Law and regulations regulating the manner in which refuse may be stored, collected, transported and disposed of declaring and defining certain conditions as nuisances; fixing the duties and responsibility of persons storing, collecting or disposing of refuse and recyclables, regulating the municipal disposal, collection and bidding procedure for solid waste collection, and other such laws and regulation as defined within the "Solid Waste Management Act," N.J.S.A. 13:1E1 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 7:26-1.1 et seq., are hereby adopted by reference.
[Adopted 7-24-2024 by Ord. No. 10-2024;[1] amended in its entirety 6-11-2025 by Ord. No. 13-2025[2]]
The New Jersey Statute established and adopted by this article is described and commonly known as the "Solid Waste Management Act," N.J.S.A. 13:1E1 et seq., 13:1B-3, 13:1D-9 and N.J.A.C. 7:26-1.1 et seq.
The purpose of this article is to regulate, control, dispose of, manage and collect solid waste and appropriate recycling materials within the Township of Washington.
It shall be the responsibility of the Mayor or his/her designee to collect and dispose of all appropriate solid waste materials and recyclables, as defined within, with the exception of demolition, excavation, business, commercial, industrial, medical, hazardous, building/remodeling contractor's, lawn service, landscaper and tree removal contractor's waste or refuse.
As used in this article:
Shall mean and include all disposable containers fabricated primarily of aluminum and commonly used for soda, beer, or other beverages.
Shall mean washers, dryers, hot water heaters, refrigerators, freezers, compactors, dishwashers, stoves, and air conditioners.
Shall mean the asbestiform varieties of serpentinite (chrysotile), riebecktie (crocidolite), cummingtonite-grunerite, anthophyllite, and actinolite-tremolite.
Shall mean mill tailings or any waste that contains commercial asbestos and is generated by a source subject to the provisions of 40 CFR 61.140. This term includes filters from control devices, friable asbestos waste material, and bags or other similar packaging contaminated with commercial asbestos. As applied to demolition and renovation operations, this term also includes regulated asbestos-containing material waste and materials contaminated with asbestos including disposable equipment and clothing.
Shall mean the method of collecting solid waste and recycling through the use of mechanical collection equipment and special containers to accommodate the collection.
Shall mean a paper bag which is designed and manufactured to decompose by a natural biological process.
Shall mean solid waste that may require special handling and management, and which by reason of its bulk, shape, or weight cannot be placed in a container. This waste includes, but is not limited to: furniture, mattresses, and other large, bulky items. No construction material will be collected as a bulk item. Construction debris would include permanent fixtures of the home generated by a contractor, resident or commercial business enterprise. Bulk shall be limited to three items once per month.
Shall mean any solid waste or recycling materials that are generated as a result of operating, conducting or performing a business or service. See also "commercial solid waste."
Shall mean corrugated cardboard, paperboard boxes (cereal, pasta, and tissue), paper towel rolls, and cardboard beverage carriers.
Shall mean food and beverage containers and beverage cartons that are made from glass, tin, aluminum and plastics #1 and #2 only, which are placed mixed in one recycling container or as allowed by New Jersey Statute regulations.
Shall start no earlier than 6:00 a.m. and end no later than 6:00 p.m. or as designated by the contract.
Shall mean the act of picking up solid waste and/or recycling at its point of generation.
Shall be any business, trade or industry providing the service of grass cutting, tree and brush removal, trimming, stump removal, mulching or any other yard maintenance or improvement. "Commercial landscaper" shall include tree surgeon, arborist, gardener or horticulturist.
Shall mean solid waste generated by wholesale, retail or service businesses and multi-unit residential structures. See also "business waste."
Shall mean any person utilizing the services of a business, trade, industry or other nonresidential activity for the purpose of landscaping.
Shall mean a solid waste facility which utilizes a controlled biological process of degrading non-hazardous solid vegetative waste.
Shall mean waste building material and rubble resulting from construction, remodeling, repair, and demolition operations on houses, commercial buildings, pavements and other structures. The following materials may be found in construction and demolition waste: treated and untreated wood scrap; tree parts, tree stumps and brush; concrete, asphalt, bricks, blocks and other masonry; plaster and wallboard; roofing materials; corrugated cardboard and miscellaneous paper; ferrous and nonferrous metal; non-asbestos building insulation; plastic scrap; dirt; contractors carpets and padding; glass (window and door); and other miscellaneous materials; but shall not include other solid waste types.
Shall be between the Township and an independent contractor(s) for the collection and disposal of solid waste and/or recyclable material.
Shall mean a person or firm engaged in a business of service, construction, repairing, refurbishing, remodeling or demolition of buildings or grounds within the Township.
See "construction and demolition waste."
Shall mean items with electronic components and circuit boards, including but not limited to computers, monitors, printers, computer peripherals, cameras, VCRs, DVD players, stereos, cell phones, and telephones.
Shall mean any animal or vegetable waste solids resulting from the preparation, cooking, or consumption of food, but not including human waste.
Shall mean the act or process of producing solid waste.
Shall mean all products made from silica or sand, soda ash and limestone, the product being transparent or translucent and being used for packaging or bottling of various matter and all other material commonly known as glass; excluding, however, blue and flat glass commonly known as "window glass."
Shall mean wastes presenting a clear danger to health and safety by reason of their biological, pathological, explosive, radiological, or toxic characteristics.
Shall mean a person or firm engaging in a commercial enterprise or business which designs, constructs, alters, demolishes, excavates, plants, weeds, fertilizes, prunes, trims, mows or otherwise alters and/or cares for the outdoor natural premises of a property.
Shall mean a person or firm whose primary purpose is to mow, edge, trim and/or fertilize the grass areas of the outdoor premises of another's property and is paid for such endeavors.
Shall mean and include all disposable containers fabricated primarily of metal and commonly used for soda, beer, or other beverages.
Shall mean and include paper of the type commonly referred to as newsprint and distributed at stated intervals, usually daily or weekly, having printed thereon news and opinions and containing advertisements and other matters of public interest.
Shall mean newspaper, white paper, magazines, junk mail, paper bags, phone books, office paper, and file folders.
Shall mean any material that can be separated at the source of generation, which can be reused in manufacture of new products or goods.
Shall mean that portion of the solid waste generated that can be separated and reused.
Shall mean any person occupying or maintaining a place of residence within the Township, occupying a single-family house or multi-family dwelling of two units or less.
Shall mean residential user generated solid waste that has resulted from normal household activities and is collected and disposed of at an approved disposal location.
Shall mean all owners, tenants, occupants or persons in possession of, or exercising control over, a dwelling unit such as a single-family home or a multi-family dwelling of two or less units, and who utilize or purport to utilize the Township or its authorized agent for the collection of solid waste, rubbish, trash and recyclables.
Shall mean a specific path of a trash or recycling collection vehicle.
Shall mean any unauthorized or unlicensed person, firm or corporations collecting rubbish, trash or recyclable materials placed at the collection point for Township collection.
Shall mean the method of placing mixed paper, cardboard and commingled containers together in one container for collection. Mixed paper, cardboard and commingled containers are collected in one non-compartmentalized vehicle and delivered to the materials recovery facility (MRF). All recyclable materials are collected in one "stream."
Shall mean a specially designed wheeled black ninety-five-gallon container issued by the Township to its residents to accommodate the automated collection operation to be used for the deposit, disposal, and collection of solid waste. These containers are property of the Township.
Shall mean a person or firm for hire properly licensed by the State Department of Environmental Protection (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3.2 et seq.).
Shall mean separating recyclables from solid waste at the point of generation.
Shall mean the Township of Washington.
Shall mean the chief administrative officer of the Township of Washington.
Shall mean a person or firm whose primary purpose is to elevate, trim, prune and/or completely remove trees, stump removal and/or grind roots from the premises of another's property and is paid for such endeavors.
See "appliances."
Shall mean grass clippings, leaves, tree limbs and brush
It is the intention of the Township to provide automated solid waste and automated recycling collection to residential users:
A.
Residential solid waste must be properly placed into Township issued black ninety-five-gallon solid waste containers, not exceeding the container's 335-pound container rating. Residential recyclables must be properly placed in blue ninety-five-gallon containers, not exceeding the container's 335-pound container rating. Vegetative recyclables must be properly placed in green ninety-five-gallon containers, not exceeding the container's 335-pound container rating. These containers must be placed in the roadway within three feet from the curb and within the limits of the residence.
B.
Each residential user must separate the recyclable material.
C.
Such waste must be generated within the premises collected.
D.
Waste must conform with all other requirements specified by the Township.
The Mayor or designee shall have the authority to establish, alter or amend the schedule for the collection of residential solid waste and recyclables:
A.
Holidays. There will be no collection on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
B.
Recyclables. Recyclable material, including yard waste, shall be collected one time per week pursuant to the Township's Solid Waste and Recyclable Collection Contract.
C.
Yard waste shall be picked up weekly without appointment March 1 through November 30, and weekly by appointment only December 1 through March 1 Leaf pick-up detailed in § 212-11.
D.
Solid waste. Solid waste shall be collected one time per week, and bulk waste once per month, pursuant to the Township's Solid Waste and Recyclable Collection Contract.
E.
Time and placement for collection. Residential solid waste and recyclables shall not be permitted to be placed at the collection point earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the evening before the scheduled collection day for that location, nor shall empty solid waste and recyclable containers remain at the collection point longer than 12 hours after the regular collection time for that location. All solid waste and recyclables must be placed at the collection point prior to 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day.
F.
Receptacles shall be conveniently located on the premises for the storage of substances and/or materials referred to in this article and shall be maintained in such a manner as to prevent the creation of a nuisance or menace to health. If possible and practical, it is recommended that receptacles, not be stored in the front of the residence.
Within the Township of Washington, there is mandatory source separation of newspaper, glass, metal and aluminum cans, plastics and yard waste from solid waste. (In accordance with State Statute, electronic "ewaste" recyclables shall be source separated starting January 1, 2011.) All persons who utilize the Township or its contracted collector(s) shall separate newspaper, glass, metal and aluminum cans, plastics and yard waste from solid waste materials and shall place newspaper, glass, metal and aluminum cans, plastics and yard waste in containers and apart from solid waste containers and in a location which is consistent with this article. Plastic bags are not permitted.
A.
Violations. It is a violation of this article for the resident, occupant or owner to fail to properly separate recyclables and yard waste from solid waste.
B.
Penalties/remedies. The Township, at its discretion, may choose to educate, warn, notify or issue a summons for a violation of this article and/or the Township and/or its contractor may choose not to collect solid waste or recyclables which are not properly separated.
A.
Only one collection point shall be permitted per residential user. In the case of corner lots, solid waste, recyclables and yard waste shall be placed at the curbside of an improved roadway which is most convenient to the collection vehicle or as directed by the Director of Public Works.
B.
The Director of Public Works has the right to designate collection points located on dead-end and one-way streets, which provide the most efficient and safe route to accommodate automated solid waste and recyclables collection.
C.
No collection of solid waste or recyclables will be provided to dwellings under construction, vacant or unoccupied dwellings, vacant lots or vacant lands or those properties/residences without a valid certificate of occupancy.
Preparation of residential solid waste, except bulk items, shall be placed into Township-issued black ninety-five-gallon solid waste containers, which are property of the Township and are the responsibility of the homeowner to maintain in a safe and sanitary manner. When placed curbside, the container lid should be closed shut and nothing protruding from the top opening of the container. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to report any damage to the container which would threaten to hinder its use effectively for the purpose of solid waste collection. In all instances, it is the responsibility of the resident to ensure that all possible precautions are being taken to protect their solid waste containers and any contents from vermin, insect, and other animal intrusions.
A.
All residential recyclable material, including yard waste, shall be placed for collection according to the following minimum standards:
(1)
Single-stream recycling. Newspaper, corrugated cardboard, phonebooks, chipboard paperboard boxes, beverage cartons, cardboard beverage carriers, paper bags, file folders, office paper and paper towel rolls, paperback books, magazines, brochures, inserts, greeting cards, regular and junk mail, aluminum and metal cans, #1 and #2 plastic bottles, steel bottle caps and metal jar lids, shall be placed together in the blue ninety-five-gallon cart provided by the Township.
(2)
Corrugated cardboard and paper bags must be flattened. Newspapers, magazines or other paper recyclables shall not be placed in bags, tied or bundled prior to placement in cart provided for single-stream recycling. All containers must be empty and rinsed, plastic lids and caps must be removed and discarded as trash.
(3)
No plastic bags are to be placed in recyclable containers.
(4)
All commingled cardboard and newspaper must be placed in Township supplied ninety-five-gallon carts. Loose recyclables placed outside the cart or bucket is prohibited.
(5)
Appliances/white goods. Appliances (white goods), as defined above, are collected on a scheduled day, one time per week. Residents must come into the Department of Public Works department to pay the pickup fee and schedule collection of these items on a weekday assigned.
(6)
Yard waste. Grass clippings, leaves, vegetative waste from lawns/flower beds and tree brush/shrubs, branches less than two inches in diameter and vegetative debris shall be placed in Township supplied green ninety-five-gallon carts.
(a)
Loose recyclables placed outside the cart or bucket is prohibited.
(b)
The following items shall not be placed into approved Township containers and must be disposed of privately: sod, dirt, mulch, stones, concrete, trees, tree limbs larger than two inches in diameter, logs, railroad ties, stumps, animal feces, dead animals.
B.
Commingling of solid waste and recyclables is a violation and will be subject to a penalty described in § 212-8B.
C.
Placement of all yard waste, including but not limited to grass clippings, leaves and brush, in plastic bags for Township collection is prohibited and will not be collected by the Township. It is recommended that residents consider a "cut it and leave it" program where grass cuttings are left on the lawn.
(1)
Any yard waste generated from a commercial landscaper and/or commercial user will not be collected by the Township. Any commercial landscaper performing services within the Township shall remove all trimmings, branches, trees, stumps, grass cuttings and other waste materials generated from the services performed by them from the premises they service.
(2)
Municipal collection of leaves is limited to the months of mid-October through April, weather permitting. Municipal collection schedules are annually identified by social media and website postings noting the week of collection. Sweeping, raking, blowing or otherwise placing leaves that are not containerized at the curb or along the street is only allowed during the 14 days prior to a scheduled and announced collection, and shall not be placed closer than 10 feet from any storm drain inlet. If such placement of leaves occurs, the party responsible for placement of the leaves must remove the leaves from the street or said party shall be deemed in violation of this article. Only loose leaves will be collected in the street; no other yard debris can be in that pile.
D.
Prohibited recycling materials. Tires, and electronics, shall not be placed curbside and are to be brought to the Department of Public Works yard for recycling.
A.
Bulk items.
(1)
Preparation. Carpet not generated by a private commercial contractor are to be tied and bundled and must weigh less than 50 pounds and not exceed four feet in length. Material shall be free of protruding nails, screws, staples or other dangerous conditions. Carpet and/or padding rolls are limited to six rolls per month.
(2)
Bulk items. Bulk items will be collected once per month on a schedule provided by the contractor.
(3)
Debris from construction projects such as removal of fences, sheds, decks, roofs shall be the responsibility of the homeowner to remove privately.
(4)
Bulk items will be limited to three items per monthly pick-up.
A.
All hazardous materials, including but not limited to waste materials which present a clear danger to health and safety by reason of their biological, pathological, explosive, radiological or toxic characteristics, shall be not be disposed of in the solid waste container. Residents/businesses who require hazardous waste disposal shall contact the Gloucester County Improvement Authority for guidance.
B.
Injection needles shall be broken from syringe and hub and separated from the syringe before depositing for collection and shall be placed in metal or plastic containers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the New Jersey Health Department and Department of Solid Waste "Household Hazardous Waste Management Act."
C.
All medical waste generators shall comply with any and all applicable regulation promulgated by the NJDEP for such generators for the disposal of medical hazardous waste.
D.
Residential users and those users identified by contract shall be responsible for any personal injury to collection personnel resulting from improper disposal of hazardous materials.
E.
Oil-based paints, varnishes, gasoline, aerosols, antifreeze and combustibles are not to be placed curbside with normal wastes but are to be disposed of at County Household Special Waste Collection sites.
F.
Latex paint is a nonhazardous material. It can be disposed of in the regular trash following the elimination of all liquid content by removal of drying techniques with drying agents.
A.
Standards. Starting no later than June 30, 2025, all solid waste is to be placed into Township-issued black ninety-five-gallon containers. Township-issued solid waste containers are the property of the Township. Additional containers can be obtained for a fee, which is outlined in § 80-21.1, Miscellaneous fees. Contents placed into the container should not exceed the maximum rating of 335 pounds and should not have items protruding through the top side opening of the container, which would prevent the lid from properly closing. It is the responsibility of the resident to maintain the container in a clean, sanitary, and overall safe manner. Additionally, it is the resident's sole responsibility to alert the Township of damage to the container that prohibits the ability for it to be effectively utilized for disposal and collection.
B.
Spill. Residential users shall remove any solid waste spilled by animals or vandals as a result of defective or inadequate covers or containers.
C.
Vermin/animals. All containers should be stored and placed for collection in such a way so as to discourage intrusion by vermin and animals.
D.
Placement of cans/containers. See § 212-7E for permitted schedule of can/container placement at the collection point.
E.
Single-stream recycle containers. Starting no later than June 30, 2025, all single-stream recycling is to be placed into Township-issued blue ninety-five-gallon recycle containers. Township-issued containers are property of the Township. Additional containers may be obtained for a fee, which is outlined in Chapter 80. Contents placed into the cart should not exceed the maximum rating of 335 pounds, and additionally should not have items protruding through the top side opening of the cart which would prevent the lid from properly closing. It is the responsibility of the resident to maintain the cart in a clean, sanitary, and overall safe manner. Additionally, it is the resident's sole responsibility to alert the Township of damage to the cart that prohibits the ability for the container to be effectively used for collection and disposal of recyclable materials.
F.
Yard waste containers. Starting no later than June 30, 2025, all yard waste is to be placed into Township-issued green ninety-five-gallon containers. Township-issued containers are property of the Township. Additional containers may be obtained for a fee, which is outlined in Chapter 80. Contents placed into the cart should not exceed the maximum rating of 335 pounds, and additionally should not have items protruding through the top side opening of the cart which would prevent the lid from properly closing. It is the responsibility of the resident to maintain the cart in a clean, sanitary, and overall safe manner. Additionally, it is the resident's sole responsibility to alert the Public Works Department of damage to the cart that prohibits the ability for the container to be effectively used for collection and disposal of recyclable materials.
G.
All ninety-five-gallon containers are property of Washington Township and no aftermarket stickers/markings of any kind are permitted. This is to include letters, numbers, names etc. Cans are identified via serial numbers and RFID-imbedded chips. Carts provided by the Township shall not be shared with any other location, residence or business other than the property to which it was assigned.
A.
The following materials shall not be collected as part of the Township's solid waste and recyclable materials program. This list is not exhaustive. Prohibited materials include, but are not limited to: asbestos, asbestos containing waste materials, asphalt roofing products containing more than 1% asbestos, resilient floor coverings, demolition materials, excavation materials; commercial, industrial, hazardous and medical waste generated from commercial facilities or medical offices. Also included are construction materials generated by private contractors, yard wastes which are not generated at the property of the residential user and on-premises yard waste generated by a lawn service, landscaper, or tree service contractor.
B.
Construction/remodeling/building materials. Private contractors shall remove the debris materials from the site and shall dispose of the debris properly at their own cost. This debris is not to be placed for normal residential collection.
C.
Hazardous materials. All chemical and corrosive wastes and other hazardous materials as defined within are prohibited to be placed for residential pickup.
D.
House cleanouts. Furniture, carpets, bedding and similar household items resulting from the sale or renovation of a house (house clean-out or move-ins/move-outs) will not be collected by the Township. Disposal of such items shall be the responsibility of the owner (at time of disposal) of the property.
E.
Cardboard boxes. Cardboard boxes may not be used to dispose of regular household trash. Cardboard is recyclable and must be placed into Township blue ninety-five-gallon recycle containers in accordance with the requirements of § 212-11. Any cardboard boxes containing household trash shall not be picked up.
Scavengers are prohibited from operating within the Township.
The Mayor or designee is authorized to issue additional recycling regulations as needed to provide for the most safe and efficient means of removal of recyclable materials as defined within.
All solid waste, yard waste and recyclable material aggregated and offered for collection shall remain the property and responsibility of the generator until said material are collected by the Township's solid waste contractor or self-hauled to the Township's recycling center, at which time they become the property of the solid waste contractor or Township, respectively. It shall be a violation of this article for any person not authorized by the Township to collect items herein described or to pick up or cause to be picked up any such items. Any and each such collection in violation hereof from one or more residences shall constitute a separate distinct offense punishable as provided herein.
It shall be a violation of this article in addition to other pertinent Township ordinances and applicable State law for a person to place residential solid waste, commercially generated solid waste or private contractor waste at the collection site reserved for the Township's solid waste collection sites.
All persons within the Township who are not residents and who are not served by the curbside collection program established pursuant to this article, shall source separate and arrange for collection for recycling of all designated recyclables.
A.
Designated recyclables for the mandatory commercial, institutional and industrial source separation program shall consist of the following materials:
(1)
High-grade paper, including white letterhead paper, white bond typing paper, white copier paper, white notepad paper, white writing paper, white envelopes, computer printout paper, and computer tab cards.
(2)
Corrugated cardboard.
(3)
Glass bottles and aluminum and metal cans.
(4)
Other recyclable material as designated by the Township or as mandated by the State Resource Recovery and Recycling Act or other statute or regulations.
B.
The arrangement for collection and disposal of designated recyclables shall be the responsibility of the person or firm who has generated the recyclables ("generator") or the person or firm obligated to the generator, by contract, to arrange for collection and disposal of its solid waste. The arrangements may include, without limitation, direct marketing of recyclables, delivery to a drop-off, contracts with solid waste collection haulers for separate collection of any or all designated recyclables, contract with other persons for separate collection of any or all designated recyclables or direct delivery to recycling facility.
C.
This article shall be enforced by Washington Township Code Enforcement.
A.
Enforcement. Department of Municipal Services/Public Works are permitted to educate, warn, notify for violations of this article. All card warnings and summonses for violations shall be issued by Code enforcement under the Director of Public Works.
B.
Notice. Should the Township issue a formal notice of violation or summons for a violation of this article, the violation will be notified in accordance with Municipal Court and/or Township procedure.
A.
No person shall carry or transport or cause or permit to be carried or transported through or along any public street any garbage or other vegetable or animal refuse from outside the limits of the Township into the Township except as herein after limited and provided for.
B.
In all cases where garbage or other refuse is to be transported through the Township and not dumped or otherwise disposed of therein, it shall be unlawful for the person transporting the same to make use of any street or other public place in the Township for the purpose unless the vehicle in which the garbage or other refuse is to be transported or that portion wherein the garbage or other refuse may be contained shall be thoroughly and securely covered and fastened down in order that there be no spilling of any garbage or other refuse or escaping of odors and unless the vehicle or part thereof shall be thoroughly watertight in order that there may be no leaking or draining.