Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Westfield
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 by Private Hauler Bin (Trash)
Trash rules, including bin size and placement times, are dictated by your privately contracted hauler. Consult your service agreement for exact container limits.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers and non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Bagged household refuse
Resident-provided (No official color, often blue or green) Bin (Recycling)
Place commingled recyclables loose in a rigid, reusable container with a maximum capacity of 32 gallons (unless your specific hauler provides a larger automated cart). Put at the curb by 6:00 a.m.
Accepted Items
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, and #5
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Pizza boxes (grease-stained)
- ✕Styrofoam packaging
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Most yard waste must be brought to the Conservation Center (permit required). Loose leaves are collected at the curb only during the designated fall DPW collection weeks.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Brush and small branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Varies (Handled via Private Hauler)
Placement
Do not place bulk items at the curb unless you have confirmed a specific pickup date and fee arrangement with your private hauler.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (via private hauler)
- ✓ Mattresses (must be wrapped in plastic per state health codes)
- ✓ Large household junk (via private hauler)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Wet paint
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
Fees for bulk pickup are set by your private garbage collection company. Scrap metal and electronics can be dropped off for free at the Conservation Center by residents.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
For municipal curbside recycling, if a major holiday falls on your designated collection day, the pickup is generally pushed to the following day.
Yard Waste Exception
The Conservation Center is closed on all major town holidays. Verify operating hours on the DPW website before loading up your vehicle.
Because garbage collection is handled by private companies, residents must contact their specific hauler directly to find out how holidays affect their trash pickup schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Recycling Loose and Unbagged
The recycling processing center cannot handle plastic bags. Never bag your recyclables in black trash bags or plastic grocery sacks. Items must be placed completely loose in your curbside bin.
Flatten and Secure Your Cardboard
Excess cardboard that does not fit into your recycling bin should be broken down, flattened, and tied into neat bundles. Loose, wind-blown cardboard litters Westfield's streets and can clog storm drains.
Rinse Out Food Residue
A half-full jar of mayonnaise or an unrinsed soda can can ruin an entire batch of clean paper recycling. Give all glass, plastic, and metal containers a quick rinse before tossing them in your bin.
Seasonal Information
Autumn
Late October - DecemberThe DPW's curbside loose leaf collection is active. Residents must rake leaves to the street just before their scheduled zone pickup. Never place leaves within 10 feet of a storm drain.
Spring
March - AprilAnnual Conservation Center permits expire and must be renewed for the upcoming season. Permits can be purchased online via the Town of Westfield's website for access to yard waste drop-off.
Winter
January - MarchDuring severe snowstorms, the bi-weekly municipal recycling collection may be delayed or suspended to allow DPW crews to prioritize plowing and salting the roads.
About Westfield Waste Management
Understanding Westfield's Private Trash Collection System
Unlike some neighboring municipalities, the Town of Westfield does not provide curbside household garbage collection. Residents must independently set up service by selecting from a list of licensed private haulers, such as Grand Sanitation, PMG, or Pinto Brothers. Because the market is privatized, container rules, pickup frequencies, and billing structures will vary entirely based on the specific company you choose to hire.
Navigating Bi-Weekly Municipal Recycling
While trash is privatized, curbside recycling is a municipal service provided by the town through a contracted hauler (currently Grand Sanitation). The town is geographically divided into two collection zones, with pickups occurring every other week. Residents must place their commingled single-stream recycling at the curb prior to 6:00 a.m. on their scheduled day. It is critical that recyclables are placed in sturdy, reusable containers—plastic bags are strictly banned from the curbside recycling program.
Maximizing the Lamberts Mill Road Conservation Center
A crown jewel of Westfield's waste management system is the Conservation Center located at 1300 Lamberts Mill Road. Open to residents who purchase an annual permit, the facility serves as a drop-off hub for yard waste, leaves, and brush. Beyond organic materials, the Center also accepts electronic waste (e-waste), scrap metal, excess corrugated cardboard, textiles, and even rigid plastics like old outdoor toys, making it an essential resource for heavy spring cleanups.
Town-Wide Fall Leaf Collection Operations
To manage the heavy autumnal foliage, the Westfield Department of Public Works executes a massive curbside leaf collection program running from late October through December. The town maps out specific collection zones and timelines, allowing residents to rake loose leaves directly into the street along the curb line. The DPW strictly enforces that piles must only contain leaves—mixing in branches, rocks, or pumpkins can damage the municipal vacuum trucks and will result in the pile being bypassed.
Arranging Bulk Waste and Appliance Disposal
Since everyday trash collection is privatized in Westfield, there is no weekly municipal bulk trash pickup. If you need to dispose of a couch, mattress, or large piece of furniture, you must coordinate directly with your privately contracted garbage hauler for a special pickup, which may incur an extra fee. For large metal items or appliances (white goods), residents can bypass their private hauler by utilizing the drop-off bins at the Conservation Center.
Drop-off Facilities
Westfield Conservation Center
1300 Lamberts Mill Road, Westfield, NJ 07090
Materials Accepted
Union County Household Hazardous Waste Events
Various locations across Union County
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Town of Westfield provide my garbage cans and collect my trash?
No. Household garbage collection in Westfield is privatized. Homeowners must independently hire and pay a licensed private hauler to collect their trash and provide or approve their garbage cans.
How does recycling work in Westfield?
The town contracts a hauler to provide bi-weekly curbside single-stream recycling. The town is split into two zones. You must place your clean paper, cardboard, plastics, and glass in a rigid, reusable container at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day.
Where can I throw away an old television or computer?
Electronic waste is banned from landfills in New Jersey and cannot be placed with your regular trash. Westfield residents can drop off TVs, computers, and monitors at the Conservation Center on Lamberts Mill Road during normal operating hours.
How do I get rid of a mattress or large couch?
Since there is no municipal bulk trash collection, you must call your privately contracted garbage hauler to schedule a bulk pickup, which may require an additional fee. By law, mattresses must be fully wrapped in plastic before being placed outside.