Services: Recycling & Garbage
Recycling Information
Residents are required to recycle and we absolutely encourage every family to recognize the importance of this civic responsibility. Not only does recycling benefit our environment, but it also impacts favorably on the township budget and your taxes. We make it easy for residents with our centrally-located recycling center and bimonthly curbside collection of recyclables.
If you have any recycling questions or concerns, please call the Randolph Township Department of Health at 973.989.7050.
Recycling Center
The recycling center accepts materials from Randolph residents only. Residency stickers are required for all vehicles entering the center. These stickers are free and good for as long as you own your vehicle. Residents can obtain separate permits for each vehicle. Stickers are issued at the recycling center (stop by the office) or at the Randolph Township Division of Engineering at town hall. Bring proof of residency (i.e., vehicle registration) when you come.
Hours: (closed on holidays and during inclement weather)
Monday & Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Located at the intersection of Morris & Sussex turnpikes.
Telephone: 973.989.7050
Curbside Single Stream Recycling
Curbside collection of recyclables is provided every other week to all town streets with the exception of garden apartments. See our collection routes page to determine your route number and collection day. All recycling should be placed curbside by 6:00 a.m. to ensure pickup.
Gone are the days of separating recyclables. As of January 1, 2015, all of the following items may be placed together in one recycling container:
- household plastic containers
- aluminum and metal cans
- glass bottles and jars
- newspapers, magazines, catalogs, paperback books, phone books
- cardboard (corrugated/chip board)
- mixed office paper
The container you use for recycling must have handles and size/weight limitations apply—35 gallon volume and 50 lbs. Ideally, to avoid confusion with garbage containers, single stream recycling containers should be labeled “recyclables only.” Decals may also be obtained from the health department.
Recycling Guidelines
Accepted Materials
The following materials are accepted at the recycling center. Asterisks (*) indicate the items which are also eligible for curbside collection.
For items eligible for curbside collection, please note packaging requirements and/or restrictions before leaving materials out for pickup.
Click on a heading to reveal the full details about an item.
- Paper*
- Includes newspapers and inserts, magazines, catalogs, paperback books, phone books, ads, postcards, junk mail, envelopes, office paper, greeting cards, wrapping paper, paper bags, cardboard/corrugated paper materials, cereal boxes, gift boxes, scrap paper, paper cups, paper towel cores, toilet tissue rolls. Flatten all corrugated cardboard. Do not tie, bind or bundle paper—just put all loose paper into the same recycling container with all of the other material.
- Plastic*
- Includes household plastic containers numbered 1, 2 and 5, juice boxes and other wax coated beverage cartons. For plastic bottles/containers, remove caps or lids and rinse clean. The smallest acceptable plastic container is an 8-ounce yogurt cup; do not recycle small plastic caps or pill bottles.
Accepted at the recycling center but not eligible for curbside collection are rigid plastics like children’s large plastic toys, spackle/5-gallon buckets with handles removed, laundry baskets, soda and milk crates, plastic pet carriers, kitty litter buckets, plastic storage containers, plastic shelving, outdoor furniture, empty and dry plastic paint cans, and plastic garbage and recycling containers.
Plastics coded #3, #4, #6 & #7 are not accepted, nor are plastic bags or containers that previously held petrochemicals or hazardous materials. - Metal*
- Includes aluminum and steel/tin cans, aluminum foil, foil trays, foil juice pouches, pie plates, rinse clean.
Accepted at the recycling center but not eligible for curbside collection is scrap metal like lawn chair frames, filing cabinets, tools, window frames, metal railings, nails and some small appliances. Strip all non-metal materials. Consult with recycling center attendants before leaving any scrap material. - Glass*
- Includes glass bottles and jars. Remove caps/lids, empty and rinse all containers. No drinking glasses, ceramic dinnerware, crystal, light bulbs, plate, window glass, mirrors or lab (test tubes) glass.
- Tires*
- Automobile, truck and bike tires. Remove steel rims. Limit 4 per resident if bringing to the recycling center. Curbside collection is limit 1 per pickup; call the health department at 973.989.7050 for pickup.
- White Goods*
- Large household appliances (stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers etc.). No special handling required. Curbside collection is available year-round by advance arrangement. To have one or more of these items removed, all you need to do is call the health department at 973.989.7050. There is a fee of $30.00 per item.
- Batteries
- Rechargeable batteries must be recycled. Drop-off boxes are located at the recycling center and health department. Lead-acid car and motorcycle batteries will be accepted at the recycling center.
Button batteries still contain hazardous elements such as mercury and should be disposed of at a household hazardous waste event; they will not be accepted at the recycling center.
Alkaline batteries such as AAA, AA, C, D and 9-volt batteries now fall below federal and state hazardous waste standards and should be thrown out with your household trash. - Branches
- Basic yard debris. Maximum acceptable branch size is 4 feet long by 4 inches in diameter. Branches that meet specified size requirements are accepted at the recycling center year-round. Please, no stumps.
- Clothing, Toys & Household Goods
- Non-profit drop-boxes are next to the attendant’s office. If the boxes are full, please notify the attendant. Do not leave food donations in these boxes.
- Electronic Waste
- A drop-off receptacle for the disposal of home electronics is available at the recycling center. Accepted electronics include the following: televisions, computers, monitors, laptops, computer peripherals such as keyboards and mice, fax machines, VCRs and radios. Absolutely no curbside collection.
- Fluorescent Lights
- Unbroken lights only. See recycling attendant for proper disposal.
- Grass Clippings
- Grass clippings may be dropped off at the recycling center on weekends only. No other lawn debris. Put in containers (bags, garbage cans). Must bring to recycling center; no curbside collection.
- Mercury Thermometers
- Glass thermometers containing mercury may be disposed of at the health department which has a receptacle for the collection of this common household item. The Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (MCMUA) will retrieve them when necessary at no cost to the township.
Prohibited Materials
The majority of prohibited materials not accepted at the recycling center may be brought to the Mt. Olive Transfer Station on Gold Mine Road. You will need to call and make a drop-off appointment with them. If generated in Morris County, this material is required to go to the MCMUA transfer station if it is being disposed of. Hazardous and non-hazardous waste, regulations, special handling and fees are explained in detail on the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (MCMUA) website. If you have questions about household hazardous waste disposal, call the MCMUA at 973.829.8006. Note: there is a small fee to drop off some materials and payment is required by check, not cash or credit card. In addition, the MCMUA holds a number of household hazardous waste events during the year. Check its website for dates, times and places.
Ineligible Materials
Ineligible materials are simply those that are not recycled and are safe to include with regular household trash. Please note, however, that the following types of containers must be completely empty before being disposed of: motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, kerosene and latex paint.