Hamilton, NJ Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)

Township Code § 420-28 designates October, November and December as the leaf-collection season: leaves can go in a trash can, bucket, bag or other vessel at the curb, or in plastic bags not exceeding 50 pounds, placed untied and set at least 12 inches from solid-waste containers. Loose leaves not bagged must be raked to the curb or pavement edge no more than seven days before the scheduled pickup and kept at least 10 feet from any storm drain inlet. Private contractors are barred outright from placing leaves at the curb; a licensed hauler may instead take collected leaves to the Department-regulated disposal site.

Grass clippings are covered separately at § 420-29: residents are urged to cut and leave clippings on the lawn, but bagged clippings must go in reusable open-top containers or untied plastic bags, each capped at 50 pounds including contents, set out on normal collection days apart from garbage. Between April 15 and October 15, grass clippings cannot be commingled with other yard waste; during leaf season they may be mixed with leaves under the same seven-day/10-foot storm-drain rule. Branches, brush and tree trunks fall under § 420-27, which routes collection through whatever schedule the Department of Public Works establishes and requires trunk pickup to be scheduled directly with that Department rather than set out unannounced.

Article III of Chapter 420 backs all of this with a special collection fee schedule under § 420-32 for containers and re-collection trips, and unpaid fees become a property lien after 30 days under § 420-33.