Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Stafford
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.
Varies (Township-issued automated container) Bin (Trash)
Use only the township-assigned automated container. Place wheels toward the curb by 6:00 a.m. Keep the container 4 feet away from other objects. Do not use for recycling.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Bagged grass clippings and garden debris
- ✓Styrofoam packing peanuts (must be bagged)
Varies (Township-issued automated container) Bin (Recycling)
All recycling must be rinsed clean and placed loosely into the Single Stream Recycling container. Commingle all items. Place 4 feet from any object.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers (milk, water, detergent)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (clear, brown, green)
- ✓Corrugated cardboard
- ✓Junk mail and newspaper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags of any kind
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Ceramics and flower pots
- ✕Blue glass, window glass, and mirrors
- ✕Bottle caps and jar lids
Yard Waste Bin
Grass and hay must be bagged and placed in normal trash. Curbside brush piles must not exceed 10ft wide x 4ft high x 8ft long on assigned week. Leaves are collected loose only during designated months.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings (must be bagged in regular trash)
- ✓Leaves (seasonal curbside rows)
- ✓Brush and tree limbs (max 4 inches diameter, 4 feet length)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a month (Based on designated Zones 1-4)
Placement
Separate bulk trash from metal, brush, and regular recycling. Do not block storm drains or the roadway.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Plastic toys
- ✓ Large household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Carpeting and padding
- ✕ Kitchen cabinets
- ✕ Construction debris (rock, concrete, tile, soil)
- ✕ Boats
- ✕ Electronics and propane tanks
Included in municipal services. Alternatively, residents can take items to the Bulk Trash Drop-off Center at 320 Haywood Road for free with proof of residency.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Holiday schedules typically result in a one-day delay for collection services for the remainder of the holiday week. Specific date changes are updated continuously via the Recycle Coach app.
Yard Waste Exception
Zone-based bulk, brush, and metal collections may be pushed back if a major holiday falls on a Monday, delaying the start of your zone week.
Because public works crews manage both sanitation and emergency road operations, holiday and weather delays are best tracked directly through the township's website or notification system.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Toss the Caps and Lids
Before recycling your glass jars or plastic bottles, you must completely remove their lids and caps [2.1.1]. These small items frequently jam the local sorting machinery and must be thrown directly into your normal household trash bin.
Bag Your Packing Peanuts
Unlike standard cardboard shipping boxes, Styrofoam packing peanuts cannot go in your recycling bin. If you need to dispose of them, you must securely bag them and place them in your automated trash container.
Mind the Four-Foot Gap
Because Stafford uses automated trucks with specialized mechanical arms, you must place your recycling and trash cans at least four feet apart from each other, mailboxes, and parked cars, or the driver will be unable to lift them.
Seasonal Information
Spring & Fall
April, May, June, October, November, DecemberThe township runs its loose leaf collection program exclusively during these six months based on your zone week. Leaves must be raked into a neat row by the curb line and kept free of brush or debris.
Summer
July - SeptemberCurbside loose leaf collection is entirely suspended. Any yard waste, such as grass clippings, hay, or garden debris generated during these months must be bagged and placed inside your regular trash container.
Winter
January - MarchSnow events will alter standard collection routes. The same Public Works drivers who collect trash are responsible for salting and plowing municipal roadways, so expect delays and rely on the Recycle Coach app for real-time updates.
About Stafford Waste Management
Automated Collection Fleet and Bin Etiquette
Stafford Township has modernized its waste management by utilizing an automated collection fleet for both household trash and single-stream recycling. Every residential address is assigned a specific, serial-numbered automated container that remains the property of the township. Because the collection trucks use specialized mechanical arms to lift the bins, homeowners must place their containers at the curb by 6:00 a.m. with the wheels facing the property, ensuring a strict four-foot clearance from mailboxes, parked cars, or other cans.
Zone-Based Bulk, Brush, and Metal Collections
Rather than scheduling individual appointments, Stafford Township organizes its bulk waste, brush, and metal recycling collections based on four geographic zones. Zone 1 is serviced on the first Monday of the month, Zone 2 on the second Monday, and so on. Residents must have their specific items—such as mattresses, furniture, or bundled brush—at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the Monday of their designated week, as the municipal trucks will only pass down each street once during that designated week.
Navigating Specific Leaf Collection Seasons
The township conducts dedicated loose leaf collections only during six specific months of the year: April, May, June, October, November, and December. During these collection windows, leaves must be raked into neat rows along the curb line by the Sunday evening prior to your scheduled zone week. If you have leaves outside of these months, or prefer bagging them, you must independently transport your bagged leaves to the Southern Ocean County Recycling Center.
The Stafford Resident Bulk Drop-Off Center
For homeowners who are doing a cleanout and cannot wait for their designated Monday bulk collection, Stafford operates a Bulk Trash Drop-off Center at the Public Works Yard on Haywood Road. Open Monday through Saturday morning, this facility provides a convenient alternative for large items. However, the rules are strictly enforced: you must show proof of residency, and the facility outright bans all contractors, commercial vehicles, construction debris, and carpeting.
Handling E-Waste and Household Hazardous Materials
In compliance with New Jersey's Electronic Waste Management Act, Stafford Township strictly prohibits the disposal of televisions, computers, and monitors in standard bulk trash. Residents must rely on the neighboring Southern Ocean County Recycling Center to safely dispose of these electronics, as well as household hazardous waste like paints and chemicals, ensuring these dangerous materials stay out of local landfills and protect the Barnegat Bay watershed.
Drop-off Facilities
Stafford Township Bulk Trash Drop-off Center
320 Haywood Road, Manahawkin, NJ 08050
Materials Accepted
Southern Ocean County Recycling Center
379 Haywood Road, Manahawkin, NJ 08050
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do with my grass clippings in Stafford Township?
Grass clippings, hay, and garden debris are not collected as separate yard waste. You must bag these items and place them directly into your automated trash container for normal household trash collection.
How do I schedule a bulk trash pickup?
You do not need to call to schedule a pickup. Stafford operates on a zone-based monthly schedule. Simply place your bulk items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the Monday of your assigned zone week.
Why didn't the truck empty my recycling can?
The automated trucks will reject recycling cans that contain plastic bags, regular garbage, Styrofoam, or un-rinsed containers. Additionally, make sure your can is placed at least four feet away from any obstacles so the mechanical arm can safely reach it.
Can I drop off old carpeting or construction debris at the Public Works yard?
No. The Bulk Trash Drop-off Center on Haywood Road strictly prohibits all construction debris, including carpeting, padding, kitchen cabinets, concrete, tile, and soil. These materials must be disposed of privately.