Mandated Materials to Recycle

Materials Mandated to Be Source Separated & Recycled


In the State of New Jersey, recycling is required by law.  Instructions on how to recycle each material listed are provided below. No container should exceed 35 gallons in capacity or 50 pounds in weight. Containers and materials placed at curbside for collection should be placed at the curb, never in the roadway.
  1. Dual Stream Recycling
  2. Electronics
  3. Vegetative Waste
  4. Metal Appliances
  5. Other Materials

Dual Stream Recycling - Curbside Collection Every Wednesday


These items should have their tops removed, be rinsed out, and placed in a container at the curb but not in the roadway. Containers should not exceed 35 gallons in capacity or 50 pounds in weight.

  • Aluminum Cans / Plates, Trays and Foil - Cans, plates, or trays that are made from aluminum and were manufactured to hold a serving of beverage, pie, cake etc., aluminum foil is also included.
  • Glass Bottles and Jars - Bottles and jars made from glass including clear, brown and green glass. A bottle is defined as a receptacle having a narrow neck and a mouth that can be corked or capped. Ajar is defined as a wide mouthed container that can be capped. Caps and lids not included. Specifically omitted from this definition are drinking glasses, windows, mirrors, light bulbs, and anything made of Pyrex® or ceramic.
  • Plastic (coded“1”, “2”, and “5”) - Any plastic coded with a number 1, 2 or 5. Caps and lids not included unless the cap or lid is an acceptable plastic labeled (1, 2 or 5). Empty bottles which contained hazardous materials, such as motor oil, antifreeze, etc. should not be recycled.
  • Steel (Tin) Cans - An air-tight container for the distribution or storage of goods, composed of thin, usually ferrous, metal. Examples are soup cans and tuna-fish cans.
  • Newspaper - A publication containing news, information and advertising, usually printed on low-cost paper called newsprint. Newspaper may include glossy inserts (circulars) which come with the paper.

    Newspaper must be placed in a rigid container with other single stream materials and placed at the curb but not in the roadway.
  • Corrugated Cardboard - Shipping containers (boxes) made with kraft paper linerboard and corrugated medium.

    Cardboard should be separated with paper for dual stream collection.
  • Mixed Paper - Various categories of recyclable paper including, but not limited to white and colored paper used in printers, photocopiers and fax machines, white and colored ledger paper, carbonless copy paper, construction paper, undeliverable mail, mailed promotional letters/advertisements/circulars (Junk Mail), magazines, catalogues, envelopes, soft cover books, telephone books.