The Municipality of Princeton began its new residential solid waste collection program in February 2023 with two major changes that strive to both contain municipal waste costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

• The adoption of a semi-automated trash collection system with Princeton-provided trash carts
• Bulk waste collection by reservation only.
  Make a bulk reservation here

Questions? View our FAQs under "Supporting Documents"
To learn more about Princeton's Residential Trash Collection, please visit the Municipal website

New Trash Carts

Residents received new 64-gallon wheeled trash carts for use in a semi-automated trash collection in February. Starting March 20th, 2023, only trash placed in these carts will be collected. Existing trash cans that are no longer needed by residents will be collected for disposal. Please leave old trash carts empty and at the curb on your scheduled trash collection day **the week of March 13th **with a taped sign indicating "TRASH." There are lots of other ways you can reuse your cans to make a backyard composter, rain barrel, or use it for storage of leaves and brush. Here's a great article for some suggestions: 15 Ways to Repurpose Your Old Garbage Bin

Residents in need of a smaller, 32-gallon trash cart or additional 64-gallon trash cart can submit a request to the Municipality. Please note that smaller 32-gallon carts are free to swap your 64-gallon cart with. Additional 64-gallon carts cost an additional $300 annual fee and additional 32-gallon carts cost an additional $150 annual fee to be paid to the Municipality. Please be aware that residents are only allowed one additional trash cart, so please ensure the additional cart you request is sufficient. If you require an additional cart, you may complete the application online via OpenGov. The Department of Public Works will fulfill additional cart requests within 7-10 business days.

Uniform trash carts provide many benefits, including more efficient waste service using automated equipment, increasing the speed of collection, improving the safety and cleanliness of residential streets, and providing safer working conditions for trash collectors. Additionally, the carts will have identification embedded that will assist in ensuring the hauler is doing its job.

Bulk Waste by Reservation

Princeton will collect bulk waste on Wednesdays by reservation only. Starting February 2023, residents will be required to make a reservation for bulk waste items. Bulk items will be picked up on Wednesdays, and reservations must be made before Sunday at 11:59pm. Scheduling pickup of bulk items will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the trash hauler by reducing the miles traveled for collection.
Reservations for bulk pick up can be made by submitting a request online via OpenGov. Residents will be notified of the collection date once scheduled. Do not place bulk items curbside until you receive the assigned pick up date. **Bulk items will not be collected without a reservation. **Reservations for bulk pick up can be made by submitting a request online via OpenGov. Residents will be notified of the collection date once scheduled. Do not place bulk items curbside until you receive the assigned pick up date. **Bulk items will not be collected without a reservation. **

Bulk waste is considered trash too large to fit inside your trash cart such as mattresses (must be wrapped in plastic), desks, chairs, sofas, or other furniture. Residents are limited to two bulk items per week not to exceed 50lbs each. Construction materials, electronics, automotive parts, appliances, or flammable items are not acceptable and will not be collected.

More About the New Collection

*Eligible residential properties are those having one to four dwelling units. Multi-family housing greater than four units are not eligible for this service. Some neighborhoods with homeowner associations are also not eligible for this service.

While organics will not be included in the new solid waste contract, we remain committed to investigating other residential organics collection options.

Princeton's Recycling and Leaf and Brush Collections are not changing at this time. Visit Recycle Coach for more information about recycling, trash, and leaf and brush in Princeton

Stay tuned for more waste updates by signing up for Mayor and Council Newsletter Updates

Questions? Email wasteinfo@princetonnj.gov or call Department of Public Works at (609) 688-2566.* Please note that email correspondence with WasteInfo will be forwarded to a 3rd party vendor. All correspondence with the Municipality is a public record and may be subject to disclosure under New Jersey's Open Public Records Act.*