Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for West Orange
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)
Use metal or plastic containers with handles and tight-fitting lids. Bins cannot exceed 35 gallons in volume or 60 pounds in weight when filled.
Accepted Items
- ✓Culinary waste
- ✓Discarded clothing
- ✓Small toys
- ✓Grass clippings (bagged)
- ✓Empty paint cans (completely dried)
Resident-provided (max 35 gallons) Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables are collected single-stream and must be placed loose in a reusable tub or container on your first refuse collection day of the week.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, and #5
- ✓Glass beverage and food containers
- ✓Aluminum and tin/steel food cans
- ✓Newspaper and flattened cardboard
- ✓Magazines and paperback books
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam and Styrene
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Household batteries
- ✕Hardcover books (unless cover is removed)
Yard Waste Bin
Branches and shrubs must be securely tied in bundles. They are collected in limited quantities with household refuse twice per week.
Accepted Items
- ✓Small bushes
- ✓Shrubs
- ✓Branches (under 4 feet length and 60 lbs)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a week on your zone's second collection day
Placement
Place bulky items at the curb following the same time guidelines as regular trash (after 7:00 PM the night before or before 6:00 AM the day of collection).
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and cabinets
- ✓ Rolled and tied carpeting (4 ft lengths)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Small quantities of building materials (limited to 3 bins/bundles per month)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Items containing refrigerants (requires calling Suburban Disposal)
- ✕ Televisions and computers
- ✕ Major construction and renovation waste
- ✕ Hazardous household waste
Bulk collection is included in municipal services. Televisions and appliances also have no fee but require scheduling with the contractor.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Collections are typically suspended on major holidays. Always verify exact schedule shifts for your zone by downloading the free Recycle Coach app or checking the township website.
Yard Waste Exception
The West Orange Environmental Center is closed on all major holidays.
Refuse should never be placed out on the curb during a holiday if a collection suspension has been announced.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ban the Plastic Recycling Bag
Never place your recyclables inside plastic grocery or garbage bags. West Orange's single-stream recycling sorting mechanism will jam if plastic bags are introduced. Keep all items loose in your recycling container.
Battery Fire Hazards
The West Orange Health Department strongly warns residents against throwing batteries in the recycling bin. They are a severe fire and explosion hazard at the processing plant and must be taken to a designated retail drop-off or hazardous waste center.
Check Your Plastic Numbers
Only plastics marked with a #1, #2, or #5 recycling symbol are accepted in the township. Styrofoam (often marked as #6) and unnumbered plastics belong in your regular household garbage.
Seasonal Information
Fall
October - DecemberThe Department of Public Works provides curbside leaf vacuuming. Leaves must be raked to the curb according to the township's specific street schedule and must be free of branches or stones.
Spring
March - MayResidents must place spring leaf cleanups into biodegradable paper bags (available for a small fee at Town Hall or the Environmental Center) and contact Public Works to schedule a pickup.
Winter
December - MarchEnsure your 35-gallon refuse and recycling receptacles are easily visible and accessible to collection crews, avoiding placement behind high snowbanks after winter storms.
About West Orange Waste Management
West Orange's Dual-Day Refuse System
The Township of West Orange provides curbside collection of household refuse twice a week, depending on your designated zone. Routine waste generated by the operation of a household must be placed at the curb after 7:00 PM the evening prior to collection or before 6:00 AM on the day of collection. To keep neighborhoods clean, all emptied receptacles must be removed from the curb by the end of the collection day.
Weekly Bulky Trash and Small Building Materials
Unlike many municipalities that require appointments for every bulk item, West Orange collects bulky trash once a week on the second collection day of your zone (Thursday, Friday, or Saturday). A unique township policy also permits residents to dispose of small quantities of building materials—such as wallboard, shingles, or tiles—from minor home repairs. This is limited to three 35-gallon receptacles or securely tied bundles per month.
Scheduling Televisions and Appliances
You cannot leave old TVs, refrigerators, freezers, or window air conditioners out with your regular bulky trash. Residents must contact the township's contractor, Suburban Disposal, at 973-227-7020 to be placed on the list for a specialized Tuesday curbside collection. For safety reasons, the doors must be completely removed from all refrigerators and freezers before placing them at the curb.
The West Orange Environmental Center
Located at 590 Mount Pleasant Avenue, the West Orange Environmental Center serves as a vital drop-off location for items not easily handled at the curb. Open Monday through Saturday, residents can bring excess single-stream recyclables, large vegetative waste, and computer electronics (like towers, laptops, and monitors) directly to the facility for proper dismantling and recycling.
Strict Rules for Leaves and Yard Debris
Small amounts of grass clippings and hedge trimmings can go out with your twice-weekly regular garbage if they are placed in plastic bags weighing less than 50 pounds. However, leaves are strictly forbidden in regular refuse. During the spring and fall seasons, leaves must be handled separately through the township's vacuum schedule or bagged in specific biodegradable paper bags available for purchase at the Environmental Center.
Drop-off Facilities
West Orange Environmental Center
590 Mount Pleasant Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052
Materials Accepted
Essex County Utilities Authority (ECUA) Household Hazardous Waste Events
Varies by county schedule
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get rid of an old television or computer in West Orange?
Televisions and computers cannot be thrown in the regular garbage. You must either bring them directly to the West Orange Environmental Center at 590 Mt. Pleasant Avenue for dismantling, or call Suburban Disposal at 973-227-7020 to schedule a curbside TV pickup on a Tuesday.
Can I throw away construction debris from remodeling my house?
West Orange allows the disposal of a very small quantity of building waste from minor home repairs (such as wallboard, shingles, or tiles). This is strictly limited to three 35-gallon receptacles or bundles (under 4 feet and 50 pounds) per month. Waste from major renovations must be removed privately via a dumpster rental.
What is the proper way to dispose of leaves?
Leaves are never permitted in regular household trash. From late October to mid-December, Public Works vacuums loose leaves placed at the curb. From March through May, leaves must be placed in town-approved biodegradable paper bags, and you must call Public Works to schedule a pickup.
When can I put my bulk trash out?
Bulk trash is collected once a week on the second refuse collection day for your specific zone (which falls on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday). Items should be placed at the curb after 7:00 PM the night before, or before 6:00 AM on the day of collection.