Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Sparta
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's own standard container (max 32 gallons) Bin (Trash)
Trash must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on scheduled collection days. You are allowed up to two 32-gallon containers per pickup day, weighing no more than 50 pounds each when full.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household solid waste
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Dried out latex paint
Resident's own clearly marked recycling bin Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is single-stream (commingled). Containers must have identifying labels (e.g., 'Recyclables Only'). Cardboard must be flattened, and all recyclables must be left loose inside the bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (rinsed)
- ✓Aluminum trays, foil, and tin cans
- ✓Plastic containers (Codes 1, 2, 4, 5, 7)
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and mixed paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Styrofoam (peanuts or blocks)
- ✕Construction materials
- ✕Electronic waste
Yard Waste Bin
Blue Diamond does not collect yard waste. The Sparta DPW only collects vegetative waste in late November/early December. Otherwise, it must be taken directly to the SCMUA facility in Lafayette.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Vegetative brush (only during Township's late fall collection)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly for non-metal items; Monthly (Last Wednesday) for metal/white goods.
Placement
Place up to 3 non-metal items at the curb by 6:00 AM on your second garbage day of the week (e.g., Thursday if you are on the Mon/Thu route). Metal items must be scheduled by phone.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches, tables, and wooden dressers
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Carpeting (rolled and tied)
- ✓ Refrigerators and stoves (Freon removed, doors off - Metal Day only)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction debris (drywall, studs, pallets)
- ✕ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
Bulk collection is included in municipal services, but construction debris must be privately hauled to the SCMUA facility in Lafayette and is subject to tipping fees based on weight.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a scheduled collection day falls on an observed holiday, pickups for that day and the remainder of the week are typically delayed by one day, culminating with Friday pickups occurring on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Inclement weather delays follow a similar 'shift forward' rule (e.g., Monday shifts to Tuesday, Tuesday to Wednesday).
Always check Blue Diamond's website or call their customer service desk ahead of major holidays to confirm any deviations in rural collection routes.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Don't Mix Metal with Weekly Bulk
A frequent mistake is placing metal items (like a grill or filing cabinet) out on your weekly non-metal bulk day. Blue Diamond will leave it behind. Metal items require a phone call to schedule a pickup strictly for the last Wednesday of the month.
Styrofoam Goes to SCMUA, Not the Blue Bin
Large Styrofoam packing blocks cannot be recycled at the curb. Instead of throwing them in the garbage to sit in a landfill, you should take clean, large Styrofoam blocks to the SCMUA's FoamCycle machine on Route 94 for specialized recycling.
Dry Out Your Latex Paint
Liquid latex paint is banned from both the regular trash and SCMUA's hazardous waste events. You must dry it out by adding kitty litter or a commercial paint hardener until it is completely solid before throwing the can in your standard household trash.
Seasonal Information
Fall
November to DecemberThe Sparta DPW conducts its only annual curbside vegetative waste collection during late November and early December. Check the Township website during this period for strict guidelines on how to prepare your brush and leaves for the municipal trucks.
Spring
April to JuneSCMUA hosts its Spring Household Hazardous Waste Day. Sparta residents can safely dispose of up to 100 lbs or 10 gallons of fertilizers, pool chemicals, pesticides, and oil-based paints for free without making an appointment.
Winter
December to MarchDue to the steep and narrow roads in the Lake Mohawk region, severe snowstorms can frequently disrupt Blue Diamond's automated collection routes. If inclement weather cancels a pickup, your collection will generally shift to the very next day.
About Sparta Waste Management
Navigating Twice-a-Week Garbage Collection
Sparta Township provides residential trash collection twice a week through its municipal contract with Blue Diamond Disposal. Residents are permitted to place up to two 32-gallon trash containers at the curb per collection day. Because of the Township's unique geography—especially the narrow, winding roads around Lake Mohawk—Blue Diamond utilizes specialized automated trucks. To ensure successful automated collection, bins must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM with at least three feet of clearance from mailboxes, parked cars, and low-hanging tree branches.
The Two-Tiered Bulk Waste System
Sparta takes a highly organized approach to bulky waste by splitting it into two categories: non-metal and metal. Non-metal bulk items, such as mattresses, wooden dressers, and rolled carpeting, are collected for free directly on your second scheduled garbage day of the week (e.g., if your days are Monday/Thursday, Thursday is your bulk day). You are permitted up to three of these items each week. Conversely, bulk metal and white goods are strictly collected on the last Wednesday of each month, and you must call Blue Diamond at (973) 598-9800 to secure a spot on the pickup list.
Sussex County Recycling Mandates
Following the guidelines set by the Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority (SCMUA), Sparta operates a mandatory single-stream recycling program. Clean glass, aluminum cans, plastic containers (#1, #2, #4, #5, #7), and flattened cardboard must be comingled loosely in your designated recycling bin. Shredded paper, heavily soiled pizza boxes, and all plastic grocery bags are strictly banned from the curbside recycling stream to prevent machinery jams at the county processing facility.
Specialized Yard Waste and Foam Recovery
Unlike many municipalities, Sparta's contracted hauler does not collect curbside yard waste. However, the Township Department of Public Works (DPW) conducts a limited seasonal curbside collection of vegetative waste in late November and early December. Outside of this narrow window, all yard debris must be transported to the SCMUA facility on Route 94 in Lafayette. The SCMUA facility also features a specialized FoamCycle machine, allowing residents to properly recycle large, clean Styrofoam packing blocks that are otherwise banned from curbside bins.
Proper Disposal of E-Waste and Hazardous Materials
New Jersey state law explicitly bans electronic waste (E-waste) and household hazardous materials from regular landfills. Old televisions, laptops, monitors, and desktop printers will not be collected by Blue Diamond trucks. Sparta residents must drive these items to the SCMUA facility, which offers free E-waste drop-off days. Additionally, the SCMUA hosts biannual household hazardous waste events in the spring and fall where residents can dispose of up to 100 pounds of pool chemicals, old gasoline, and oil-based paints for free.
Drop-off Facilities
Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority (SCMUA)
34 South Route 94, Lafayette, NJ 07848
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What days are my regular garbage collected in Sparta?
Sparta Township receives twice-a-week garbage collection. Depending on where your street is located within the Blue Diamond routing schedule, your pickup days will either be Monday and Thursday, or Tuesday and Friday.
How do I throw out a mattress or a piece of wooden furniture?
You can place up to three non-metal bulk items (like a mattress, couch, or wooden dresser) at the curb for free on your second scheduled garbage pickup day of the week (either Thursday or Friday).
How do I dispose of a refrigerator, stove, or metal shelving?
Bulk metal and 'white goods' are only collected on the last Wednesday of each month. You must call Blue Diamond Disposal at (973) 598-9800 to place your address on the pickup list. Note that refrigerator and freezer doors must be removed, and freon evacuated.
Where can I get rid of an old television or computer?
Under state law, electronic waste is banned from curbside trash collection. Sparta residents must bring old TVs, monitors, and computers directly to the SCMUA facility on Route 94 in Lafayette. The facility accepts certain electronics for free on regular operating days.