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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Earliest curb time
5:00 p.m. the day before collection
Latest curb time
6:00 a.m. on collection day
Container removal
By 7:00 p.m. on collection day
Fine range
$250 to $1,000 per violation
Enforcers
Code Enforcement, Health Dept, Recycling Coordinator

Summary

Lakewood Township, Ocean County, requires recycling bins at the curb between 5:00 p.m. the day before pickup and 6:00 a.m. on pickup day, then off the curb by 7:00 p.m. Collectors cannot legally take recyclables mixed into regular trash.

It shall be unlawful for solid waste collectors to collect solid waste that is mixed with, or contains visible signs of designated recyclable materials. It is also unlawful for solid waste collectors to remove for disposal those bags or containers of solid waste which visibly display a warning notice sticker or some other device indicating that the load of solid waste contains designated recyclable materials.

View official code

Full Breakdown

3(b) requires all receptacles be kept clean and handled safely. 9 is shared among the Code Enforcement Official, the Health Department, the Recycling Coordinator, the Property Maintenance Official, the Housing Officer, and the Ocean County Department of Health, any of whom may inspect by sorting containers or opening bags to check for recyclables. 10 fixes the penalty directly in the recycling article itself, rather than deferring to the general Chapter 1 fine.

Violations & Fines

Section 21-5.10 sets its own fine, higher than the Revision's default: any violation of the recycling article is punishable "by a fine not less than $250, nor more than $1,000," with "each day for which a violation of this section occurs" treated as a separate offense. Fines collected go into the Municipal Recycling Trust Fund.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time can I put recycling bins out in Lakewood Township?
Not before 5:00 p.m. the day before your collection day, and no later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day itself, under Code § 21-5.3(a). Containers must come back off the curb by 7:00 p.m. that same day.
Can trash haulers refuse to take my bin if recyclables are mixed in?
Yes, and they must. Section 21-5.8(a) makes it unlawful for collectors to take solid waste that is mixed with, or visibly shows signs of, designated recyclable materials, and equally unlawful to take bags marked with a warning sticker for recyclables.
What is the fine for a recycling violation in Lakewood Township?
Between $250 and $1,000 per violation under § 21-5.10, with each day of ongoing noncompliance counted as a separate offense. Collected fines go into the Township's Municipal Recycling Trust Fund.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Lakewood

Collection ScheduleSome RestrictionsBulk Item DisposalSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsYard Waste CollectionSome RestrictionsPickup Rules & SchedulesSome RestrictionsRecycling RequirementsSome RestrictionsDumpster RulesSome RestrictionsBin Placement RulesSome RestrictionsIllegal DumpingSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant Restrictions

All Lakewood rules

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