RECYCLING
Questions: 732-632-8519
E-mail us at recycle@metuchen.com

• Place items out the night before they are scheduled to be picked up.
• Place all items curbside in full view, avoiding parked cars.
• Check your schedule for all HOLIDAYS!
• Remember that different trucks collect different items.
• Please avoid calling about missed items until 1:00 p.m. In most instances, the problem can be rectified promptly.
• You may also take some items to the Jersey Ave. Recycling Center.

When will it be collected:

2008 (July, August, September) Collection schedules for each region. UPDATED June 24, 2008

Q: How do I know which schedule to follow?
A: One of two ways:

1. The color of the schedule you receive in the mail.
   Each residence should receive a copy of the recycling & garbage collection schedule in their mailboxes. 
2. The part of Metuchen in which you are located.
   The map above shows the four regions of Metuchen created by using Main Street and the Pennsylvania Rail Road as dividers. 

What can be collected?

The following items can be picked up at the curb when left out properly.  

• Garbage & Bulk Trash Paper • Newspaper • Mixed Paper & 
Corrugated Cardboard • Aluminum Cans • Steel & Tin Cans • Plastic (1&2) • Glass Bottles • Metal • Yard Waste (Grass, Leaves, Brush & Tree Parts) • X-mas Trees

Newspaper - Newspaper including any inserts (glossy or newsprint). Tie with Twine or String (no tape or brown bags). No limit.

Mixed Paper and Corrugated Cardboard - Magazines, junk mail, cereal boxes, shoeboxes, office paper, telephone books, brown grocery bags, gift-wrapping & corrugated boxes are all acceptable mixed paper & corrugated recyclables.  The pages of any book may also be collected, provided that hard covers are removed and placed out for trash.  Newspaper inserts may be placed with mixed paper or bundled with the newspaper.  

All papers and corrugated items described above may be mixed together and placed at the curb using the department-distributed blue rectangular container.  You may place this container at the curb with the lid on (if you have one) for collection when the schedule says "Mixed Paper & Corrugated"--this is the only recycled material that will be collected from a closed container.  You may also you use a box or paper grocery bag as a container. 

Aluminum Cans and Foil - Soda, Beer & Juice Cans. Pie plates & Foil Scrap - place out in rigid containers. No Limit.

Steel and Tin Cans - Soup, Pet food, empty aerosol cans and similarly constructed containers. Place out in rigid container. No limit.

Glass - Only glass containers that contained food or drink. Separate by color (clear, brown, green) and place out in rigid container.  No limit. 

Ceramics, porcelain, mirrors, glass windowpanes, etc. ARE NOT RECYCLABLE. 

Plastic - Only plastics with a 1 or 2 in the recycling symbol on the bottom are recyclable. Residents may mix both 1 and 2 plastic together in the same rigid container.

Plastic grocery bags are not recyclable. Discarded plastic garbage containers will be taken as garbage. Please indicate with a note.

Metal - An appointment is ALWAYS needed to collect metal items.  Call by 3:00 p.m. Friday's for pick-up 732-632-8519.

Metal appliances, cast iron sink or tub, lawn furniture, stove, washer, dryer, window frames (glass removed for regular garbage collection--not recyclable), door frames, sofa bed frameworks (separated from sofa), pipes and any other item or items existing of a metal component can only be picked up when you call.

Grass - Weeds, tomato & flower plants, and small hedge clippings. - Place in garbage cans or biodegradable bags. Maximum 50 lbs. per container or bag. WHEN POSSIBLE CUT IT AND LEAVE IT!  NO YARD WASTE WILL BE COLLECTED IN PLASTIC BAGS!

Leaves - Collected in paper biodegradable bags only. The Borough did distribute 20 bags per household in August 2002. If you require additional bags, you must purchase them from an outside vendor. Do not place leaves in street or out in plastic bags or garbage cans.

Brush and Tree Parts - Branches, twigs, shrubs and heavy vines. 4-inch diameter or smaller, bundled in 4ft. lengths, tied or in containers. WHEN COLLECTED CURB SIDE, UNLIMITED IF TIED IN BUNDLES 50 LBS. AND UNDER.

Brush and tree parts will no longer be accepted at the recycling center at any time. All brush and tree parts will be picked up curbside only. Please remember to follow proper cutting and tying necessary for pick-up.

Christmas Trees - X-mas trees will not be collected in plastic bags!