Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Scotch Plains
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 or Private Hauler provided Bin (Trash)
Trash collection is privately contracted. Contact your chosen private hauler (e.g., Republic Services, FM Disposal) for their specific bin size limits and placement times.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food waste
Resident-provided rigid container Bin (Recycling)
Use a rigid reusable container like a crate or bucket. The container must not exceed 20 gallons in size or 50 pounds in weight. Single-streaming is allowed. Place at the curb by 6:00 A.M.
Accepted Items
- ✓Mixed paper and newspaper
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers #1 and #2
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Batteries
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Plastics other than #1 or #2
Yard Waste Bin
Place in separate piles at the curb no earlier than 10 days prior to a scheduled DPW seasonal pickup. Do not bag leaves in plastic; use biodegradable paper bags if necessary.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Branches (max 6ft long and 2in diameter)
- ✓Gumballs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
None (Municipal) / By Private Arrangement
Placement
Never leave bulk items at the curb indefinitely. Only place large items out on the specific day you have a confirmed, scheduled pickup from a private company.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Wood and large debris (if using a private hauler or Westfield drop-off)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous household waste
- ✕ Paint
- ✕ Chemicals
- ✕ Automotive fluids
Through a shared agreement, Scotch Plains residents can purchase a permit and pay a $60 per trunk load fee to drop off bulk waste at the Westfield Conservation Center.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a major holiday falls on a weekday, curbside recycling collections for that zone and all remaining zones for that week will be delayed by one day, with Friday pickups sliding to Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
The Plainfield Avenue DPW drop-off facility is closed on all observed municipal holidays.
Always check directly with your private trash hauler for their specific holiday garbage schedule, as it may differ completely from the municipal recycling calendar.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Use Plastic Bags for Recycling
Plastic shopping bags and garbage bags cause severe jams in the sorting equipment at the processing facility. Always place your single-stream recyclables loose inside your rigid container.
Keep Batteries Out of Curbside Bins
Dry-cell, lithium-ion, and rechargeable batteries are extremely dangerous for the single-stream recycling trucks, frequently causing fires. They should never be thrown in your curbside recycling bin.
Properly Prepare Your Cardboard and Paper
If you choose to keep paper separate from commingled plastics, ensure your corrugated cardboard is fully flattened and tied. Newspapers should be bundled no higher than 10 inches or placed inside brown paper grocery bags.
Seasonal Information
Spring
AprilThe DPW conducts a township-wide spring brush and limb collection. Branches must be cut to a maximum of 6 feet long and 2 inches in diameter. No logs or large stumps are accepted.
Fall
October - DecemberFall leaf collection typically begins in late October. Keep leaf piles free of rocks, stumps, and branches to prevent damage to the vacuum equipment. Biodegradable bags are permitted, but plastic bags are banned.
Winter
JanuaryThe DPW offers free curbside Christmas tree pickups starting in early January. You must remove all ornaments, tinsel, and stands before placing the tree at the curb. Wreaths and garlands are not accepted.
About Scotch Plains Waste Management
Navigating Private and Municipal Waste Management
In Scotch Plains, waste management is a hybrid system. The township strictly handles curbside recycling through contracted haulers, while residents are entirely responsible for hiring private sanitation companies (such as Republic Services, FM Disposal, or others) for their weekly household garbage collection. Because of this, trash schedules and specific bin limits are determined entirely by your chosen private hauler, rather than the municipal government.
Single-Stream Recycling with Specific Container Rules
Scotch Plains offers residents the convenience of single-stream curbside recycling, meaning mixed paper, flattened cardboard, glass, and approved plastics (#1 and #2) can be combined. However, residents must provide their own rigid, reusable containers. To ensure driver safety and proper collection, your recycling container must not exceed 20 gallons in volume or weigh more than 50 pounds when full. Carts that exceed these limits may be left at the curb.
Spring and Fall Brush and Leaf Collections
The Department of Public Property (DPW) conducts major township-wide seasonal cleanups. During the scheduled spring brush and fall leaf collections, residents can place vegetative debris at the curb, but no earlier than 10 days before the start date. A critical rule for these collections is separation: leaves, gumballs, and branches must be kept in completely distinct piles, leaving a small gully between the debris and the curb to allow for storm water drainage.
Specialized Drop-Offs at the DPW Yard
While curbside recycling handles the basics, the DPW yard at 2445 Plainfield Avenue serves as a specialized drop-off hub for difficult materials. On Thursdays between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., residents can bring clean Styrofoam (Plastic #6) and electronic waste like old televisions, computers, and monitors. Please note that food-grade Styrofoam, wet foam, and packing peanuts are strictly prohibited and will be rejected at the gate.
Handling Bulky Waste Through Local Agreements
Because Scotch Plains does not provide municipal bulk trash pickups, clearing out furniture or large debris requires alternative methods. You can either schedule a special paid pickup directly with your private trash hauler, or utilize a shared services agreement with a neighboring town. Scotch Plains residents can purchase a permit to drop off bulky items at the Westfield Conservation Center on Lamberts Mill Road for a $60 per trunk load fee.
Drop-off Facilities
Scotch Plains DPW Yard
2445 Plainfield Ave, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
Materials Accepted
Westfield Conservation Center (Permit Required)
1300 Lamberts Mill Rd, Westfield, NJ 07090
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Scotch Plains provide municipal garbage pickup?
No. Scotch Plains residents are responsible for hiring a private waste hauling company, such as Republic Services or FM Disposal, for their regular household garbage. The township only administers curbside recycling services.
Can I put all my recyclables in the same bin?
Yes, homeowners may 'single-stream' their recycling. You can mix paper, cardboard, and commingled glass and plastics (#1 and #2) in a single rigid, reusable container, provided the container does not exceed 20 gallons in volume or weigh more than 50 pounds.
Where can I recycle Styrofoam in Scotch Plains?
Clean Styrofoam (labeled as Plastic #6) can be dropped off at the Scotch Plains DPW Yard on Plainfield Avenue on Thursdays between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Food service items, packing peanuts, and dark or wet foam are completely unacceptable.
How do I get rid of large bulk items like a couch or mattress?
Since there is no municipal bulk pickup, you have two primary options: schedule a bulky waste pickup with your private trash hauler for a fee, or purchase a permit to drop off the items yourself at the Westfield Conservation Center on Lamberts Mill Road for $60 per trunk load.