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Trash & Recycling in Mercer County, NJ (2026)

3 rules for unincorporated Mercer County, New Jersey.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Mercer County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Illegal Dumping

Mercer County Code § 5.04.030 bans dumping yard waste, garbage, appliances, rubbish or any other debris on County property, or into any County waterway, lake or storm drain, except in a designated receptacle. Violators face a fine of up to $200 under § 5.04.050 and can lose access to County parks and facilities.

Mercer County Illegal Dumping on County Property

Heavy Restrictions

Mercer County Code § 5.04.030; § 5.04.050

No person shall dump, deposit or leave yard waste, vegetation or shrubs or plants or other flora that have been cut down, garbage, bottles, broken glass, appliances, wastepaper, rubbish, trash or any other debris or foreign matter on County property, except in a properly provided receptacle designated for that purpose. ... Any person violating any of the provisions of § 5.04.030 or 5.04.040 her...

Yard Waste Collection

Mercer County prohibits dumping or leaving yard waste, cut vegetation, shrubs, or plants on any county-owned property unless placed in a designated receptacle, with the same rule extended to county waterways.

Mercer County Bans Dumping Yard Waste on County Land

Some Restrictions

Mercer County Code § 5.04.030

No person shall dump, deposit or leave yard waste, vegetation or shrubs or plants or other flora that have been cut down, garbage, bottles, broken glass, appliances, wastepaper, rubbish, trash or any other debris or foreign matter on County property, except in a properly provided receptacle designated for that purpose. No person shall throw, dump, deposit, leave or place any foreign debris or w...

Dumpster Rules

Placing a dumpster or roll-off container in a Mercer County road right-of-way requires a Right-of-Way Occupancy Permit (ROWOP) under County Code § 5.03.020. The County Engineer must approve the placement in advance, and general storage of materials in the right-of-way is otherwise banned under § 5.03.040. Violators face County Sheriff enforcement and fines up to $500 or 90 days in jail.

Mercer County Dumpster Right-of-Way Permit

Some Restrictions

Mercer County Code § 5.03.020; § 5.03.040(A)(1); § 5.03.060(B)(2)

RIGHT-OF-WAY OCCUPANCY PERMIT (ROWOP): Placement of signs within County right-of-way; storage of equipment; dumpster storage; placement of utility poles adjacent to the roadway; placement of utilities under the roadway by boring or jacking and also event closures. Application fee waived if modifications are shown specifically on an approved site plan. ... Unless specifically and directly relate...

All Mercer County ordinances

See every category we cover for Mercer County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

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