New Brunswick, NJ Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Garbage frequency
- Twice weekly on an announced schedule
- Collection hours
- 6 a.m. until 3 p.m., except downtown
- No collection
- Sundays and scheduled holidays on a collection day
- Container setout
- Not earlier than 5 p.m. the day before
- Automated district
- City-issued carts mandatory since July 11, 2011
- First violation fine
- Minimum $65.00
Summary
In the City of New Brunswick, New Jersey, each residential and nonresidential user has garbage collected twice weekly on an announced schedule, from 6 a.m. until 3 p.m. outside the downtown area. There are no collections on Sundays or on Memorial Day, Labor Day and other listed holidays, and the city collects along public rights-of-way only.
A.Days. Each residential and nonresidential user has its garbage collected twice weekly as per an announced schedule.1.There are no collections on Sundays or scheduled holidays that fall upon any collection day. Holidays to be observed are New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and any other additions which are announced in advance.B.Hours. The hours of collection shall be from six a.m. until three p.m. in all areas, except the downtown area as designated on the attached map (on file in the city clerk's office) for the purpose of this section.C.Collection Sites. Solid waste and recyclable materials are collected from containers placed adjacent to improved roadways in accordance with Section 8.40.040. The city will collect waste along public rights-of-way only, except that collection service will be provided on private streets within housing developments built under the sponsorship of the city and/or its housing authority.
Full Breakdown
New Brunswick Municipal Code § 8.40.030 sets the schedule. Under subsection (A), each residential and nonresidential user has garbage collected twice weekly as per an announced schedule. There are no collections on Sundays or on scheduled holidays that fall on a collection day: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, plus any additions announced in advance. Subsection (B) sets collection hours from 6 a.m. until 3 p.m. in all areas, except the downtown area designated on the map kept in the city clerk's office. Under subsection (C), solid waste and recyclable materials are collected from containers placed adjacent to improved roadways, and the city collects along public rights-of-way only, except on private streets within housing developments built under the sponsorship of the city or its housing authority.
Subsection (D) makes automated collection mandatory in the container collection district. Effective July 11, 2011, designated businesses, houses of worship and residential units there must use city-issued brown trash carts and green recycling carts of 95, 65 or 35 gallons, and no other bags or containers are collected. Carts go to the curb after 5 p.m. the night before or by 6 a.m. on collection day, collection runs from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., and empty carts must be retrieved by 12 p.m. Garbage is collected Monday to Saturday and recyclables weekly. Maximum contents are 300 pounds for the 95-gallon cart, 200 pounds for the 65-gallon cart and 100 pounds for the 35-gallon cart.
Outside the district, § 8.40.040 governs setout. Solid waste cannot be left at the collection site earlier than 5 p.m. the day before collection and must be removed by the end of the collection day. Each container is limited to thirty-two (32) gallons and, for residential waste, fifty (50) pounds at the curb, and no residential user places more than three containers per dwelling unit for a scheduled pickup, exclusive of recycling.
Violations & Fines
Under § 8.40.040(L), the minimum penalty for a first violation of the setout rules is a fine of $65.00, and $75.00 for a second. Mandatory recyclables placed in the normal waste stream draw fines of $100.00, $200.00, $400.00 and $800.00 for first through fourth offenses under § 8.40.100(C), and the fourth conviction suspends garbage pick-up for six months. The director of public works, the sanitation inspector and the police department enforce the chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Brunswick
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