(908) 226-7621
Recycling Hot Line (908) 226-7620
email: knieradka@southplainfieldnj.com
The Mary B. Mazepa South Plainfield Recycling Drop-off Center and the South Plainfield Yard Waste Site is located at 882 Kenneth Avenue, South Plainfield, New Jersey.
Curbside recyclables collection is done every other week. See the links to the collection calendar and the collection districts below or click on "My Schedule" in the RecycleCoach box.
Note: schedules are subject to change in the event of weather or other emergencies or capacity exceedance.
YARD WASTE SITE HOURS OF OPERATION (decal required)
January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
April 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025
Monday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The yard waste site will be closed on Borough Holidays.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The gates for the Yard Waste Site will be locked 10 minutes prior to closing
Yard Waste Decal must be mounted on vehicle for admittance. Available from the Municipal Clerk's office located at 2840 Plainfield
Avenue or Department of Public Works located at 405 Spicer Avenue. Bring vehicle registration. No commercial vehicles will be permitted.
RECYCLING CENTER DROP OFF HOURS OF OPERATION
Tuesday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Recycling Center will be closed for all Borough Holidays.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The gates for the Recycling Center will be closed 10 minutes before closing
RECYCLING CURB-SIDE PICK UP SCHEDULE
| THURSDAY | FRIDAY | |
| January 2025 | 9 23 | 10 24 |
| February 2025 | 6 20 | 7 21 |
| March 2025 | 6 20 | 7 21 |
| April 2025 | 3 17 | 4 18 |
| May 2025 | 1 15 29 | 2 16 30 |
| June 2025 | 12 26 | 13 27 |
| July 2025 | 10 24 | 11 25 |
| August 2025 | 7 21 | 8 22 |
| September 2025 | 4 18 | 5 19 |
| October 2025 | 2 16 30 | 3 17 31 |
| November 2025 | 13 29 | 14 28 |
| December 2025 | 11 27 | 12 26 |
Be Sure to Sign Up for "RecycleCoach." You can have reminders sent to your device about when to set out your bins, special events like Hazardous Waste Collections and Paper Shred Events, and storm cancelations. You can check with "What Goes Where?" to find out whether an item you need to dispose of is recyclable or trash.
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Middlesex County Improvement Authority
MIDDLESEX COUNTY ANNOUNCES ENFORCEMENT POLICY
The Middlesex County Improvement Authority, announced in October 2018 that the County recycling program can no longer accept plastic bags. Recyclables must be loose in the recycling bin. Bagged recyclables will not be collected.
NOTE: as of January 2020, pizza boxes are no longer accepted for recycling. Please discard these in the trash.
NOTE: as of January 2020, shredded paper is not accepted at the curb or at the Recycling Center. To ensure confidential papers are recycled, bring them to a Middlesex County Paper Shred event . If you shred at home, discard the shredded paper with your household trash.
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RECYCLING GUIDELINES
Middlesex County and Borough ordinances mandate that the following items must be recycled by residents and businesses instead of being sent to the landfill:
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Mandatory for Businesses only:
- Fluorescent Bulbs
- Plastic Film
- Wood Scrap
Businesses are responsible for separating and marketing their own recyclables. The Recycling Center is open to Borough businesses but has limited capacity. For more information, call the Recycling Coordinator (908-755-2187).
South Plainfield's curbside recycling program is "single-stream." Our recyclables go to a sorting facility. Therefore, you can mix all of your recyclables together. Do not set recyclables at the curb in plastic bags. Materials must be collected loose in your 95 gallon cart for sorting. PLEASE PUT ONLY THE RECYCLABLES LISTED BELOW IN YOUR BIN. ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE LIST WILL NOT BE RECYCLED.
Put the following recyclable items at the curb for pickup between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. every other week:
- Paper (newspaper, mixed paper [mail, magazines, catalogs, soft-covered books, cereal box-type carboard, etc.]; corrugated cardboard). Do not include shredded paper or food-stained paper like pizza boxes and used paper plates.
- Bottles and cans (glass bottles and jars, aluminum cans, steel cans, and plastic bottles, jugs, jars and tubs.
- Do not include plastic bags or other plastic films such as dry cleaner bags. Bring these to the collection bins at the local supermarkets. No "clam shell" plastic food containers, no plastic cups, no food trays etc.
If you plan to use the Borough's Recycling Drop-Off Center on Kenneth Avenue, you should continue to separate your recyclables because we have one box there for cardboard, another for newspapers and mixed paper, and a different box for commingled bottles and cans. (e.g.... soda bottles, milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles all under 1 gallon in size) in the commingled mix, no other kinds of plastic or food packaging. Plastic that is not a bottle goes in your household trash.
Recycling Districts (pdf)
Put your recyclables at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day. You can set them out the night before after 7:00 p.m. If your recyclables are not collected when scheduled, call the Borough's Recycling Coordinator (908-755-2187) within 24 hours. If you call after office hours, leave a message. Note that we can send the driver back if he missed you, but not if you missed putting your bins out on time. If you register with RecycleCoach, you can have reminders sent to you by text or email.
Weather Emergencies
Changes in collection schedules due to weather emergencies or other emergency situations will be announced on the following radio stations: WCTC (1450 AM), WMGQ (98.3 FM) and 101.5 FM. You may also check for changes on this web site, or at NJ1015.com. You an reach Middlesex County at 1-800-488-6242 or mciarecycling@mciauth.com . If you register with RecycleCoach, you can choose to have notifications sent to you by email or text. If your collection is canceled due to a storm, your recyclables will be picked up on the following Saturday.
Construction Delays
If the recycling truck cannot get down your street because road construction is blocking access, your bins will be emptied on the immediately following Saturday if the road is clear then.
SOUTH PLAINFIELD MARY B. MAZEPA DROP-OFF CENTER
South Plainfield’s Recycling Drop-Off Center is open to Borough residents and businesses. It is located at 882 Kenneth Avenue, just past the soccer field. The recyclables that are collected curbside – newspaper, mixed paper, cardboard (flattened), glass bottles, aluminum/steel/tin cans, plastic bottles, jugs, jars and tubs – are accepted at the drop-off also. Note that recyclables must be kept separated at the Recycling Drop-Off Center. We collect Bottles and Cans, Corrugated Cardboard, and Mixed Office Paper / Newspaper in separate containers.
For residents only, NO businesses: Used clothes, used motor oil (up to 5 gallons), used cooking oil, household rechargeable batteries, cell phones, left-over paint (3rd Saturday of every month only), appliances, computers, monitors, printers/fax machines, TVs and scrap metal. Not accepted: propane tanks, non-recyclable items or any hazardous waste.
YARD WASTE SITE
The Yard Waste Site located at the end of Kenneth Avenue past the Recycling Center, is open only to residents. A yard waste decal must be mounted on the driver's side rear window. Decals are available at the Municipal Clerk's Office Monday to Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and from the Department of Pubic Works, 6:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m. Only residents' vehicles with general registration plates are allowed on the site; NO commercial vehicles.
Leaves: collected at the curb from mid-October to mid-December. Leaves must be placed in biodegradable paper bags for curbside collection. Leaves may be brought to the Yard Waste Site. Do not leave plastic bags in the leaf pile. Call 908-755-2187 for more information.
Brush: twigs, branches up to 4 inches in diameter and shrubs must be recycled at the Yard Waste Site. Bring brush tied or loose. Do not leave plastic bags, planters or any trash in pile.
Grass clippings: may be brought to the Grass Box Spot next to the yard waste pile. Bring grass loose or in bags and empty into the grass container. Do not leave plastic bags in the grass box.
No more than three (3) cans or 30-gallon bags accepted.
We urge you to use Cut-It and Leave-It lawn care instead of bagging. It saves time and money, improves your turf and reduces the negative environmental impacts of lawn care. A mulching blade on your mower and a more frequent mowing schedule is really all it takes. Clippings do not cause thatch. They break down quickly and send nutrients back into the soil. Consider that turf maintenance on golf courses is done cut-it-and-leave-it. Can you imagine bagging all the clippings from mowing a gof course? Contact the Recycling Coordinator at 908-226-7621 or knieradka@southplainfieldnj.com for more information.
Note: each kind of yard waste material must be kept separate. Ask attendant for assistance and instructions about where to put materials.
Note: This site is permitted to accept brush, leaves and grass clippings only. Do not leave trash such as plastic debris, flower pots, or lumber in any of the piles. Do not include other kinds of vegetative waste. Weeds, garden plants, sod, straw, fruit, seeds and nuts should be composted at home or set out as garbage.
OTHER MATERIALS
Used Textiles: (mandatory recyclable)
Bring clothing and other textiles such as sheets, towels, etc. to the Recycling Center, or use any of the clothing drop boxes located around town. Put clothing in plastic bags and tie securely before placing in drop box. Bring fabric textiles only. DO NOT INCLUDE non-cloth items such as shoes, childrens toys, or baby carseats.
Motor Oil: (mandatory recyclable)
Residents can bring used motor oil to the Recycling Center or County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection days . DO NOT place used motor oil for pickup at the curb. The Recycling Center does not accept any kind of Household Hazardous Waste; bring these to a Middlesex County HHW event .
Used Cooking Oil
Residents can bring used cooking oil to the Recycling Center. DO NOT place used cooking oil for pickup at the curb. Only liquid vegetable oil may be poured into the tank: no shortening, coconut oil, lard, pan drippings or motor oil. Ask an attendant for assistance. Ask for a free reusable one-gallon plastic jug for storing cooking oil at home.
White Goods:
Metal appliances, such as washing machines and refrigerators (remove doors and plastic shelves). Put out for a curbside Bulky Waste by-appointment pickup or bring to the Recycling Center. You may also bring scrap metal or other items that are nearly all metal (first remove all fuel and fluids from lawnmowers, remove tires from bicycles, etc.) See attendant for assistance. DO NOT bring propane tanks.
Be careful when handling refrigerators and air conditioners. Do not damage coils or allow the coolant to escape into the air. CFCs erode the stratospheric ozone layer, allowing dangerous UV radiation to reach the Earth's surface. It is against Federal Law to vent CFC into the air, it must be recycled.
Fluorescent Lights,Computers, Monitors, Printers/Faxes, Televisions, Wood Scrap, Plastic Film:
These are mandatory recyclables for businesses. Residents also are required to recycle computers and televisions. The South Plainfield Recycling Center accepts TVs,printers/faxes, computers and monitors and fluorescent ligth bulbs from residents. Give these materials directly to a recycling center attendant.
Do not bring plastic film to the drop-off center. Most supermarkets accept used plastic bags and other kinds of plastic film from residents. The Recycling Center also does not accept wood scrap.
Fluorescent Lamps:
We can accept fluorescent lamps at the Recycling Center from residents. GIve tubes directly to a recycling center attendent; do not leave unattended. The County also takes residents' fluorescent bulbs at the Household Hazardous Waste Collections.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs:
We accept CFL's at the Recycling Center. Home Depot and Lowe's also recycle compact fluorescent bulbs.
Rechargeable Batteries and Cell Phones:
The South Plainfield Recycling Center accepts cell phones and household batteries (lithium, Ni-cad rechargeable and button batteries).
Note: Due to State Department of Transportation regulations, put a piece of electrical or clear packing tape over each terminal or put each battery in a separate plastic bag.
Do not bring alkaline batteries. These no longer contain mercury and can be discarded with your regular household trash.
Printer Cartridges:
Staples accepts empty cartridges.
Masonry/Paving Materials: The Borough does not accept concrete, brick, or block.
BULK WASTE
The Borough Trash Compactor on Kenneth Avenue is open periodically. See the Department of Public Works page for the schedule. For a curbside Bulk Waste appointment, call the Public Works Department at 908-755-2187. Bulk Waste includes furniture, carpet, lumber and other materials that cannot be either recycled or discarded with your household garbage.
MIDDLESEX COUNTY PROGRAMS
For information about the following programs, go to the Middlesex County website .
Paint :
Middlesex County Paint Drop Program (South Plainfield Recycling Center)
3rd Saturday of every month 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m, Middlesex County Residents only (Proof of Residency Required)
Keep oil-based paint separate from latex paint. We also take thinners, stains and varnishes. You can discard empty, dry cans in your trash.
Household Hazardous Waste please vist Middlesex County Webside for dates and locations.
Tire Recycling:
Middlesex County Tire Recycling Program (Woodbridge Department of Public Works)
Middlesex County Residents only (Proof of Residency Required)
The Woodbridge Township DPW is located 225 Smith Street, Keasbey 08832 (under the Garden State Parkway and Route 9 bridges. Open Monday - Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
The County also has tire trailers in East Brunswick, Sayreville and Plainsboro. Call 732-745-4170 for hours and directions.
Backyard Compost Bins
Compost bins are available at subsidized prices through Middlesex County. Call 732-745-4170 for information. Also check the Midddlesex County website for announcements of workshops on how to compost in your own backyard.
Paper Shredding
Middlesex County runs a Paper Shredding Program to allow residents to recycle confidential paper. Contact the Middlesex County Division of Solid Waste Management for events. solidwaste@co.middlesex.nj.us) , or visit the County's website . Or, see the events posted on your RecycleCoach calendar.
South Plainfield will run a Paper Shred event please contact Kristina Nieradka at 908-755-2187 for date.
Reduce Reuse Recycle
Even better than recycling, proper solid waste management includes reducing the amount of waste you produce and reusing what you can instead of throwing it away. South Plainfield’s Recycling Office frequently gets inquiries from residents who need to dispose of items that are in good condition. “It’s a perfectly good refrigerator; it’s a shame to just junk it.” “Do you know anybody who would want a collection of text books on electrical engineering?” “My aunt passed away and she has all these cosmetics, mostly not even opened. I hate to just throw them out.”
The Recycling Office has The New Reuse it Book, Middlesex County's Donation Recycling Directory. The booklet is a compilation of charitable organizations, consignment shops, nursing homes, animal shelters and others seeking used, usable goods. An index lists the items, from Appliances to Typewriters, and cross-references the establishments seeking them. The latest edition is available online at www.mciauth.com .
Other County Programs: Middlesex County Recycling and Solid Waste Guide
Middlesex County Solid Waste Management
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2025 Curbside Recycling Schedule -
2023 Business Letter and Form 4.30.24 Deadline (pdf) -
2023 Business Tonnage Letter and Form (pdf) -
Middlesex County Solid Waste Management -
Middlesex County Improvement Authority