What Goes in Which Bin in Monmouth County, NJ

81 everyday things, and where each one actually goes.

Half of what people put in the recycling bin has to be pulled back out again, and most of the rest is thrown away by someone who assumed it could not be recycled. This is the county guide, item by item.

Curbside recycling · Regular trash · Yard waste · Drop-off only · Electronics · Hazardous waste facility · Special handling

Curbside recycling (22)

• Glass bottles & jars

  Food, beverage and medicine bottles/jars. Rinse; no caps or lids.

• Aluminum cans

  Rinse. Labels OK.

• Tin / steel food cans

  Tin and bi-metal cans accepted. Rinse. Labels OK.

• Aluminum foil (clean)

  The curbside list accepts clean aluminum foil. Soiled foil goes in the trash. The guide's chart also says 'no pie tins, cooking pans, tin foil', so check your town.

• Empty aerosol cans (non-hazardous)

  Only non-hazardous aerosol cans go in curbside recycling. Aerosols containing hazardous products go to the County HHW facility.

• Plastic bottles #1 (PET) - water/soda

  Pourable bottles one gallon or less. Keep caps attached.

• Plastic bottles #2 (HDPE) - milk jugs, detergent, shampoo

  Rinse. Pourable bottles one gallon or less.

• Squeezable tubes (toothpaste, lotion, sunscreen)

  The county guide lists these among accepted #2 items.

• #5 plastic tubs - yogurt cups, margarine tubs

  #5 PP containers accepted. Rinse food residue.

• Baby wipe containers

  Listed as accepted #5 PP containers.

• Salad containers (#5)

  Only if marked #5 PP. Other numbers (#3, #4, #6, #7) are not in the accepted list.

• Cardboard shipping boxes

  Flatten. Keep dry.

• Cereal / cracker boxes (chipboard)

  Accepted as mixed paper.

• Newspaper & inserts

  Newspaper used for pet waste or projects goes in the trash.

• Magazines

  Accepted as mixed paper.

• Junk mail & envelopes

  Envelopes with or without windows are accepted.

• Office / printer paper

  White and colored paper accepted.

• Paperback books

  Softcover books accepted.

• Hardcover books

  Remove the cover and binding first, or check with local libraries and schools.

• Phone books

  Accepted with mixed paper.

• Wrapping paper (non-metallic)

  Only non-metallic wrapping paper is accepted.

• Brown paper bags

  Accepted with mixed paper.

Regular trash (16)

• Drinking glasses / glassware

  Glassware is not accepted in curbside recycling.

• Ceramics, dishes, mugs

  Ceramics and dishware are not accepted in recycling.

• Window glass

  Windows are excluded from glass recycling. Check your town's bulk pickup for large pieces.

• Aluminum pie tins / takeout trays

  Excluded from can recycling (soiled plates/trays).

• Plastic wrap / bubble wrap

  LDPE film is not accepted curbside. Some store or municipal film drop-offs accept it.

• Styrofoam cups, plates, takeout containers

  Styrofoam is not accepted in curbside recycling.

• Packing peanuts

  Not accepted at the rigid-foam drop-off.

• Greasy pizza box

  Grease- or food-stained cardboard goes in the trash.

• Waxed cardboard

  Waxed cardboard goes in the trash.

• Paper plates, cups, napkins, paper towels

  Food/hygiene paper is not recyclable.

• Food scraps

  Food of any kind is not accepted in recycling. Fruit and vegetable scraps can be home composted (no meat or dairy).

• Regular alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V)

  The county guide says regular household alkaline batteries can go in the trash.

• Latex paint

  Not hazardous and not accepted at HHW. Dry it out, then put it in the regular trash with the lid off.

• Empty paint cans

  Empty or dried-out cans go in regular trash with lids off.

• LED & incandescent bulbs

  LEDs and old incandescent bulbs can go in the trash. Bulbs are never recyclable curbside.

• Carbon monoxide detectors

  Remove the battery first.

Yard waste (3)

• Leaves

  Do NOT put leaves in the trash. Most towns collect unbagged leaves in fall and spring. Follow your town's schedule.

• Grass clippings

  Leave them on the lawn or compost them. They can also be dropped at the County Reclamation Center for a fee. Never in the trash.

• Brush & branches under 3 in. diameter

  Town brush pickup or municipal drop-off (many towns accept).

Drop-off only (13)

• Plastic grocery bags

  NEVER in the recycling bin, and keep recyclables loose. Return to store drop-off. Eatontown's municipal facility lists plastic film.

• Rigid foam packing blocks

  Middletown Recycling Center (52 Kanes Lane, 732-615-2090) accepts rigid foam from all Monmouth County residents. No peanuts.

• Tree stumps & limbs over 3 in. diameter

  Banned from the landfill. Take to a private Class B recycling center (fee).

• CFL (curly) light bulbs

  Contain mercury. Take to the return counter at Home Depot or Lowe's. Not accepted at the HHW facility.

• Scrap metal (grills, bed frames, lawn chairs, ladders)

  Most municipal drop-offs accept scrap metal. Private scrap facilities may pay you.

• Car tires

  Car tires only, 18 in. or less, no rims, up to 8 per visit, at the County Reclamation Center (fee). Many towns also accept them.

• Clothing & shoes

  Donation drop boxes (grocery-store lots) or charity pickup. Belmar's facility accepts household clothing.

• Sheetrock / drywall

  Some towns accept it, or take it to a private bulk facility or the Reclamation Center (fee).

• Pressure-treated or painted wood

  Private bulk material facility or the Reclamation Center (fee).

• Concrete, brick, asphalt

  Banned from the landfill. Take to a private bulk recycling facility (fee).

• CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes

  Monmouth Wire & Computer Recycling, 3250 Shafto Rd., Tinton Falls (732-922-3320).

• Laser toner cartridges

  Laser Save, 843 Rt. 33 Suite 11, Freehold (732-431-3339).

• Eyeglasses & hearing aids

  Lions Club collection boxes (e.g. Walmart Vision Centers). Hearing aids can also go to the Starkey Hearing Foundation.

Electronics (4)

• Computers, laptops, monitors

  State law bans computers and TVs from the trash. Free at the County Reclamation Center or Monmouth Wire & Computer Recycling (Tinton Falls). Some towns also collect them.

• TVs

  Banned from the trash under the NJ Electronic Waste Management Act. Take to an electronics recycling site.

• Cell phones

  Not accepted in the recycling bin. Electronics recycling sites.

• Printers, keyboards, cables, DVD players, stereos

  Accepted electronics per the county guide. Take to the Reclamation Center or a town e-waste collection.

Hazardous waste facility (15)

• Rechargeable batteries / battery packs

  Take to the County HHW facility or a retail drop-off (call2recycle.org). Never in the recycling bin.

• Button batteries

  County HHW facility, some municipal drop-offs, or call2recycle.org.

• Car batteries

  County HHW facility or a municipal drop-off (many towns accept).

• Used motor oil & oil filters

  County HHW facility (most towns also accept motor oil).

• Antifreeze

  County HHW facility. Some towns (e.g. Aberdeen, Atlantic Highlands) also accept it.

• Oil-based paint, enamel, spray paint

  County HHW facility (free for residents).

• Pesticides, herbicides, insecticides

  County HHW facility.

• Household cleaners & chemicals

  County HHW accepts 'any household cleaners'. Muriatic acid is also accepted.

• Gasoline & kerosene

  County HHW facility. Gasoline must be in a certified gas can.

• Cooking oil / grease

  The county guide lists cooking oil among HHW items.

• Propane BBQ tanks

  County HHW facility (valve attached, empty or full) or a retailer exchange. Some retailers give up to $20 credit.

• Fire extinguishers

  County HHW facility.

• Mercury thermometers & thermostats

  County HHW facility.

• Fluorescent tube bulbs

  Unbroken tubes go to the County HHW facility.

• Oxygen tanks

  County HHW accepts oxygen tanks.

Special handling (8)

• Helium tanks

  NOT accepted at HHW. Contact a gas supplier or a private scrap metal facility.

• Small appliances (toaster, coffee maker, fan, vacuum)

  Municipal bulk pickup or drop-off (not all towns), or a scrap metal facility. Best Buy offers free recycling for small electronics, fans and vacuums (3 items per household per day).

• Large appliances (washer, dryer, stove)

  'White goods': schedule municipal bulk pickup or use a town drop-off (many towns accept).

• Refrigerators, freezers, AC units (Freon)

  A few towns accept them, or use a private scrap metal facility, or ask the retailer to haul away the old unit. NJ Clean Energy offers free refrigerator/freezer pickup: 1-877-270-3520.

• Home-use needles / sharps

  Make them inoperable and seal in a rigid, labeled plastic container, which may go in regular trash. Not accepted at HHW.

• Smoke detectors

  Not accepted at HHW. Kidde detectors: remove the battery and trash. Other brands: contact the manufacturer.

• Asbestos (shingles, siding)

  Keep intact. Call the Monmouth County Reclamation Center (732-683-8686 x5601) for an appointment and handling rules.

• Ammunition, fireworks, boat flares

  Call your local police department. Not accepted at the HHW facility.

Where people take things the truck won’t

What everyone calls the dump is the Monmouth County Reclamation Center in Tinton Falls. It takes the things curbside collection refuses — electronics, car tires, scrap metal — and the drop-off list above says which is which. Household chemicals and paint go to the separate hazardous waste facility below.

Household hazardous waste

Monmouth County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility, 3211 Shafto Rd., Tinton Falls. Free for Monmouth County residents only, and resident ID is required. No appointment needed. Hours: Tue, Wed & Fri 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed Sun, Mon, Thu and major holidays. Limit per visit: 20 gallons of liquid and 220 lbs of dry material (5-gallon max container, 50-lb max package). No commercial or rental vehicles, and keep materials in the trunk or truck bed. Accepts oil-based and spray paint, automotive fluids, oil filters, pesticides and herbicides, solvents, household cleaners, muriatic acid, mercury devices, fluorescent tubes, propane and oxygen tanks, fire extinguishers, and rechargeable, button and car batteries. Does NOT accept latex paint, asbestos, ammunition or fireworks, smoke detectors, medical waste, or household alkaline batteries. Phone 732-683-8686 (follow prompts for HHW; ext. 5210). ELECTRONICS: computers and TVs are banned from the trash by state law. Residents can bring electronics free to the Monmouth County Reclamation Center, 6000 Asbury Ave., Tinton Falls (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Sat 7 a.m.-noon; residents' tent), or to Monmouth Wire & Computer Recycling, and many towns run their own e-waste drop-off. The county also runs free paper-shredding days; see https://mcrcnj.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-Paper-Shredding-Dates.pdf (image PDF, dates not extracted).

County recycling and hazardous waste page →

Checked against the county’s own guide on September 25, 2026.

Collection days by town

What goes in the bin is set by the county. When it is emptied is set by your town. Trash & Recycling Pickup in Monmouth County, NJ.

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