Know What Belongs at the Church Road Recycling Center
The Toms River Township Recycling Convenience Center at 1672 Church Road is a resident-only drop-off for approved household materials. It accepts electronics, metal, furniture, tires, certain paint, motor and cooking oil, rigid plastics, brush and other listed items, but it is not a contractor dump, commercial facility or unlimited household cleanout site.
Which route do you need?
Fast answer for Toms River Township residents
The Township Recycling Convenience Center is at 1672 Church Road, Toms River, NJ 08753. Current posted hours are Monday through Saturday from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The center is closed Sunday and on all holidays.
Bring proof of Toms River Township residency. Household-item drop-offs are generally limited to two visits/loads per month, vehicles may be no larger than a pickup truck, commercial vehicles are not allowed, and unusual or restricted material should be confirmed before unloading.
On this page
- Center overview
- Hours and contacts
- Residency and vehicle rules
- Monthly limits
- Accepted items
- Not accepted
- Curbside recycling
- Electronics
- Paint and chemicals
- Tires and appliances
- Motor and cooking oil
- Construction debris
- Ocean County HHW
- Brush, leaves and mulch
- Before-you-go checklist
- Map
- FAQs
- Official sources
Toms River Recycling Convenience Center Overview
The Church Road facility is operated as a Township resident convenience center, not as an open commercial transfer station. Residents can bring a wide range of approved household materials directly to the site when curbside collection is not the right route.
Accepted categories include electronics, metal appliances, furniture, certain batteries, tires, paint, cooking oil, motor oil, leaves, brush, rigid plastic items, doors, windows, clothing and some small quantities of masonry-type material.
Resident center does not mean unlimited disposal
The Township applies residency, vehicle-size, monthly-visit and construction-debris rules. Contractors, commercial vehicles and demolition loads are not permitted.
Toms River Recycling Center Hours and Contacts
| Service | Hours | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Recycling Convenience Center | Monday–Saturday 7:30 AM–3:00 PM Closed all holidays |
732-255-1000 ext. 8103 |
| Recycling Office | Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM |
732-255-1000 ext. 8140 & 8101 |
| Extra Recycling Pickup | Request before posted weekly deadline | 732-255-1000 ext. 8119 |
Holiday closure rule
The Recycling Convenience Center is posted as closed on all holidays. Township curbside collection schedules can also shift during holiday weeks, so check Public Works notices before making a holiday trip.
Verify current center hours and rules on the official Township page.
Proof of Residency and Vehicle Rules
The center is for Toms River Township residents. The Township currently lists a driver’s license, utility bill or tax bill as acceptable examples of proof of residency.
Vehicle requirements
- Vehicles can be no larger than a pickup truck.
- Rental pickup trucks are allowed if they do not exceed 8,000 pounds.
- Commercial vehicles are prohibited.
- Contractors are not permitted to use the resident center for contractor loads.
- Loads should be properly secured and tarped during transport.
Do not arrive in a commercial or oversized vehicle
Even if the material came from a Toms River residence, vehicle and contractor restrictions still apply. Call the center before using a rental or unusual vehicle.
Monthly Visit and Load Limits
The Township currently permits two visits or loads per month for household items. This limit helps control the volume of material entering the facility.
Residents dropping off brush or picking up mulch or wood chips may enter more frequently than the normal household-item limit.
Plan large cleanouts differently
If you are clearing an entire house, garage or renovation project, do not assume you can make repeated resident-center trips. Larger loads may require an approved landfill or licensed hauler.
Accepted Items at the Church Road Recycling Center
The Township identifies the following as accepted material categories. Because the published list can change, unusual items should still be confirmed before transport.
Household & Reuse
- Furniture
- Serviceable clothing
- Windows and doors
- Dismantled garage doors
- Rigid molded plastic items
Recycling & Electronics
- Computers
- Laptops and tablets
- Monitors
- Televisions
- Metal
- Rechargeable batteries
- Vehicle batteries
Yard & Special Items
- Brush and branches
- Leaves
- Cooking oil and grease
- Motor oil
- Approved paint
- Car and light-truck tires
- Small quantities of bricks/cinder blocks/cement
Items Not Accepted at Toms River Recycling Convenience Center
Several materials must be taken to Ocean County programs, an approved landfill or another specialized disposal route.
| Material | Official Route |
|---|---|
| Antifreeze | Ocean County Recycling Center. |
| Boats and trailers | Ocean County Landfill or appropriate scrap/junk facility. |
| Cars and car parts | Automotive scrap-metal dealer or junk yard. |
| Chlorine | Ocean County HHW program. |
| Dirt, sand and fill | Approved landfill or authorized processing facility. |
| Driveway sealer | Ocean County HHW program. |
| Fire extinguishers | Ocean County HHW program. |
| Fluorescent bulbs | Ocean County Recycling Center special-waste route. |
| Gasoline or kerosene | Ocean County HHW program. |
| Mercury items / thermostats | Ocean County HHW program. |
| Oil filters | Ocean County Recycling Center. |
| Asbestos shingles | Approved landfill route. |
| Stains and varnish | Ocean County HHW program. |
Toms River Curbside Recycling vs. Drop-Off Recycling
Toms River uses single-stream curbside recycling. The Township says residents can place accepted cans, glass containers, pourable plastic bottles, paper and corrugated cardboard together in the same recycling container.
Accepted curbside
- Aluminum, steel and tin food cans
- Green, brown and clear glass containers
- Pourable plastic drink and household-product bottles
- Newspapers
- Junk mail
- Magazines
- Mixed paper
- Brown paper bags
- Corrugated cardboard
Keep out of curbside
- Plastic film bags
- Auto glass
- Crystal and blue glass
- Ceramics and china
- Household batteries
- Medical supplies
- Plate and window glass
- Saran wrap
- Styrofoam cups, plates and trays
Township pages show one content inconsistency
The main Recycling Division page currently says cereal boxes can be placed in recycling, while the dedicated curbside page still lists cereal boxes under “What Not to Recycle.” For this specific item, follow the newest Ocean County single-stream guidance or confirm with the Township Recycling Office before relying on either page.
Check the Township’s current single-stream recycling guidance.
Electronics and TV Recycling
Toms River residents can bring accepted electronics directly to the Church Road Recycling Convenience Center year-round.
Examples listed by the Township
- Televisions
- Computer towers
- Laptops
- Tablets
- Computer monitors of all sizes and types
Bring identification showing Toms River Township residency. Before recycling personal devices, back up important data and erase stored personal information where practical.
For television-specific preparation, see the TV recycling guide.
Paint, Stains, Varnish and Household Chemicals
The Township currently accepts water-based, oil-based and marine paint at the Recycling Convenience Center.
Stains, varnishes and paint thinners are different. These belong in the Ocean County Household Hazardous Waste program rather than the normal Church Road paint drop-off.
Do not combine all liquid coatings into one category
Paint may be accepted at Church Road while stains, varnish, gasoline, kerosene, chlorine and several other chemicals are routed to Ocean County HHW.
Tires, Rims and Freon Appliances
Tires
The Township accepts car and light-truck tires at the Recycling Convenience Center. Tires must be off the rims and kept separate from the rims.
The current non-traditional-items page lists a limit of four tires per monthly visit.
Refrigerators, air conditioners and dehumidifiers
Metal appliances containing Freon must be certified as having had the refrigerant properly removed by a licensed technician before they are accepted at the Recycling Convenience Center or placed into the appropriate curbside appliance route.
Do not vent refrigerant yourself
Use a qualified technician and retain the certification needed for disposal. Call the Township if you are unsure what proof the facility wants to see.
Motor Oil, Cooking Oil and Grease
Motor oil
Used motor oil can be dropped at the Recycling Convenience Center year-round. The Township lists a maximum of 5 gallons.
Cooking oil and grease
Cooking grease and cooking oil from household food preparation are accepted at the Township Recycling Convenience Center and Ocean County recycling facilities.
The Township’s current guidance lists no fee and a maximum of 5 gallons per day for cooking oil/grease.
Do not mix automotive and cooking oils
Keep different oil streams separate and use secure containers. Oil filters are not accepted through the same Township route and are directed to the Ocean County Recycling Center.
Construction and Demolition Debris Limits
The Township permits a very limited resident C&D drop-off: no more than two 35-gallon containers of construction/demolition debris, two times per month.
The material must be inside containers so yard attendants can readily identify the quantity. If it is not containerized, it will not be accepted.
This is not a contractor or demolition service
The Township does not provide curbside C&D pickup. Larger quantities must go to an approved landfill such as the Ocean County Landfill, delivered by the resident, contractor or licensed trash-hauling company through the appropriate disposal route.
Do not interpret the small resident allowance as permission to bring a demolition load or construction trailer into the Church Road facility.
Ocean County Household Hazardous Waste Program
Toms River Township directs many hazardous household products to the Ocean County Household Hazardous Waste program. Registration is required for the County program.
The County program is for eligible Ocean County residential households; businesses and institutions are excluded. Proof of residency is required.
Examples routed to County HHW
- Aerosols
- Auto products
- Cleaning products
- Pool chemicals
- Fire extinguishers
- Gasoline
- Herbicides and pesticides
- Mercury-containing devices
- Paint thinners
- Polyurethanes and polishes
- Propane tanks
- Stains and varnishes
Remaining 2026 Ocean County HHW dates
The Toms River HHW event was held on September 12, 2026 and has already passed. As of September 30, the current County registration page still lists these later 2026 events:
| Date | Location | Address | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 10, 2026 | Brick | 836 Ridge Rd., Brick, NJ 08724 | 9 AM–3 PM |
| November 1, 2026 | Long Beach | 7910 Long Beach Blvd. South, Long Beach, NJ 08008 | 9 AM–3 PM |
Ocean County Solid Waste Management can be reached at 732-506-5047.
Check the live Ocean County HHW registration page before traveling.
Brush, Leaves, Mulch and Wood Chips
Residents can bring brush and branches to the Church Road Recycling Convenience Center throughout the year. Leaves are also accepted, but brush and leaves should be kept separate.
The Township currently offers free wood chips and leaf mulch for pickup. Leaf mulch delivery in quantities of 5 or 10 cubic yards can be arranged through Public Works.
Brush trips are treated differently from normal household-item limits
The Township states that residents dropping off brush or picking up mulch or wood chips may enter more frequently than the ordinary two household-item visits per month.
Before-You-Go Checklist
- Confirm the day and time. The center operates Monday–Saturday, 7:30 AM–3 PM, and is closed Sunday and all holidays.
- Bring proof of residency. A driver’s license, utility bill or tax bill are examples listed by the Township.
- Use the correct vehicle. Vehicles may be no larger than a pickup truck; rental pickups must stay within the Township’s weight rule.
- Secure and tarp the load. Do not transport loose material that can blow or fall onto the road.
- Respect the monthly limit. Normal household items are limited to two visits/loads per month.
- Separate tires from rims. Car and light-truck tires should be off-rim before arrival.
- Separate brush from leaves. Yard streams should not be mixed together.
- Do not mix hazardous chemicals. Gasoline, varnish, stains and similar products follow the Ocean County HHW route.
- Prepare electronics. Erase personal data from phones, tablets and computers before recycling where practical.
- Limit C&D debris correctly. No more than two 35-gallon containers, twice per month, and the material must be containerized.
- Call before unusual material. Lists can change without notice, especially for appliances, chemicals, construction debris and special waste.
Toms River Recycling Center Map and Directions
The map below points to the Township Recycling Convenience Center at 1672 Church Road.
Toms River Recycling Center FAQs
Where is the Toms River Recycling Center?
The Township Recycling Convenience Center is at 1672 Church Road, Toms River, NJ 08753.
What are Toms River Recycling Center hours?
The center is currently listed Monday through Saturday from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM and closed on all holidays.
Is the Toms River Recycling Center open Sunday?
No. The Township lists the Recycling Convenience Center as closed Sunday.
Do I need proof of residency?
Yes. The Township requires Toms River Township residency and lists a driver’s license, utility bill or tax bill as examples of acceptable proof.
How many times can I use the Recycling Convenience Center?
The Township currently limits normal household-item disposal to two visits or loads per month. Brush drop-off and mulch or wood-chip pickup are treated differently.
Can contractors use the Toms River Recycling Center?
No. The Township states that contractors and commercial vehicles are not permitted at the resident Recycling Convenience Center.
Does Toms River Recycling Center accept TVs and computers?
Yes. The Township lists TVs, computer towers, laptops, tablets and computer monitors among its accepted electronics.
Does the center accept tires?
Yes. Car and light-truck tires are accepted off the rim. The Township’s non-traditional-items page currently lists a limit of four tires per monthly visit.
Can I take paint to Church Road?
Yes. Water-based, oil-based and marine paint are listed as accepted. Stains, varnish and thinners are routed to Ocean County Household Hazardous Waste.
Can I bring construction debris?
Only a limited resident quantity is accepted: up to two 35-gallon containers, two times per month, and the material must be containerized. Larger construction or demolition loads must use an approved landfill or licensed hauler route.
Does the center accept cooking oil?
Yes. Cooking grease and cooking oil are accepted. The Township currently lists no fee and a maximum of five gallons per day.
Where do gasoline, pesticides and household chemicals go?
These materials should use the Ocean County Household Hazardous Waste program. Registration is required for the County program.
Where can I take fluorescent bulbs or oil filters?
The Township directs these materials to the Ocean County Recycling Center rather than the Church Road Convenience Center.
Can I bring brush and leaves?
Yes. Brush and branches are accepted year-round, and leaves are also accepted. Keep leaves separate from brush and branches.
Official Sources Checked
This guide was refreshed using current Toms River Township Public Works/Recycling information and Ocean County Solid Waste Management program information.
- Toms River Township — Recycling Convenience Center
- Toms River Township — Recycling Division
- Toms River Township — Curbside Recycling
- Toms River Township — Non-Traditional Recycling Items
- Toms River Township — Household Hazardous Waste & Shredding Program
- Toms River Township — Leaf & Brush Collection
- Ocean County — 2026 Household Hazardous Waste Program
- Ocean County — Solid Waste Management & Recycling Centers
Verification date: September 30, 2026.