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

Chapter 351, Recycling, adopted by the Perth Amboy Council on 9-5-1995 as Ord. No. 794-951, makes source separation mandatory in the City of Perth Amboy. Section 351-2, amended 10-27-2010 by Ord. No. 1534-2010, lists the materials that must be separated from solid waste at the point of generation for separate collection.

The city collects newspapers, mixed paper, corrugated cardboard and the commingled mix of steel, tin and aluminum food and drink cans, glass and plastic food and beverage containers at curbside. Textiles are not collected at curbside; residents must deliver them to the Department of Public Works. Brush must be delivered to the Department of Public Works or picked up by appointment, and Christmas trees are collected at curbside during the first two (2) weeks of January only. Leaves are collected at curbside from October 31 through December 31 only, raked and bagged in brown biodegradable bags supplied by the City of Perth Amboy, and raking leaves into the roadway is never permitted. Motor oil and rechargeable batteries go to the Department of Public Works. Tires are delivered to the Middlesex County drop off facility at 225 Smith Street, Keasbey, N.J. White goods such as washers, dryers, ranges, refrigerators and air conditioners are delivered to the Department of Public Works or picked up by appointment.

Businesses carry extra duties. Every commercial establishment that prepares food for consumption must recycle its used cooking oil, and the Recycling Division supplies a list of approved recyclers. Commercial, industrial and institutional properties, governments and office parks must take electronics, fluorescent bulbs, plastic film and new-construction wood scrap to an approved recycler, and by January 15th of each year they must give the Recycling Division documentation of what was recycled in the previous calendar year. Plastic film applies only to warehouses, retail establishments and supermarkets with twenty-five (25) or more employees.

Under § 351-5 all premises must recycle the designated materials, though a premises can use an authorized solid waste collection contractor if it files quarterly reports with the Recycling Coordinator. Under § 351-7, materials set out at the curb become city property, and no one but authorized Department of Public Works personnel can collect them. Enforcement belongs to the Department of Public Works, the Police Department and the Recycling Coordinator under § 351-9.