Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for South Plainfield
In New Jersey, municipal refuse and recycling routes operate weekly. Your exact collection days are determined by your local borough or township.
State Mandate
The NJ Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act requires all residents to separate designated recyclables.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential garbage pickup is an open-market private service in South Plainfield, while biweekly curbside single-stream recycling is managed by the Middlesex County Improvement Authority.
Billing Cycle
Monthly or Quarterly (via private hauler for trash); Quarterly for Borough municipal sewer and property taxes
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, In Person, Drop Box (for Borough taxes/sewer); Direct billing via private hauler
Pro Tip / Discount
Senior citizen discounts are available through several local private trash haulers; municipal property tax deductions are available for qualifying seniors and disabled residents through the Tax Assessor.
Determined by your private hauler Bin (Trash)
Trash collection is privatized. You must contact your chosen private hauler (e.g., Pinto Brothers, Republic Services) for bin limits, acceptable items, and placement times.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Blue MCIA Cart Bin (Recycling)
Place the cart at the curb by 6:00 a.m. with the lid closed. Do not bag recyclables. Collection is bi-weekly through the MCIA.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (1 gallon or less)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper and newspaper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Plastics over 1 gallon
Yard Waste Bin
Grass and brush must be taken to the Kenneth Avenue Yard Waste Site (decal required). Curbside leaf collection only runs mid-October to mid-December in biodegradable bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves (in paper bags for fall collection)
- ✓Brush and twigs
- ✓Grass clippings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two free scheduled pickups per year (By appointment only)
Placement
Items cannot be placed at the curbside until 2 days before the scheduled appointment. Call 908-755-2187 to schedule.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Carpeting (cut to 3-4 feet, rolled and tied)
- ✓ Mattresses (must be encased in plastic)
- ✓ Appliances (doors removed)
- ✓ Hot water heaters
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Concrete and brick
- ✕ Paint
- ✕ Freon appliances (refrigerators, window ACs)
- ✕ Televisions and electronics
Additional pickups beyond the two free ones are available for a fee ($75 for the third, $100 for four or more).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Since garbage is privatized, holiday delays depend on your specific hauler. For MCIA curbside recycling, collections are pushed back one day if a major holiday falls on a weekday.
Yard Waste Exception
The Kenneth Avenue Recycling and Yard Waste drop-off site is closed on all observed Borough holidays.
Check the Recycle Coach app for real-time updates regarding severe weather delays or specific holiday schedules.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Strict One-Gallon Plastic Rule
The Middlesex County recycling program strictly limits plastics to containers that are one gallon or smaller. Oversized items like laundry baskets, buckets, or kiddie pools are not accepted and will contaminate the load.
No Shredded Paper in Bins
Although mixed paper is recyclable, shredded paper is strictly prohibited in your curbside bin because it falls through the sorting screens and clogs the machinery. Use designated county shred events instead.
Keep Recyclables Completely Loose
Plastic grocery bags and trash bags are a massive hazard at the recycling facility. Keep all bottles, cans, and paper loose inside your cart to ensure they are properly processed.
Seasonal Information
Fall
Mid-October - Mid-DecemberThe DPW runs a dedicated curbside leaf collection program. Leaves must be placed exclusively in biodegradable paper bags; plastic bags will not be collected.
Fall
November - DecemberDue to the heavy labor demands of the eight-week leaf collection program, all municipal bulk waste pickups are completely suspended.
Winter
December - MarchBulk waste pickups shift to a limited winter schedule, occurring only on Tuesdays, weather permitting. All Christmas trees are collected curbside between January 2 and January 31.
About South Plainfield Waste Management
Navigating Privatized Garbage Collection
In South Plainfield, daily household garbage collection is completely privatized. The municipal government does not provide weekly curbside trash removal, meaning residents must independently contract with a licensed private hauler like Pinto Brothers or Republic Services. Because of this localized free-market system, your designated trash day, bin size limits, and specific rules are dictated entirely by your chosen provider. Furthermore, local ordinance requires homeowners to maintain valid 'Proof of Service' documenting their active trash subscription.
Middlesex County's Automated Recycling Program
While garbage is privatized, curbside recycling is uniformly managed through the Middlesex County Improvement Authority (MCIA). Collections operate on a bi-weekly single-stream schedule using specialized automated side-loader trucks. Residents must adhere to strict guidelines, such as limiting plastic recyclables strictly to bottles and tubs one gallon or smaller. To prevent contamination, materials must be kept completely loose; items sealed in plastic bags will cause your bin to be rejected and tagged.
Municipal Bulk Waste and Compactor Coupons
For clearing out garages and large furniture, the South Plainfield Department of Public Works offers a structured bulk waste program. Homeowners are entitled to two free scheduled bulk pick-ups per year, strictly capped at a pile size of 3 feet wide, 3 feet high, and 8 feet long. If you exceed this limit or need immediate disposal, residents can obtain 'Compactor Coupons' from the Municipal Clerk's Office. These coupons allow you to self-haul large household debris (excluding regular food garbage) directly to the Kenneth Avenue Compactor Facility.
Kenneth Avenue Recycling and Yard Waste Site
The Mary B. Mazepa Recycling Drop-off Center and adjacent Yard Waste Site on Kenneth Avenue serve as crucial hubs for materials banned from the curb. To utilize the yard waste area for brush and grass clippings, residents must display a valid Yard Waste Decal on their vehicle, obtainable at Borough Hall. This facility also hosts special collections, including e-waste disposal for old televisions and a Middlesex County paint drop-off exclusively on the third Saturday of each month.
Seasonal Leaf Sweeps and Winter Bulk Suspensions
South Plainfield adjusts its municipal services heavily based on the season. During the peak autumn leaf drop from mid-October to mid-December, the DPW initiates curbside leaf collections—but leaves must be strictly contained in biodegradable paper bags. To accommodate this massive undertaking, all curbside bulk waste pickups are completely suspended during this eight-week period. During winter, bulk collections are reduced to Tuesdays only, weather permitting.
Drop-off Facilities
Mary B. Mazepa Recycling Drop-off Center & Yard Waste Site
882 Kenneth Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up garbage pickup in South Plainfield?
South Plainfield does not provide municipal curbside garbage collection. Homeowners must independently contract and pay for a subscription with a licensed private waste hauling company, such as Pinto Brothers or Republic Services.
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator or window AC unit?
Appliances containing Freon, such as refrigerators, freezers, and window air conditioners, cannot be placed out for curbside bulk pickup. They must be safely transported to the Recycling Center on Kenneth Avenue for proper disposal.
Can I put my grass clippings at the curb?
No. Grass clippings and brush are not collected at the curb. You must transport them directly to the Yard Waste Site on Kenneth Avenue. Note that you must first obtain a Yard Waste Decal from the Municipal Clerk's Office to access the facility.
How do I dispose of a mattress or box spring?
Mattresses and box springs can be collected during your scheduled bulk pickup. However, South Plainfield DPW regulations strictly require that they be fully encased in a plastic mattress bag and sealed shut before being placed at the curb to protect workers from bedbugs.