Trash Collection

On February 13, 2023, the Mayor and Council of Princeton adopted Ordinance #2023-05 regulating the collection of solid waste and recycling. Below are some highlights of this ordinance:  

1. The trash cart shall weigh no more than 200 pounds with trash.   
2. Trash in plastic bags or recycling buckets will not be collected. All trash must be in the Princeton trash cart.
3. Cart shall be placed on the road pavement, no more than two (2') feet in front of the curb or edge of the roadway while maintaining a minimum of three (3') feet of spacing between receptacles and any other obstructions which may be present in the roadway.  
4. Carts shall be placed on the road pavement no earlier than 7 PM the day before collection and no later than 7 AM on the day of collection. 
5. Central Business District shall place carts no earlier than 9 PM the day before collection and no later than 6 AM on the day of collection. 
6. No empty cart shall remain in the view from the public right-of-way after 11:59 PM on the day of collection. 
7. Central Business District - no empty cart shall remain the view from the public right-of-way after 10:00 AM on the day of collection 
8. Latex paint cans may be disposed of in the trash as long as they are completely dry. Kitty litter or sand can be added to the paint cans to dry it out.

With this cart program, only trash in the municipal-owned cart(s) will be collected. Loose or bagged trash that is not in the cart will not be collected.

Residents in need of smaller or additional trash cart may visit the Municipality’s website to request a new cart. Smaller 32-gallon trash carts are free to swap. An additional 32 OR 64-gallon cart will also be available for an annual fee. 

The 64-gallon trash carts are 43.25” tall, 24.5” wide, and 27.5” deep. The 32-gallon trash carts are 37.63” tall, 19.13” wide, and 21.06” deep.

For more information and detailed cart specifications, please visit IPL’s website.

Need to swap carts?  Broken or damaged cart? 

• Submit a request online
• Email: wasteinfo@princetonnj.gov
  • 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.
• Phone: 609-688-2566

Need an additional cart?  

With an annual fee, residents may request one additional cart per household. Additional carts will be delivered to the front of your home via DPW. Please mail the completed application with a check payable to "Princeton" to: The Department of Infrastructure and Operations 400 Witherspoon Street Princeton, NJ 08540 

• Additional Cart Request

Once you receive your new trash cart and you can no longer use your old trash can, there are lots of other ways you can reuse your cans to make a backyard composter, or rain barrel, or use it for storage of leaves and brush. Here's a great article for even more suggestions. 

Bulk waste is an item 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 50 pounds each.

Construction materials, electronics, automotive parts, appliances, or flammable items will not be collected.

Bulk waste is collected on Wednesdays. Residents must make a reservation the Sunday before by 11:59 p.m.  The haulers have a capacity of 100 homes. You will be notified of your bulk collection date once scheduled.  Do not place bulk curbside until you receive your assigned date.  

Curbside bulk waste will not be picked up without a reservation.  Please have the following information available: Name, telephone, email, address of bulk collection, and accurate description of bulk items (maximum two items).

Reservation

• Online Reservations

Residential Bulk Waste Regulations

1. Residents shall place a maximum of 2 large bulk items, weighing less than 50 pounds each. Examples of bulk items include:
   1. Chair
   2. Desk (no metal)
   3. Plastic-wrapped Mattress and/or box spring (these must be wrapped in plastic or they will not be collected)
   4. Mirrors (they must be wrapped completely in tape to prevent shattering)
   5. Most home furnishings
   6. Small file cabinets (no metal)
   7. Sofa (Up to a 3 seater. Sectionals must be taken apart)
   8. Rugs cut into 3-foot sections, no wider than 12 inches, weighing less than 50 pounds
   9. Bulk materials shall be placed curbside (off the road surface and sidewalks)

Unacceptable Items:

1. Air conditioners
2. Dehumidifiers
3. Appliances (water heaters, ovens, stoves, washers, dryers, refrigerators, etc.)
4. Ashes
5. Automotive parts
6. Broken concrete, bricks/pavers
7. Building materials and construction debris
8. Fences/Fencing
9. Electronics and televisions (computers, monitors, televisions, etc.) (See Electronic Waste Events)
10. Flammable items (propane tanks, lawnmowers, grills, oil-based paint cans, etc.)
11. Hot tubs, spas, and covers
12. Leaves, brush/yard debris, dirt
13. Metal
14. Recyclables (See Recycling Schedule)
15. Swing sets
16. Tires

If your trash has not been collected by 7 PM of your scheduled pick-up day please report missed trash or bulk online.  Please provide the following information with your report:

1. Name 
2. Address
3. Email address
4. Telephone number
5. Date of the scheduled collection
6. Time left at the curb
7. Number of containers left at the curb

Please leave your missed trash cart at the curb for collection, unless notified otherwise by the Department of Engineering and Infrastructure Operations.