Perth Amboy, NJ Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Chapter 351 requires the City of Perth Amboy, through its Department of Public Works, to develop and implement a recycling plan consistent with the Middlesex County Recycling Plan (§ 351-4). That plan must include curbside collection services for residences of newspapers, mixed paper, glass bottles, plastic containers, aluminum, steel and tin cans and corrugated cardboard. Section 351-4(B) adds that the plan must provide drop-off services for all other recyclable materials identified in § 351-2. Under § 351-3, the Director of Public Works sets the manner, days and times of collection and the bundling, handling, location and time of placement of the materials.

The container rule comes from § 351-13, added 2-27-2013 by Ord. No. 1664-2013. Effective March 11, 2013, all recyclable items authorized for automated collection go only in the city issued ninety-five (95) gallon blue cart, and collection is single stream. Chapter 351 defines the automated container as a city issued 95 gallon plastic blue cart with a serial number assigned to each address receiving automated collection. Household garbage, hazardous waste, bulky waste and vegetative waste are excluded from the cart. Single stream means aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, newspaper, mixed paper and cardboard combined in one container weighing no more than fifty (50) pounds, or in the 95 gallon blue container where automated collection occurs. Under § 351-6(F), single stream pickup has been available once per week since December 1, 2012.

Preparation and timing are set by § 351-6. Glass bottles, plastic containers and aluminum, steel and tin cans must be rinsed prior to placement for collection. Recyclables can go to the curb no sooner than one (1) hour before sunset of the day prior to the scheduled pickup, and empty containers must be removed by 8:00 p.m. of the day of collection. Recyclables not picked up because of improper preparation, snow or another emergency must also come off the curb by 8:00 p.m. of the day of collection. Recyclables must stay separate from regular refuse collected by the Department of Public Works.

Development and construction carry program duties as well. When a building permit is issued, the Building Code Official gives written instructions on disposal and recycling of construction and demolition waste, and the permittee must send a Notification of Construction/Demolition Activity Form to the Middlesex County Division of Solid Waste Management within forty-eight (48) hours of issuance (§ 351-11). Each multifamily complex must provide bins in a common area as drop-offs for refuse and recyclables until collection occurs (§ 351-12).