Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Princeton
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.
Grey/Black (Princeton Municipal Logo) Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit inside the provided 64-gallon or 32-gallon wheeled cart. Carts must be placed on the road pavement no earlier than 7:00 PM the day before collection and no later than 7:00 AM on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging and plastics
Yellow or Green (County-Issued) Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be completely loose in the bucket. Limit of 5 buckets per household. Must be placed at the curb by 7:00 AM on scheduled MCIA collection days.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, and #5 ONLY
- ✓Mixed paper, cardboard, newspaper, magazines
- ✓Glass food and beverage bottles
- ✓Aluminum and metal cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Plastics #3, #4, #6, and #7
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Ceramics and aerosol cans
Yard Waste Bin
Do not place yard waste at the curb more than 7 days prior to your section's collection start date. Ensure it is placed before 7:00 AM on the scheduled date.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Branches
- ✓Logs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Wednesdays (By Reservation Only)
Placement
Do not place items curbside until you have a confirmed assigned pick-up date. Items must be set out Tuesday evening or Wednesday before 7:00 AM.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (MUST be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Sofas and chairs
- ✓ Desks and non-metal furniture
- ✓ Dismantled large household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction materials
- ✕ Electronics
- ✕ Automotive parts
- ✕ Appliances (White goods)
- ✕ Flammables and hazardous waste
Bulk pickup is free as part of municipal services for eligible properties, but strictly limited to 2 items per reservation.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When your scheduled collection day falls on an observed holiday, pick-up is generally delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Leaf and branch collection operations run by the DPW are suspended on all municipal holidays.
Residents are highly encouraged to download the 'Recycle Coach' app or check the desktop widget on Princeton's website to receive automatic push notifications regarding holiday schedule shifts.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Dismantle Your Bulk Items
For your Wednesday bulk reservation, items cannot exceed 50 pounds each. Very large items must be aggressively broken down—such as removing table legs or dismantling basketball hoops—to comply with the weight and size limit before they will be loaded into the truck.
No Hard Covers on Books
While mixed paper, magazines, and paperback books are welcomed in the yellow buckets, hardbound books are not. You must physically tear off and discard the rigid covers of hardcover books into your regular trash before recycling the interior pages.
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October - DecemberDuring peak leaf-drop season, adhere strictly to the municipal section map. DPW encourages mulching leaves into your lawn, but if placing them curbside, ensure they are free of stones, branches, and trash to prevent damage to the leaf vacuums.
Spring
April - MayPrinceton typically hosts a 'Household Recycling & Shred Fest' in the spring. This is your prime opportunity to securely dispose of sensitive documents, rigid plastics, and scrap metals that cannot go in standard curbside buckets.
Winter
December - MarchWhen snow is forecasted, pull your trash carts and recycling buckets slightly back from the edge of the pavement. This ensures the DPW snowplows can clear the roads effectively without knocking over your waste bins.
About Princeton Waste Management
Princeton's Semi-Automated Cart System
Starting in February 2023, Princeton revolutionized its residential waste program by transitioning to a semi-automated collection system in partnership with Interstate Waste Services (IWS). Eligible households consisting of one to four dwelling units were issued a standard 64-gallon wheeled trash cart. A strict rule under this new system is that all household garbage must fit entirely inside this municipal cart with the lid closed; no loose bags left at the curb will be collected. Properties with five or more units must independently hire private haulers.
Mandatory Wednesday Bulk Reservations
Gone are the days of casually tossing a broken chair next to your trash can. Bulk waste in Princeton is now managed entirely separately from weekly garbage and is collected exclusively on Wednesdays by reservation. Residents must use the online portal to schedule their pickup by 11:59 PM on the preceding Sunday. Because trucks map their routes based solely on these reservations, bulk items placed at the curb without a confirmed appointment will absolutely result in a missed pickup and potential municipal fines.
Mastering MCIA's Single-Stream Buckets
Princeton’s recycling operations are managed county-wide by the Mercer County Improvement Authority (MCIA). Each household is allowed to place up to five official Yellow or Green County-issued recycling buckets at the curb per collection cycle. While the system is single-stream (allowing paper, glass, and approved plastics to mingle), cardboard is an exception: flattened corrugated cardboard can be placed neatly alongside or underneath your buckets to save space.
Strict Section-Based Yard Waste Timelines
The Princeton Department of Public Works orchestrates leaf, branch, and log collections based on distinct neighborhood sections to maintain clean streets and prevent storm drain clogs. An essential regulation to remember is the seven-day rule: residents are strictly prohibited from placing any yard waste at the curb more than seven days prior to their section's officially scheduled start date. Leaving debris out too early is considered a violation of local ordinances.
Managing Excess Waste & Cart Leases
If your household routinely generates more garbage than the standard 64-gallon cart can hold, you cannot bypass the system by using personal bins. Instead, the municipality allows residents to lease one additional cart. You can opt for a second 64-gallon cart for an annual fee of $300, or a smaller 32-gallon cart for $150 per year. If you prefer a smaller footprint, you can also request to downsize your primary 64-gallon cart to a 32-gallon model by contacting the DPW directly.
Drop-off Facilities
Princeton Recycling Bucket Distribution Hub
27 North Harrison Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
Materials Accepted
Mercer County Household Hazardous Waste/E-Waste Events
Dempster Fire School, 350 Lawrence Station Rd, Lawrence Township, NJ
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get more recycling buckets?
If you need additional buckets, Princeton residents can pick up official County-issued yellow or green buckets at 27 North Harrison Street, Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM. You are allowed to use up to five buckets per household.
What if my trash doesn't fit in the 64-gallon cart?
All trash must fit inside the cart with the lid completely closed; no loose bags will be collected. If you consistently generate more waste, you can apply through the DPW to lease an additional 64-gallon cart for an annual fee of $300, or a 32-gallon cart for $150 annually.
When can I put my leaves and branches at the curb?
Yard waste is strictly regulated by neighborhood sections. You are not allowed to place leaves, branches, or logs at the curb more than seven (7) days prior to your section's officially scheduled start date.