Stafford Township, NJ Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Section 167-3E of the Stafford Township Code makes it unlawful for any person to dump garbage, rubbish, ash, yard waste, or recyclable materials upon any public property of the Township, or to trespass upon the property of another and deposit those materials there. The rule sits inside the rubbish and garbage collection chapter, so it reads alongside the curbside rules for the same materials. Occupants cannot set out containers before 5:00 p.m., local time, 24 hours prior to the day of collection in their zone (§ 167-3C), and must pull them back from the curb by 10:00 a.m. the day after pickup (§ 167-3H). Section 167-3F separately bars breaking into any container of garbage, rubbish, ash or recyclable materials found on the streets or sidewalks.

The Superintendent of Public Works or a designee and the Code Enforcement Officer are authorized and directed to enforce the chapter (§ 167-5.1). Dumping also overlaps with the Anti-litter Ordinance in Chapter 136. Section 136-3A bars anyone from sweeping, throwing, dropping, discarding or depositing litter on public property other than in a litter receptacle. Section 136-8 covers occupied private property and § 136-11 covers open or vacant private property, whether or not the person owns it. Litter is defined in § 136-2 to include garbage, trash, refuse, debris, rubbish, and packaging or construction material.

An owner who leaves dangerous litter on a lot faces a notice procedure under § 136-12. The Code Enforcement Officer can send notice by registered or certified mail or serve it personally. If the owner does not dispose of the litter within 10 days after receipt of written notice, the officer can pay for disposal or order the Township to remove it, and the actual cost is charged on the next regular tax bill. If the amount is still unpaid 30 days after disposal, the cost is certified to the Township Council and becomes a lien on the land.