Hoboken, NJ Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

Section 151-3 makes source separation mandatory for every owner, tenant or occupant of a dwelling unit, and for every business, commercial, industrial, and public or governmental institution in Hoboken, unless they are physically disabled, requiring each to separate the materials listed in § 151-2 from the regular solid waste stream. Those designated materials include commingled recycling, cardboard and paper recycling as a separate dual stream, leaves, yard waste, white goods, electronic waste, ferrous metal, lead acid batteries, tires, untreated wood, masonry and used motor oil.

Curbside materials may be set out no earlier than 9:00 p.m. in the limited business area or 7:30 p.m. elsewhere on scheduled collection days, and commingled recycling must stay separate from cardboard and paper as dual-stream recycling. Property owners bear direct responsibility under § 151-8: each must supply lidded storage containers holding at least 20 gallons but no more than 48 gallons or 50 pounds, each marked with two 'Hoboken Recycles' decals, and must make that storage accessible to occupants seven days a week. Multifamily and commercial property owners must also notify new tenants of the recycling rules and repeat that notice every six months.

Once placed at a designated collection site, recyclable material becomes City property under § 151-5, and unauthorized removal by anyone other than a City-authorized collector is a separate violation. The Police Division, the Department of Environmental Services' Sanitation Inspectors, the Recycling Coordinator, the Housing Officer and the Hudson Regional Health Commission all have authority to enforce the chapter under § 151-13, including opening bags to check for commingled recyclables. A conviction carries a fine of not less than $250 under § 151-14, and each day a violation continues is charged as its own separate offense.