Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Toms River
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.
Township-issued Robo Container Bin (Trash)
Place Robo container at the curb by 6:30 AM with wheels/hinges facing the house. Max 50 lbs per bag inside. Lid must close entirely. Remove empty bins by 9:00 PM.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard non-recyclable household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Soiled paper products
- ✓Standard plastics not marked 1, 2, or 5
Blue Township-issued Robo Container Bin (Recycling)
Items must be loose (never bagged or tied) and dry inside the blue Robo can. Remove all plastic caps from glass bottles before recycling.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics marked #1, #2, and #5
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (caps removed)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Newspaper, mixed paper, and junk mail
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and cereal boxes
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic film or grocery bags
- ✕Glass bottle caps (remove and discard)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Wet or soiled paper/cardboard
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords)
Yard Waste Bin
Grass clippings should not be bagged ('cut it and leave it'). Spring and fall leaf and brush collections are scheduled independently by the DPW.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Brush
- ✓Tree trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By requested appointment (Pickup occurs the day AFTER your regular trash day)
Placement
Call 732-255-1000 (Option 1 for non-metal, Ext 8170 for metal). Place items curbside by 6:30 AM the day after your standard weekly garbage day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Carpet (cut into 4-foot strips, rolled, tied, max 50 lbs each)
- ✓ Metal items (requires calling a separate DPW extension)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Whole house move-out volumes
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Carpet rolls exceeding 50 lbs
Standard residential bulk pickup is free, but excessive move-out piles or construction debris are strictly prohibited and require a private dumpster rental at the homeowner's expense.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Garbage and recycling are not picked up on major observed holidays. Generally, if a holiday falls on a Monday, all collections for that week will occur one day later than your normal collection day.
Yard Waste Exception
Special bulk pickups, brush, and leaf collections are suspended on major holidays to allow crews to focus on adjusted household trash routes.
Collections DO occur on the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving Day. Always consult the Recycle Coach app to verify exact holiday shift dates.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Remove Caps from Glass Bottles
For safety reasons at the sorting facility, the Toms River Recycling Division explicitly requests that residents remove and discard the plastic caps from all glass bottles before placing the glass into the blue recycling bin.
Keep the Paper Dry
Moisture is the enemy of paper recycling. Ensure your Robo can's lid is securely shut to protect cardboard, junk mail, and newspapers from rain. Wet fibrous materials cannot be properly processed and may be sent to the landfill.
Take Plastic Film to the Supermarket
Plastic grocery bags and thin plastic film are completely banned from your curbside recycling bin. Instead of tossing them in the trash, bundle them up and deposit them in the dedicated plastic film recycling bins located at the entrance of most local Toms River supermarkets.
Seasonal Information
Summer
Memorial Day to Labor DayIf you live on the Barrier Island (including Pelican Island), your garbage collection temporarily switches to a twice-a-week schedule on Mondays and Thursdays to accommodate peak season waste. Mainland routes do not change.
Fall
October to DecemberThe Public Works Department operates dedicated leaf and branch collection routes during the autumn months. Check the Recycle Coach app for your neighborhood's exact weeks, and never mix standard garbage into your yard waste piles.
Winter
JanuaryAfter the holidays, the Toms River DPW opens up a specialized Christmas Tree Drop-Off program. Ensure your tree is completely stripped of lights, ornaments, and tinsel before bringing it in for mulching.
About Toms River Waste Management
Mastering Toms River's Automated Robo Can System
Toms River relies on an automated 'Robo can' system for its residential sanitation collection. To ensure the mechanical arms can properly lift your bin, residents must place the container in the roadway with the wheels and hinges facing the house. It must be positioned at least four feet away from vehicles, mailboxes, or other receptacles. The lid must be able to shut completely; items sticking out of the top or placed alongside the bin will not be collected by the automated trucks.
The 'Next-Day' Bulk and Metal Collection Rule
Unlike many towns that assign a specific monthly bulk day, Toms River coordinates bulk waste pickups around your standard trash day. If you need to dispose of furniture, rolled carpet, or scrap metal, you must call the DPW at 732-255-1000 to get on the schedule. Once approved, you are instructed to place these heavy items at the curb by 6:30 AM on the day immediately following your regular weekly sanitation collection.
Summer Schedule Shifts for Coastal Residents
Due to the massive influx of summer tourism, Toms River adjusts its sanitation schedule for residents living on the Barrier Island, including Pelican Island. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, these specific coastal zones receive increased twice-a-week garbage collection on Mondays and Thursdays. Mainland residents, however, remain on their standard once-a-week schedule throughout the entire year.
Single-Stream Recycling and The Blue Container
Following Ocean County guidelines, Toms River utilizes a single-stream recycling program. Residents in automated collection zones use a blue Robo container to mix their clean cardboard, paper, glass jars, and accepted plastics (codes 1, 2, and 5). It is strictly mandated that recyclables must remain loose and dry inside the bin. Never bundle newspapers with string or place bottles inside plastic film bags, as this causes major issues at the county sorting facility.
The Church Road Recycling Convenience Center
For households that regularly exceed the capacity of their municipal Robo can, the Toms River Recycling Convenience Center at 1672 Church Road serves as an essential drop-off hub. Residents are permitted to bring excess acceptable materials to the center up to twice a month. Alternatively, homeowners generating consistent excess waste can purchase up to two additional sanitation Robo cans from the township for $100 each.
Drop-off Facilities
Toms River Township Recycling Convenience Center / Public Works
1672 Church Road, Toms River, NJ 08753
Materials Accepted
Ocean County Landfill
2498 Route 70, Manchester, NJ 08759
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I throw away large bulk items or furniture in Toms River?
Bulk waste is not picked up automatically. You must call the DPW at 732-255-1000 (Option 1) to schedule an extra collection. Once approved, place the items at the curb by 6:30 AM on the day immediately following your regular garbage collection day.
What should I do if my garbage doesn't fit in my one Robo can?
All trash must fit inside the Robo can with the lid closed. If you regularly have excess trash, you can purchase up to two additional Robo containers from the township for $100 each, or you can drop off excess waste at the Recycling Convenience Center on Church Road twice a month.
Does Toms River's garbage schedule change in the summer?
Yes, but only for certain coastal areas. If you live on the Barrier Island, including Pelican Island, your schedule switches to twice-a-week collection (Mondays and Thursdays) from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The mainland schedule remains unchanged all year.
How do I properly dispose of old carpet?
To throw away carpeting, it must be cut into strips no wider than four feet. These strips must be rolled up, tied or bundled securely, and each individual roll cannot weigh more than 50 pounds. You must then call to schedule it for a bulk pickup.