Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for South Brunswick 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.
Resident-provided Bin (Trash)
Trash must be placed in up to six 32-gallon containers or heavy-duty bags, weighing a maximum of 40 pounds each.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable wrappers
- ✓Alkaline batteries
Resident-provided or Township-issued Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be placed loose in the bin. Do not bag recyclables. Cardboard should be flattened and bundled if placed outside the container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic containers (#1 and #2)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Juice boxes (no foil pouches)
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and flattened cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Pizza boxes with grease
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Brush and branches are banned from household garbage. They must be dropped off at the Sondek Park Convenience Center or left for the bi-annual spring and fall curbside collections.
Accepted Items
- ✓Brush
- ✓Tree branches
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings (via 'Cut it and Leave it' or drop-off)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly
Placement
Place your three permitted bulk items at the curb next to your standard household trash on your normally scheduled collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large plastic toys
- ✓ Carpeting (cut and rolled)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Appliances/White goods
- ✕ Televisions and computers
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Brush and tree branches
Standard weekly bulk collection is covered by township services. Middlesex County manages free residential tire disposal at designated county sites (maximum 8 tires).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled trash or recycling collection day falls on one of these six major holidays, your pickup will be delayed by one day. For example, Monday collections will move to Tuesday, and Friday collections will occur on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
The township drop-off centers for brush and recycling are closed on all official township holidays.
Always check the South Brunswick municipal website or call 732-329-4000 ext. 7274 if you are unsure of a holiday schedule shift.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Shredded Paper Out of the Bin
Even if bagged or boxed, shredded paper is strictly prohibited in South Brunswick's curbside recycling. The shreds are too small for the mechanized sorting facilities to capture. Instead, bring personal documents to a Middlesex County paper shredding event.
Ditch the Plastic Bags
Never place your recyclables inside plastic grocery bags or garbage bags. Plastic bags wrap around the gears at the recycling plant, causing major jams. Keep all acceptable recyclables loose in your container.
Sort Your Batteries Correctly
Standard alkaline batteries (like AA or AAA) are no longer considered hazardous and should be thrown in your regular trash. However, rechargeable, button-cell, and car batteries are fire hazards and must be taken to the drop-off center on Ridge Road.
Seasonal Information
Fall
October - DecemberDuring the designated autumn collection period, residents should rake loose leaves directly to the curb line, taking care not to push them into the paved street. To prevent blowing, leaf piles can be temporarily covered with an old sheet secured by bricks.
Winter
JanuaryUnadorned Christmas trees (free of lights, ornaments, and plastic disposal bags) are collected curbside starting January 2nd through the second full week of January. Afterward, they will be collected as regular garbage by the contractor.
Spring
April - MayCurbside brush and branch collection is conducted twice a year, generally in the spring and fall. Outside of these windows, residents must transport their yard debris to the Sondek Park Convenience Center.
About South Brunswick Township Waste Management
South Brunswick's Approach to Household Waste
South Brunswick Township utilizes a structured collection model to manage curbside residential trash and recycling. To maintain neighborhood cleanliness and manage disposal costs, the township enforces strict volume limits for standard garbage. Each household is restricted to a maximum of six 32-gallon containers or bags per week, with each receptacle weighing no more than 40 pounds. Exceeding this limit will result in uncollected waste being left at the curb.
Weekly Bulk Trash Regulations
Unlike municipalities that restrict heavy trash collection to specific seasonal weeks, South Brunswick permits bulk waste disposal on a weekly basis, albeit with firm quantity caps. Residents may place up to three bulk items—defined as objects too large to fit inside a standard 32-gallon trash bag—alongside their regular weekly garbage. If you have more than three bulky pieces, they must be withheld until the following week's collection.
Navigating the Single-Stream Recycling System
In coordination with Middlesex County, South Brunswick utilizes a single-stream recycling model where glass, paper, flattened cardboard, and eligible plastics are mingled into a single bin. However, the township strictly prohibits plastic bags in the recycling stream. Any recyclable materials placed inside a plastic grocery or garbage bag will be flagged as contaminated and routed to the landfill, defeating the purpose of the program.
Drop-Off Facilities for Specialized Waste
Materials that cannot go into curbside bins are handled through local drop-off centers. The South Brunswick Recycling Center, situated behind the Municipal Complex on Ridge Road, accepts scrap metal, used motor oil, textiles, and auto batteries. Additionally, the Township Convenience Center behind Sondek Park on New Road is the designated drop-off point for residential brush, tree branches, and leaves, ensuring yard debris stays out of standard landfills.
Appliance Pickups and E-Waste Disposal
Discarding household appliances (white goods) like refrigerators, freezers, and hot water heaters requires scheduling a specialized pickup by calling the Public Works office. Electronic waste, including televisions and computers, cannot go out with regular bulk trash under New Jersey law. Instead, residents must bring these items to the Township Recycling Center on the second Saturday of each month between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
Drop-off Facilities
South Brunswick Recycling Center
540 Ridge Road (behind the Municipal Complex), Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852
Materials Accepted
South Brunswick Convenience Center
473 New Road (behind Sondek Park), Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How much bulk trash can I throw away each week in South Brunswick?
South Brunswick allows residents to place up to three (3) bulk items at the curb every week. A bulk item is considered anything that cannot fit into a standard 32-gallon trash can. This is in addition to your maximum allowance of six regular garbage bags or cans.
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator or stove?
Large appliances, also known as white goods, are not collected with regular bulk trash. You must schedule an appliance pickup appointment by calling the South Brunswick Public Works Department at 732-329-4000 ext. 7260. Make sure to remove the doors from refrigerators and freezers before placing them out.
Where can I recycle a television or computer in the township?
Under New Jersey state law, electronics cannot be put in the trash. South Brunswick residents can bring TVs, laptops, monitors, and printers to the Township Recycling Center on Ridge Road exclusively on the second Saturday of each month between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Proof of residency is required.
Can I put tree branches and brush in my household garbage can?
No. Brush and branches are mandated recyclable materials in Middlesex County and will not be collected with standard garbage. You must either drop them off at the Sondek Park Convenience Center on New Road, or wait for the township's bi-annual spring or fall curbside brush collections.