Monroe Recycling Center NJ: Hours, Accepted Items & Drop-Off Rules

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Monroe Township, NJ · resident drop-off · 2026

Use Monroe Township’s Recycling Yard Without Getting Turned Away

The Monroe Township Recycling Drop-Off Center handles much more than bottles and cardboard. Residents can bring electronics, batteries, scrap metal, appliances, oil, antifreeze, packing foam, yard waste, bulky household items and several specialty materials—but each stream has its own preparation and access rules.

The biggest mistakes are arriving without proof of residency, using a commercial vehicle, bringing recyclables in plastic bags, confusing regular recycling with household hazardous waste, or assuming every special program operates during normal yard hours.

76 Gravel Hill-Spotswood Rd Mon–Fri 7:00–2:45 Sat 8:00–11:30 Residents only
Independent guide: Recycling-Centre.org is not Monroe Township, Monroe Public Works, Middlesex County or MCIA. This guide consolidates current Township and County information so residents can prepare a load correctly. Official programs, event dates, hours and accepted materials can change, so use Monroe Township or Middlesex County as the final authority.

Quick Answer: Monroe Recycling Center Address, Hours and Access

Monroe Township Recycling Drop-Off Center is at 76 Gravel Hill-Spotswood Road, Monroe Township, NJ 08831. The current Public Works page and the 2026 Township recycling guide list Recycling Center hours as Monday through Friday 7:00 AM–2:45 PM and Saturday 8:00 AM–11:30 AM. The center is closed Sundays and Township holidays.

The DPW phone number is 732-656-4575. Proof of Monroe Township residency is required per vehicle, commercial vehicles are not permitted, and recyclable materials cannot be dropped off in plastic bags.

Address 76 Gravel Hill-Spotswood Rd, Monroe Twp., NJ 08831
Weekdays Monday–Friday · 7:00 AM–2:45 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM–11:30 AM
DPW 732-656-4575

Monroe Recycling Center Hours, Residency and Vehicle Rules

The drop-off center and the Public Works office do not have identical hours. The recycling yard opens earlier than the DPW office on weekdays.

Service / day Current posted time Important rule Best action
Recycling Center · Mon–Fri 7:00 AM–2:45 PM Proof of residency required. Arrive early with mixed or heavy loads.
Recycling Center · Saturday 8:00 AM–11:30 AM Short operating window. Sort everything before leaving home.
Sunday Closed No normal Sunday yard access. Use Monday or another operating day.
Township holidays Closed Curbside recycling can follow a different holiday system. Do not assume a rescheduled curbside day means the yard is open.
DPW office Mon–Fri 7:30 AM–2:30 PM Office hours are not yard hours. Call 732-656-4575 for material questions.

Bring residency proof

The Township says proof of residency is required per vehicle. Bring current Monroe identification or another document that can establish local residency if requested.

No commercial vehicles

The official rule prohibits commercial vehicles. Contractors, landscapers and businesses are also specifically excluded from drop-off use.

Sort before arrival

The Township says recyclables must be separated and no recyclable material will be accepted in plastic bags.

Current Monroe Public Works page Call DPW: 732-656-4575

Important Official-Source Conflicts You Should Know About

Monroe has several official pages, older guidance pages and County programs. Most information matches, but a few details do not. These differences matter when you are planning an early arrival, paint trip or tire run.

Topic Current / newer source Conflicting source Safest interpretation
Weekday opening Current Public Works page and 2026 guide: 7:00 AM. An older Township curbside-guidelines page still says 7:30 AM. Use the newer 7:00 AM schedule, but check Public Works before a special trip.
County-resident paint Saturday Township Public Works page says third Saturday 8:00–11:30 AM. The 2026 Township guide says 8:30–11:30 AM, while the County program page describes weekend paint events as 8:00 AM–12:00 PM. Call before a non-Monroe paint trip. Monroe residents have a separate regular-hours paint rule.
East Brunswick tire hours Monroe Township information says Mon–Sat 8:00 AM–4:00 PM. Middlesex County’s current tire page lists 7:30 AM–3:30 PM. Verify the County program before loading tires.
Why this matters: this article does not silently choose whichever time is more convenient. When two current official sources differ, call the responsible office before transporting paint, tires or another special item.

Accepted Items at Monroe Township Recycling Center

The current Township facility list covers ordinary recyclables, electronics, automotive liquids, batteries, appliances, bulky residential items and several special streams.

Material Accepted? Preparation Important limit / note
Computers, TVs, printers & fax machines Yes · CED Delete personal data; protect screens. Residential consumer electronics.
Motor oil Yes Keep sealed and separate from other fluids. Do not mix with gasoline, solvents or unknown liquids.
Antifreeze Yes Use a secure labeled container. Keep separate from motor oil.
Cooking oil Township guide lists it Liquid vegetable cooking oil only for County cooking-oil programs. County also lists Monroe DPW as a Friday cooking-oil site.
Residential bulky items Yes Keep prohibited material separate. Resident household material only.
Scrap metal & white goods Yes Call about refrigerant appliances and unusual metal items. No resident scrap buyback rate is advertised.
Bottles & cans Yes Empty and rinse. Plastic container list emphasizes #1 PETE and #2 HDPE.
Newspaper Yes Clean and tied in bundles. Keep separate from mixed paper.
Cardboard Yes Flatten before arrival. Do not hide foam, trash or packing material inside boxes.
Mixed paper Yes Keep reasonably clean and dry. Use the designated mixed-paper stream.
Auto batteries Yes Transport upright and secure. Call before bringing a leaking or damaged battery.
Rechargeable / lithium batteries Yes Keep out of curbside recycling; protect terminals where appropriate. 2026 guide specifically directs rechargeable and lithium batteries to the center.
20-lb propane tanks Yes Keep valve protected and tank upright. 20-lb size only on the main accepted list.
Clean packaging foam blocks FoamCycle Clean, dry, no tape, labels or dirt. No food-service foam or packing peanuts.
Yard waste Yes Brush, leaves and grass must be separated from trash. Special curbside rules also apply seasonally.

Items Monroe Recycling Center Does Not Accept

A recyclable or disposable material can still be prohibited at this particular municipal facility. The Township’s rejected list should be checked before every renovation, roofing, landscape or hazardous-material load.

Tires

Not accepted at the Monroe Recycling Center. Middlesex County provides designated tire sites.

Construction debris

Renovation and contractor waste is prohibited. The resident center is not a construction-and-demolition facility.

Concrete & masonry

Dirt, rocks, bricks, concrete, asphalt and other masonry materials are excluded.

Household hazardous waste

General HHW does not belong at the regular center. Use Middlesex County HHW events.

Roofing & utility poles

Roofing material and utility poles are specifically prohibited.

Food waste

Kitchen garbage and food waste are not accepted in the recycling stream.

Foam peanuts

Packing peanuts are excluded even though selected rigid packaging foam is accepted.

Foam food containers

Trays, cups and other food-service polystyrene are not part of FoamCycle.

Plastic-bag rule: even an accepted recyclable can be rejected if it arrives inside a plastic bag. Bring ordinary recyclables loose, flattened, tied or otherwise separated as the material requires.

Bottles, Cans, Paper and Cardboard: Preparation Rules

The Township’s curbside and drop-off guidance is unusually specific about preparation. Following these rules at home makes unloading faster.

Material Township preparation Do not do this
Glass bottles & jars Remove lid, rinse container. Do not treat ceramics, mirrors or random glass as bottle-and-jar recycling.
Metal cans Rinse. Township guidance allows can lids and recommends crushing to save space. Do not mix greasy scrap or pressurized containers into ordinary cans.
#1 PETE / #2 HDPE Check resin number, remove caps, rinse and crush where appropriate. Do not assume every numbered plastic belongs in the program.
Newspaper Tie clean newspaper and inserts into bundles no more than about 12 inches high for curbside handling. Do not mix junk mail and mixed paper into the newspaper bundle.
Mixed paper Examples include office paper, magazines, junk mail, cereal boxes, greeting cards, paper bags and similar paper products. Keep Christmas wrapping paper out where Township guidance excludes it.
Cardboard Flatten it. Do not use a cardboard box as a container for trash, foam or plastic film.

Electronics Recycling: Computers, TVs, Printers and Fax Machines

The Township’s main facility list identifies CEDs—covered electronic devices and gives computers, televisions, printers and fax machines as examples. Broken or outdated consumer electronics are also referenced in the Township’s drop-off guidance.

Computers

Back up files, sign out of accounts and securely erase personal information before recycling.

Televisions

Protect screens during transport. Call first for multiple sets, oversized TVs or severely damaged units.

Printers

Printers are specifically listed. Remove loose paper and ask DPW about unusually large office machines.

Fax machines

Fax machines are included in the Township’s CED examples.

Data destruction is different from electronics acceptance. The Township accepting a computer does not automatically mean it provides a certificate of data destruction. Businesses or residents who need documented destruction should use an appropriate data-security service.

Batteries and Monroe’s CHaRM Collection

The 2026 Monroe recycling guide specifically warns residents not to put rechargeable or lithium batteries into trash or curbside recycling because of fire risk. These batteries should be brought to the Recycling Center.

The same guide says ordinary household batteries such as AA, C and D cells may be placed in the trash or brought to the Recycling Center’s CHaRM—Center for Hard to Recycle Material collection.

Current CHaRM Materials Listed in the 2026 Guide

Stretchy plastic bags

Use the specialty collection rather than normal curbside recycling.

Eyeglasses

Collected as a hard-to-recycle/reuse stream.

Cell phones

Remove account locks and personal data before surrendering a device.

Books

CHaRM provides an alternative route for books when they do not belong in ordinary paper processing.

Light bulbs

Handle carefully and avoid breaking lamps before drop-off.

Single-use alkaline batteries

Accepted through CHaRM even though Township guidance says ordinary household alkaline batteries may also go in trash.

Lithium batteries

Keep them out of curbside recycling and trash. Follow safe terminal and damaged-battery handling.

Small appliances

The 2026 CHaRM list includes small appliances. Call for unusual or battery-containing devices.

Damaged lithium battery: if a battery is swollen, punctured, leaking, hot or recalled, do not casually place it in a collection container. Isolate it from metal and call DPW for handling instructions before transport.

FoamCycle: Which “Styrofoam” Monroe Actually Accepts

Monroe operates a FoamCycle system for clean rigid packaging foam. The densifier greatly reduces the volume of expanded polystyrene before it moves to recycling markets.

Accepted clean packaging foam

  • Television packaging foam
  • Appliance packaging foam
  • Computer/electronics packaging foam
  • Furniture packaging foam
  • Rigid foam coolers

Not accepted in FoamCycle

  • Packing peanuts
  • Egg cartons
  • Foam food trays
  • Colored foam
  • Insulation foam panels
  • Flexible or film foam
Preparation rule: only clean and dry packaging foam belongs in the program. Remove dirt, labels and tape before arrival.

Paint Recycling in Monroe Township: Resident and County Rules Differ

Paint has its own rule even though general household hazardous waste is not accepted during ordinary recycling-center operations.

Monroe Township Residents

The Township’s detailed paint guidance says Monroe residents may drop off accepted paint during regular Recycling Center business hours.

The 2026 guide lists latex paint, water-based paint, oil-based paint, stains, varnishes, lacquers, thinners, paint aerosols and cans containing paint. It says dried paint should go with regular trash.

Other Middlesex County Residents

Monroe also serves as a County paint drop-off location on the third Saturday of the month. However, official sources currently disagree slightly on the exact public window: Township Public Works says 8:00–11:30 AM, the 2026 guide says 8:30–11:30 AM, and the County paint program describes weekend paint events as 8:00 AM–12:00 PM.

Call before a county-resident paint trip. Monroe residents using their normal local program have a clearer regular-hours route. Middlesex County residents coming specifically for the third-Saturday event should verify the day’s hours before loading paint.
Paint call script
Hi, I have [number] cans of [latex / oil-based / stain / varnish / thinner / aerosol paint]. I am a [Monroe Township / Middlesex County] resident. Can I bring these during regular hours, or do I need the third-Saturday paint event? What time should I arrive and are there container or quantity restrictions?

Motor Oil, Antifreeze and Cooking Oil

Monroe’s 2026 recycling guide specifically lists antifreeze, used motor oil and cooking oil among its recycling services. These liquids should remain separate because mixing can make recovery impossible or create a hazardous mixture.

Used motor oil

Use a clean, secure container. Do not mix it with gasoline, brake cleaner, solvents or antifreeze.

Antifreeze

Keep it sealed and clearly identifiable.

Cooking oil

Middlesex County’s program identifies Monroe DPW as a cooking-oil location on Fridays. County guidance covers liquid vegetable oil, not shortening, coconut oil or lard.

County cooking-oil schedule: the County program lists Monroe Department of Public Works for cooking-oil recycling every Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Monroe’s own guide also lists cooking oil as accepted, so call if you plan to arrive outside the County Friday window.

Propane Tanks: 20-Pound Barbecue Cylinders Only

The main Monroe Recycling Center accepted list specifies 20-pound propane tanks only. Township bulky-waste guidance also describes barbecue-type propane tanks as accepted at the DPW yard.

Do not assume all cylinders qualify. Commercial cylinders, large tanks, badly damaged cylinders and specialty gas containers should be confirmed before transport. Never intentionally vent a propane cylinder to make it “empty.”

Bulky Items, Appliances, White Goods and Furniture

Residential bulky items, scrap metal and white goods are listed at the Recycling Center. Separate Township guidance specifically mentions appliances, furniture, barbecue-type propane tanks, freezers and refrigerators.

Item / service Current rule Preparation Important distinction
Furniture Residential bulky item route. Remove loose trash and hazardous material. Not a commercial cleanout service.
Refrigerator / freezer Township bulky guidance lists them. Township says doors must be removed per its published safety rule. Follow staff directions for appliance placement.
Other white goods Accepted as scrap metal / white goods. Call about refrigerant, fluids or non-metal components. No scrap payout is advertised.
20-lb propane tank Accepted. Transport upright and protected. Main list limits this to 20-lb tanks.

Once-a-Year Residential Bulk Pickup

Monroe Public Works also offers residents a once-a-year bulky-waste pickup free of charge during the seasonal pickup program.

Current Township information says appointments are scheduled on Wednesdays and Thursdays from April 1 through November 1. Bulk should not be placed curbside earlier than one day before the scheduled collection.

Residents can schedule through the Township website or contact DPW at 732-656-4575.

Bulk pickup does not accept everything. Hazardous materials, chemicals, paint, driveway sealers, pesticides, tires, utility poles, railroad ties, construction material, tree stumps, sod, dirt, stones, food, concrete, asphalt, bricks, roofing and asbestos are among the prohibited categories.

Leaves, Brush and Grass: Drop-Off and Curbside Rules

Yard waste is accepted at the Recycling Center, but Monroe also operates seasonal curbside collection with different preparation rules.

Material Curbside rule Recycling Center option Important detail
Leaves Brown recycling bags; Township currently lists April 2–December 7. No loose curbside leaves. Yard waste is accepted at the drop-off center. Keep leaves free of trash and debris.
Brush Collected April–December. Tree parts up to 5 inches diameter, cut to no more than 4 feet and tied. Brush is included in the center’s accepted yard-waste list. No stumps in bulky-waste program.
Grass Brown recycling bags, April–December weather permitting. Can be brought loose or bagged; plastic bags must be emptied at the designated area. Do not leave the plastic bag mixed into the grass.
Brown recycling bags: Township guidance says residents can pick up brown yard-waste bags at the Recycling Drop-Off Center during its normal operating hours.

Tires Are Not Accepted at Monroe Recycling Center

Tires are on Monroe’s prohibited list. The Township directs residents to the East Brunswick Reclamation Center, 357 Dunhams Corner Road, East Brunswick, NJ 08816.

Middlesex County’s tire program says automobile and light-truck tires are accepted, with a limit of four tires per household per month, no businesses and no oversized tires. Residents must see an attendant before unloading.

Hours conflict: Monroe’s Township information currently says East Brunswick is open Monday–Saturday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM for this route, while the Middlesex County tire page lists 7:30 AM–3:30 PM. Verify with the County before driving.
Middlesex County recycling programs

Household Hazardous Waste: Use Middlesex County Events

General household hazardous waste is specifically prohibited at Monroe’s normal Recycling Center operation. Middlesex County runs dedicated HHW events with trained staff and separate safety rules.

Examples the County HHW Program Accepts

Automotive & fuels

Gasoline, kerosene, brake fluid, motor oil and filters, antifreeze and gas/oil mixtures.

Household chemicals

Cleaners, drain cleaners, adhesives, pool chemicals, pesticides and herbicides.

Paint-related HHW

Latex/oil paint, thinners, stains and varnishes are included in County HHW events, although Monroe also has its separate paint program.

Special items

Road flares, fire extinguishers, fluorescent bulbs, mercury devices, selected batteries and propane tanks.

The County says HHW containers over 10 gallons are not accepted. Rechargeable and button-cell batteries should be individually bagged or have terminals taped for County HHW transport. Alkaline batteries can go into ordinary trash under County guidance.

Asbestos-containing materials require pre-registration and double-bagging. At HHW events, residents should secure material in the trunk or truck bed, prevent rolling or spilling and remain in the vehicle.

Do not bring HHW to the regular Monroe recycling yard just because some individual hazardous-type materials are accepted there. Motor oil, antifreeze, paint, batteries and 20-lb propane cylinders have specific local programs; that does not make the site a general chemical-disposal facility.

Monroe Township Paper Shredding Dates for 2026

The 2026 Monroe Recycling Guide lists Township paper shredding at the Recycling Center on the second Saturday in March, May, July, September and November.

2026 date Time Eligibility Load limit
March 14 8 AM–12 PM Monroe residents only Maximum 5 file boxes per car
May 9 8 AM–12 PM Monroe residents only Maximum 5 file boxes per car
July 11 8 AM–12 PM Monroe residents only Maximum 5 file boxes per car
September 12 8 AM–12 PM Monroe residents only Maximum 5 file boxes per car
November 14 8 AM–12 PM Monroe residents only · no businesses Maximum 5 file boxes per car

What Not to Bring to Township Shredding

  • Newspapers
  • Magazines
  • Hardcover books
  • Junk mail
  • Photographs
  • X-rays
  • CDs
  • Already shredded paper
  • Garbage

Paper must be in manageable containers—no plastic bags. Staples and paper clips do not have to be removed. Residents remain in their vehicles and place material in the trunk, cargo area or truck bed where event staff can reach it.

County alternative: Middlesex County also operates its own residential shredding calendar. Its 2026 program has a separate 5-file-box or 100-pound-per-vehicle limit and serves County residents rather than only Monroe residents.

Monroe Curbside Recycling Is a Different Service

The Monroe Recycling Center is operated by Township Public Works, but regular curbside recycling collection is handled through the Middlesex County Improvement Authority (MCIA).

Missed pickup

Township instructions say leave recycling at the curb if collection is delayed or missed. IWS will generally attempt recovery within 24 hours.

Who to call

For curbside recycling issues, call MCIA at 800-488-6242.

Weather emergencies

Check MCIA for delayed or changed collection caused by weather or emergency conditions.

2026 Curbside Holiday Rule

MCIA’s current Monroe schedule identifies New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas as curbside recycling holidays. When a scheduled collection falls on one of these holidays, collection moves to the following Saturday.

Do not confuse this with the Recycling Center holiday schedule. Township Public Works holidays do not control the MCIA curbside schedule, and the Recycling Center itself is listed as closed Sundays and holidays.

Is Monroe Recycling Center Free? Fees and Pay-Rate Reality

The Township’s current public Recycling Center page does not publish a general price table for ordinary resident drop-off, and it does not advertise cash payments for scrap metal, cans or other recyclable material.

The page does state that the seasonal once-a-year bulky-waste pickup is available to residents free of charge. That does not automatically prove that every special service, event or unusual item has no fee.

Resident municipal recycling

Use the Township resident facility according to its access and material rules.

No scrap payout advertised

This is a municipal recycling program, not a private scrap-metal cash-buyback yard.

Special program

If an unusual item, event or service has no published price, call DPW instead of relying on a third-party fee list.

How to Prepare a Monroe Recycling Center Load

Confirm you are using the right Monroe

This article covers Monroe Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey—not another Monroe city, county or township.

Check the day’s official hours

Use the current Public Works page, especially near holidays or severe weather.

Bring proof of residency

The Township requires proof of residency per vehicle.

Do not arrive in a commercial vehicle

Commercial vehicles, contractors, landscapers and business drop-offs are not permitted.

Separate every stream

Keep paper, cardboard, containers, electronics, batteries, metal, foam, oil and yard waste separated.

Remove ordinary recyclables from plastic bags

The Township explicitly says recyclable material will not be accepted in plastic bags.

Call about special material

Paint, propane tanks, damaged batteries, large appliances, unusual electronics, County-program items and large quantities deserve confirmation.

Use the correct alternative program when needed

Tires, HHW, certain business material, construction debris and other prohibited loads need another route.

Why Monroe Recycling Loads Get Rejected

No residency proof The municipal facility is resident-focused. Bring proof rather than expecting staff to waive the rule.
Commercial vehicle The Township explicitly prohibits commercial vehicles and contractor/business use.
Recycling in plastic bags Remove bottles, cans, paper and other recyclable material from plastic bags before unloading.
Tires in the load Use the Middlesex County tire program instead of the Monroe yard.
Construction debris Drywall, roofing, brick, concrete, dirt and similar job-site material is prohibited.
Mixed household chemicals Use a County HHW event rather than the regular Monroe Recycling Center.
Wrong foam FoamCycle accepts clean packaging foam, not food trays, peanuts, insulation panels or flexible foam.
Wrong paint timing Monroe residents and other Middlesex County residents follow different paint-access rules. Confirm before driving.
Oversized propane cylinder The main accepted list specifies 20-pound propane tanks only.
Food waste in recycling Kitchen garbage is explicitly prohibited and contaminates recyclable material.

Monroe Township Recycling Center Map and Directions

Use the exact municipal address: 76 Gravel Hill-Spotswood Road, Monroe Township, NJ 08831. Searching only “Monroe Recycling Center” can return unrelated facilities in other states and counties.

Navigation rule: use maps for directions, but use Monroe Township Public Works for current facility hours, closures and material acceptance.
Open directions Call before special drop-off

Official Sources for Monroe Township Recycling

Monroe Township Public Works & Recycling

Primary source for address, phone, current Recycling Center hours, accepted/rejected items, proof-of-residency rule, commercial-vehicle restriction and local paint access.

Open Monroe Public Works
Monroe Township Department News / 2026 Recycling Information

Current details for curbside schedules, bulky waste, tires, yard waste, brown bags, missed collection and seasonal pickup.

Open current Township recycling updates
Monroe Curbside Recycling Guidelines

Detailed preparation instructions for glass, cans, #1/#2 plastic, newspaper, mixed paper and yard-waste bags.

Open curbside guidelines
Middlesex County Solid Waste Management

County authority for household hazardous waste, tire recycling, paint events, paper shredding and other residential recycling programs.

Open County Solid Waste
Middlesex County Recycling Programs & Events

Use this for current tire locations, paint rules, cooking-oil collection, HHW instructions and County event schedules.

Open County recycling programs
MCIA Recycling Service

Use MCIA for curbside collection, missed pickups, service questions and weather-related recycling changes.

Open MCIA

Frequently Asked Questions About Monroe Recycling Center

Where is Monroe Recycling Center in New Jersey?

Monroe Township Recycling Drop-Off Center is at 76 Gravel Hill-Spotswood Road, Monroe Township, NJ 08831.

What are Monroe Recycling Center hours?

The current Public Works page lists Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 2:45 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM. The center is closed Sundays and holidays.

Why does another Monroe Township page say the center opens at 7:30 AM?

An older curbside-guidelines page still displays a 7:30 AM weekday opening. The current Public Works page and 2026 Township recycling guide both list 7:00 AM, so the newer 7:00 AM schedule is the better current reference.

What is the Monroe Recycling Center phone number?

Monroe Township Department of Public Works can be reached at 732-656-4575.

Do I need proof of residency?

Yes. Monroe Township states that proof of residency is required per vehicle.

Can contractors or commercial vehicles use Monroe Recycling Center?

No. The Township states that commercial vehicles are not permitted and specifically says contractors, landscapers and businesses may not make drop-offs.

Can I bring recycling in plastic bags?

No. Monroe says recyclable materials will not be accepted in plastic bags. Bring materials loose, flattened, tied or otherwise sorted according to the material.

Does Monroe Recycling Center accept cardboard?

Yes. Cardboard is accepted and should be flattened before drop-off.

Does Monroe Recycling Center accept electronics?

Yes. The Township lists covered electronic devices including computers, TVs, printers and fax machines.

Does Monroe accept lithium batteries?

Yes. The 2026 Township guide specifically directs rechargeable and lithium batteries to the Recycling Center and warns residents not to place them in trash or curbside recycling.

Does Monroe Recycling Center accept ordinary household batteries?

The 2026 guide says ordinary household alkaline batteries such as AA, C and D cells may go into regular trash or be brought to the Recycling Center’s CHaRM collection.

Does Monroe Recycling Center accept Styrofoam?

It accepts selected clean, dry rigid packaging foam through FoamCycle. Packing peanuts, food trays, egg cartons, colored foam, insulation foam and flexible foam are not accepted in that program.

Can Monroe residents drop off paint?

Yes. The Township’s detailed paint guidance says Monroe Township residents may bring accepted paint during regular business hours. Accepted products include latex, water- and oil-based paints, stains, varnishes, lacquers, thinners and paint aerosols.

When can other Middlesex County residents bring paint to Monroe?

Monroe participates in the County’s third-Saturday paint program, but official sources currently show slightly different hours. Call Monroe DPW or Middlesex County before the trip.

Does Monroe Recycling Center accept tires?

No. Monroe directs residents to the Middlesex County tire program, including the East Brunswick Reclamation Center.

Does Monroe Recycling Center accept household hazardous waste?

No, general HHW is prohibited during ordinary Recycling Center operations. Middlesex County operates separate household hazardous waste events.

Does Monroe Recycling Center accept refrigerators and freezers?

Township bulky-waste guidance lists freezers and refrigerators among items brought to the DPW yard and says doors must be removed according to its published safety rule.

Does Monroe accept yard waste?

Yes. Brush, leaves and grass are listed at the Recycling Center. Monroe also provides seasonal curbside programs with separate bagging and size rules.

When is Monroe’s 2026 paper shredding program?

The Township’s Recycling Center schedule lists March 14, May 9, July 11, September 12 and November 14 from 8:00 AM to noon. The program is for Monroe residents only, no businesses, with a five-file-box-per-car maximum.

Who handles missed curbside recycling pickups?

Curbside recycling is handled through MCIA. Call 800-488-6242 for missed pickup, collection or weather-emergency questions.

Does Monroe Recycling Center pay for scrap metal?

No public resident scrap-metal pay rate is advertised. This is a municipal resident drop-off facility, not a private scrap-metal buyback center.

Is Recycling-Centre.org the official Monroe Township recycling website?

No. Recycling-Centre.org is an independent information guide. Monroe Township Public Works and Middlesex County are the final authorities for current facility rules and special recycling programs.

Final Checklist Before Driving to Monroe Recycling Center

Prepare the load

  • Flatten cardboard.
  • Tie newspaper where required.
  • Rinse containers.
  • Separate #1 PETE and #2 HDPE.
  • Remove normal recyclables from plastic bags.
  • Separate batteries from loose metal.
  • Keep oil, antifreeze and cooking oil separate.
  • Clean packaging foam and remove tape/labels.
  • Erase personal data from electronics.
  • Do not mix HHW into ordinary recycling.

Prepare the trip

  • Verify Monday–Friday or Saturday hours.
  • Check for Township holiday closure.
  • Bring proof of Monroe residency.
  • Do not use a commercial vehicle.
  • Call before bringing unusual appliances or damaged batteries.
  • Check the special paint schedule if you are not a Monroe resident.
  • Use the County program for tires and HHW.
  • Call 732-656-4575 whenever the exact item is unclear.
Independent information guide — not Monroe Township, Monroe Public Works, MCIA or Middlesex County. Facility hours, holidays, event times, accepted materials, battery rules, paint access, tire locations, yard-waste dates and special programs can change. Some current official pages also contain minor timing conflicts. Verify a special or long-distance trip directly with Monroe Township Public Works at 732-656-4575 or the responsible Middlesex County program.

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