leaf blowers are illegal.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Garden rakings
- ✓Branches (under 4 feet long and bundled)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Varies (Private Hauler) / By Appointment (DPW Metal)
Placement
For DPW metal pickups, schedule an appointment by calling 973-762-1175 and place the item at the curb the night before. For general bulk, follow your private hauler's instructions.
Accepted
- ✓ Washing machines (via DPW)
- ✓ Dishwashers (via DPW)
- ✓ Scrap metal (via DPW)
- ✓ Standard household furniture (via private hauler)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Wet paint
- ✕ Standard household garbage mixed with bulk
- ✕ Construction debris (unless contracted separately)
Tire drop-offs at the recycling center cost $2 per tire (off-rim only, exact cash or check). Other DPW scrap metal pickups are free. Private hauler bulk fees vary by subscription tier.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Recycling services managed by the Township and DPW center hours may be suspended on major holidays. For household trash, check directly with your private hauler for their specific holiday delay schedule.
Yard Waste Exception
Storm emergencies always take priority over routine brush and leaf collection.
The Maplewood DPW Recycling Center on Boyden Avenue strictly observes municipal holidays and will be closed on the dates listed.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October - DecemberThe DPW conducts four rounds of loose leaf pickup. You may rake leaves to the street edge, but no earlier than the Sunday before your collection week. Alternatively, you can drop them off at the Boyden Avenue DPW yard.
Spring
March - MayThe Spring Rake Out program allows residents to dispose of garden debris. All leaves must be in paper bags or reusable containers, and branches must be tied in bundles easily handled by one person. Loose street piles are not allowed in spring.
Winter
December - FebruaryDuring heavy snowfall, ensure your privately collected trash bins and municipal recycling toters are easily accessible from the street and not buried behind snowbanks.
Local Tips & Community Info
Turning Your Scrap into Bucks Around Maplewood?
While Maplewood itself doesn't have a local bottle return center where you can cash in cans and bottles, New Jersey has a state-wide program! Keep an eye out for the NJ bottle deposit symbol on beverage containers. You can take these to larger redemption centers outside of Maplewood, or many supermarkets will accept them. For larger metal items, you might want to check out places like Metalico in Newark. They're a good option for recycling scrap metal and can often give you a fair price for your old appliances or other metal goods.
Give Your Good Stuff a Second Life in Maplewood!
Instead of tossing perfectly good items, consider donating them! Maplewood residents have some great local options. The Salvation Army Family Store & Donation Center in nearby Orange is a popular spot for clothes, household goods, and even furniture. If you've got tools or building materials, Habitat for Humanity ReStore in neighboring Belleville is fantastic and supports affordable housing projects. It's a win-win: declutter your home and help someone else out!
Keeping Maplewood Tidy: Beyond the Bin
Maplewood is a pretty clean town, but sometimes unwanted items end up where they shouldn't. If you ever see illegal dumping, the best thing to do is report it to the Maplewood Public Works Department. They handle clean-up and enforcement. Also, keep an ear out for special Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection days organized by Essex County. These events are perfect for safely getting rid of things like old paint, batteries, and chemicals that can't go in your regular trash or recycling.
Drop-off Facilities
Maplewood DPW Recycling Center
359 Boyden Avenue, Maplewood, NJ 07040
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Township of Maplewood pick up my household garbage?
No. Maplewood does not provide municipal trash collection. Residents must hire a private waste management company, such as Waste Industries or Waste Management, for their regular garbage pickup.
What is the dual-stream recycling system in Maplewood?
Starting in January 2023, Maplewood transitioned to a dual-stream system. This means you must separate Fibers (paper and cardboard) from Commingled items (plastic, glass, and metal). These categories are picked up on alternating weeks depending on your neighborhood zone.
Can my landscaper use a gas-powered leaf blower?
No. Maplewood has enacted a strict year-round ban on the use of all gas-powered leaf blowers within township limits, effective January 1, 2023. Violators are subject to fines, and electric blowers or manual raking must be used instead.
How do I dispose of old paint or motor oil?
Motor oil can be poured into the large yellow disposal canister at the DPW Recycling Center on Boyden Avenue. Paint disposal falls under Essex County hazardous waste guidelines, though fully dried latex paint can often be disposed of in your regular private trash. Never pour oil or wet paint down the drain.