Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Morris 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.
Township-issued Automated Cart or Standard 32-gallon can Bin (Trash)
Limit of 6 items/bags per household for manual collection. 50-pound limit per standard can. Bins must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. (5:30 a.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day).
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household trash
- ✓Animal feces (double bagged in paper)
- ✓Dried out latex paint (use cat litter)
Standard Receptacle (Labeled Recycling) Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables. Place bins at the curb keeping a 4-foot distance from trash carts and other obstacles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper, newspaper, magazines
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, and #5
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Household hazardous waste
Yard Waste Bin
Curbside pickups require items in 32-gallon cans (max 50 lbs) or 4-foot tied bundles. No plastic bags allowed at the curb. No dirt, logs, roots, or stumps.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Plant waste
- ✓Light brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a month on designated Fridays (By Appointment Only)
Placement
Items must not exceed 4 feet in length or 50 pounds in weight. Place items out no earlier than dusk the night before your scheduled Friday appointment.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses (must be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Box springs (wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Rugs (cut, rolled, tied - max 4ft/50lbs)
- ✓ Large glass doors (wrapped in cardboard/tape)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction materials
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Hot ashes
- ✕ Poisons and chemicals
The service is included for residents, but strict adherence to the appointment system and preparation rules (like wrapping glass and mattresses) is mandatory.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a major holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling collections are typically suspended and pushed back by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
The DPW Yard on Jane Way is closed on all municipal holidays. Saturday yard waste collections may be rescheduled if they conflict with holiday weekends.
Always check the Morris Township Municipal Messenger newsletter or website for specific holiday week schedules, as large item pickup Fridays may shift.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Dry Out Your Latex Paint
Liquid paint will ruin the interior of collection trucks and spill onto the streets. While oil-based paint is hazardous, latex paint can be thrown in your regular trash only if it is completely dried out. The DPW recommends mixing kitty litter into the can to absorb all moisture before disposal.
Never Use Plastic Bags for Yard Waste
When placing yard waste at the curb for the Saturday collection, never use plastic bags. Grass, leaves, and brush must be placed in a standard 32-gallon garbage can. The only exception for plastic bags is if you are using them solely to transport waste to the Jane Way drop-off yard.
Isolate Your Hazardous Waste
Items like motor oil, pool chemicals, pesticides, and rechargeable batteries are strictly prohibited in Morris Township curbside bins. They must be saved and taken to the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (MCMUA) Household Hazardous Waste drop-off events.
Seasonal Information
Summer
Memorial Day to Labor DayTo beat the extreme summer heat, all trash and recycling receptacles must be placed at the curb 30 minutes earlier, with a strict deadline of 5:30 a.m. on your collection day.
Fall
October to DecemberDuring the Annual Leaf Collection Program, the DPW focuses heavily on leaf removal. Because of this, only light brush (no other yard waste) will be accepted at the Jane Way DPW drop-off yard during these months.
Spring/Summer
April to SeptemberCurbside yard waste collection operates on a limited schedule of one Saturday per month for each zone. Ensure you consult the DPW zone map to know exactly which Saturday your street will be serviced.
About Morris Township Waste Management
Summer Collection Time Adjustments
To protect sanitation workers from intense heat, Morris Township implements a mandatory summer schedule shift. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, all residents must place their trash and recycling receptacles at the curb no later than 5:30 a.m. During the rest of the year, the deadline is a slightly later 6:00 a.m. Cans may be placed out beginning at dusk the evening prior to your scheduled collection day and must be removed by 6:00 p.m. on collection evening.
Area-Based Friday Bulk Collection
Morris Township utilizes a highly organized, appointment-only system for Large Trash Items. Instead of a free-for-all bulk day, collections occur on a designated Friday each month depending on your normal trash day. If your regular trash day is Monday, you are in 'Area 1' (First Friday). Tuesdays are 'Area 2' (Second Friday), Wednesdays are 'Area 3' (Third Friday), and Thursdays are 'Area 4' (Last Friday). You must submit a request online or call the DPW by the Friday prior to your scheduled date.
Strict Preparation for Glass, Rugs, and Mattresses
For worker safety, the DPW requires specific preparation for bulky household items before they reach the curb. Mattresses and box springs must be entirely encased in plastic. If you are throwing out large glass doors or mirrors, they must be securely wrapped with cardboard and heavily taped. Old carpeting and rugs must be cut down to lengths no greater than four feet, tightly rolled, and tied into bundles that weigh no more than 50 pounds each.
Yard Waste Drop-off vs. Curbside Nuances
Yard waste management varies whether you wait for curbside pickup or drop it off yourself. From April to September, the DPW collects yard waste at the curb one Saturday per month per zone, where grass, leaves, and light brush can be mixed in the same 32-gallon can. However, if you self-haul to the Jane Way DPW yard, the rules change: materials must be strictly separated for disposal, though you are permitted to use plastic bags for transport to the facility (a practice strictly banned at the curb).
Automated Cart Spacing Rules
As Morris Township transitions phases of its Automated Trash Collection Program, residents utilizing the township-issued rolling carts must adhere to strict spatial rules. Your trash cart must be placed directly in the street along the curbline with a minimum of four feet of clearance on all sides. This clearance from parked vehicles, mailboxes, and trees is critical for the mechanical arm of the collection truck to safely grab and lift the bin without causing property damage.
Drop-off Facilities
Morris Township DPW Yard
6 Jane Way, Morristown, NJ 07960
Materials Accepted
MCMUA Household Hazardous Waste Facility
Gold Mine Road, Mount Olive, NJ
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I put my bulk trash out in Morris Township?
Bulk trash is collected once a month on a specific Friday based on your normal trash day (e.g., Monday trash days get the 1st Friday of the month). However, you cannot just place items at the curb; you must make an appointment with the DPW by the Friday before your collection date.
Do I need to wrap my mattress before throwing it away?
Yes. Morris Township DPW mandates that all mattresses and box springs must be fully wrapped in plastic prior to being placed at the curb for your scheduled bulk disposal appointment.
What time does my garbage need to be at the curb?
For most of the year, your trash must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. However, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the township enforces a summer schedule, meaning your bins must be out by 5:30 a.m. to protect workers from the heat.
Can I put my yard waste in plastic bags?
If you are leaving yard waste at the curb for the Saturday collection, absolutely no plastic bags are allowed—you must use a standard 32-gallon can or tie brush with string. You may only use plastic bags if you are personally transporting the waste to dump at the Jane Way DPW yard.