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

Township Code § 21-6.2 defines yard waste narrowly as "leaves, grass clippings, and brush," and requires that anything not containerized, meaning not placed in a can, bucket or bag, be handled under strict placement rules. Section 21-6.3 states that "sweeping, raking, blowing or otherwise placing yard waste that is not containerized at the curb or along the street is only allowed during the seven days prior to a scheduled and announced collection," and that it "shall not be placed closer than 10 feet from any storm drain inlet." Putting loose yard waste out at the curb at any other time, or too close to a drain, is a violation, and the section puts the cleanup burden back on the responsible party: if improperly placed yard waste ends up on the street, "the party responsible for placement of the yard waste must remove the yard waste from the street or said party shall be deemed in violation of this section." The program's stated purpose in § 21-6.1 is to "protect public health safety and welfare" while keeping loose leaves and grass out of the storm drain system, which the 10-foot buffer directly enforces. Enforcement runs through Code Enforcement under § 21-6.4, distinct from the enforcement team named for recycling and solid waste violations elsewhere in Chapter 21.