Trash & Recycling in Hamilton, NJ (2026)
10 verified trash & recycling rules for Hamilton, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Hamilton caps routine curbside pickup at seven containers per dwelling per collection day. Residents who need to put out more than seven items, or anything over four feet long or 50 pounds, must call the Department of Public Works a full business day ahead and describe what they're setting out.
Hamilton Extra Trash Pickup Call-In Rule
Some RestrictionsHamilton Code § 420-23.A
The number of containers shall not exceed seven per dwelling on a single collection day. If residents plan to exceed seven items or put out items that are over four feet in length or weigh over 50 pounds, they must call the Department (or its designee) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at least one working day prior to their published collection day. They must describe the number of ...
Bin Placement Rules
Hamilton Township requires trash and recycling receptacles to sit where they won't become a nuisance, and sets exact hours for curbside placement: carts may go out at dusk the night before pickup, must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m., and must come back in by evening of collection day.
Hamilton Trash and Recycling Cart Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsHamilton Code §§ 420-2, 420-23
§ 420-2: "All receptacles awaiting collection shall be stored or kept in such places so as not to become a nuisance." § 420-23.B: "Receptacles may be placed beginning at dusk of the night preceding the scheduled collection day. All containers with solid waste shall be placed out by 6:00 a.m. of the collection day, and those placed after said hour may not be collected if said collection activity...
Bulk Item Disposal
Hamilton won't take washing machines, refrigerators, sofas and other bulky household items at the curb without a special arrangement made in advance with the hauler, caps each item at what two people can carry, and requires the airtight door removed from any discarded icebox, freezer or refrigerator before it goes out.
Hamilton Bulky Item Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsHamilton Code § 420-26
A. Domestic or household bulky items, such as washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, stoves, household appliances, and other household furnishings, such as chairs, sofas, rugs, padding, etc., shall not be placed at the curb for collection unless special arrangements have been made with the hauler, meeting the published collection schedule. No bulky item shall be of a weight or be of a size gr...
Recycling Requirements
Hamilton requires every resident in a designated recycling area to separate glass, metal and plastic containers, mixed paper and cardboard, tires, white goods, batteries, used motor oil, ferrous scrap and yard waste from household trash and set it out on the Township's designated recycling days.
Hamilton Curbside Recycling Requirements
Some RestrictionsHamilton Code § 420-9
A. Duties of residents. On and after the official commencement date of the County recycling system within the Township, each person residing in areas designated for recycling collection shall separate for curbside collection on designated collection days and such additional days as may be designated by the County Improvement Authority those materials designated in the county recycling plan, as ...
Holiday Pickup Schedule
Hamilton Township suspends solid waste and recycling collection on six named holidays, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, plus any others the Department of Public Works later designates, shifting that week's pickup rather than skipping it outright.
Hamilton Holiday Trash Collection Schedule
Light RestrictionsHamilton Code § 420-22.B
The following plus others as may be established shall constitute holidays on which collections will not be made: New Year's Day Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day
Illegal Dumping
Hamilton bars anyone from dumping litter on any property, public or private, or into any street, sidewalk, park, pond, lake or stream in the Township. It is also illegal to import litter from outside Hamilton for disposal here, and trucks hauling in litter cannot sit parked on a street for more than two hours.
Hamilton Illegal Dumping and Litter Ban
Some RestrictionsHamilton Code § 289-2; § 289-6
No person shall sweep, throw, deposit or dump litter in or upon any occupied, open or vacant property, whether owned by such person or not, or in or upon any street, sidewalk, park or other public place or any pond, lake or stream or other body of water within the Township, except in public receptacles or in authorized private receptacles for collection. ... No person shall bring, cart, remove,...
Yard Waste Collection
Hamilton runs a seasonal leaf program every October, November and December, plus year-round grass-clipping and brush pickup through the Department of Public Works. Materials must be bagged, weight-limited and kept clear of storm drains, and private contractors face separate restrictions.
Hamilton Yard Waste and Leaf Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsHamilton Code § 420-28
The service listed under the nomenclature of "yard waste" in the annual Township schedule shall, during the months of October, November and December, consist of strictly leaf collection. During this time, leaves may be placed in neat piles in a trash can, bucket, bag or other vessel at the curb or pavement edge for collection, provided that the piles do not constitute a traffic hazard. It shall...
Dumpster Rules
No roll-off dumpster or container can sit on a Hamilton right-of-way or other public property without Division of Police authorization. Police can tow an unauthorized unit and bill the owner for the removal plus the state fine.
Hamilton Roll-Off Dumpster Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsHamilton Code §§ 420-46, 420-47
Roll-off dumpsters and containers shall not be parked, placed or left unattended along any public right-of-way or on any public property without the authorization of the Division of Police pursuant to N.J.S.A. 27:5I-1 et seq. ... The Division of Police may cause to be removed any roll-off dumpster or container parked, placed or left unattended along any public right-of-way or on any public prop...
Collection Schedule
Hamilton's Department of Public Works sets collection sectors and pickup dates by regulation rather than fixing them in the ordinance itself, and it can suspend, restrict or modify collection during ice, snow, high wind or heavy rain emergencies, with skipped service resuming on the next regularly scheduled day.
Hamilton Solid Waste Collection Scheduling Rule
Some RestrictionsHamilton Code § 420-22.A
Collection sectors, together with the dates of collection, shall be established by regulation of the Department of Public Works. In the event of emergency situations and inclement weather such as ice and snowstorms, high winds and/or heavy rains, the Department may suspend, restrict or otherwise modify the provisions of this article. Should any of the above situations occur, collection for the ...
Recycling Rules
Anyone other than the county program who wants to collect recyclables in Hamilton Township must first register as a private recycler with the Mercer County Improvement Authority, display an identification decal on every collection vehicle, stay off routes on designated County collection days, and file certified weight tickets within 30 days of selling the material.
Hamilton Private Recycling Collector Rules
Some RestrictionsHamilton Code § 420-11
A. Any person or group of persons wishing to collect recyclable materials shall register with the County Improvement Authority as a private recycler. B. No private recycler shall conduct recycling collection activities within the Township on designated County collection days. C. Upon registration, each private recycler shall receive an identification/registration decal from the County Improveme...
Looking for Mercer County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Hamilton city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Mercer County →