Public Works


DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
DPW Office and Recycling Yard
265 Hall Street
Dunellen, NJ 08812
(732) 968-5455
 
Alex Miller, DPW Superintendent | amiller@dunellenborough.com

Hours 

  • Monday-Friday 7 AM-2 PM
  • Saturday 8 AM-2 PM
DPW Calendar
Tree Limb Disposal | Curbside collection service in March, April and September.
Leaf Disposal | Curbside collection service in Spring (April and May) and Fall (October, November and December). Leaves must be bagged.
Grass and Yard Waste Disposal | Bring to DPW Yard and place in the grass labeled dumpster.
Paint Disposal | Bring to DPW Yard on the second Saturday of each month from 8 AM-12 PM.
Household Rubbish Disposal | Bring to DPW Yard during your street's assigned date in September or October.
Christmas Tree Disposal | Curbside collection service of unadorned trees occurs from the end of December through the end of January.
Street Sweeping Service | Occurs April through September.
 
 
 
Waste Diversion Services

Appliances/White Goods
Call the DPW Office at (732) 968-5455 to schedule a curbside collection for your discarded appliances, including washers, dryers, ranges, refrigerators and air conditioners and metal goods. Collections are scheduled for the third Wednesday of the month.

Branches and Tree Limbs
Curbside collection of branches and tree limbs occurs in March, April and September. Make sure to stack branches and tree limbs in bundles; limbs shall be no more than 6 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length. Residents may also bring branches and tree limbs to the DPW Recycling Yard year round.

Leaf Clean Up
Curbside collection of leaf bags occurs in Spring (April and May) and Fall (October, November and December). Residents may also bring bagged leaves to the DPW Recycling Yard year round. Place your leaves in paper leaf bags; plastic bags, including big orange pumpkin bags, are NOT permitted. DPW distributes one free bundle of leaf bags, while supplies last, to householders. Pick yours up from 10/02-12/30/23 on Monday through Saturday from 8 AM-2 PM at the DPW Yard.

Grass Clippings and Yard Waste
There is no curbside collection of grass clippings and yard waste. To discard, please bring them to the DPW Recycling Yard. Residents can dispose of grass clippings loose or in paper bags in the GRASS labeled dumpster. Consider "grasscycling" for a healthier lawn. Leave short grass clippings on the lawn rather than bagging them; the clippings help the lawn conserve moisture and act as a natural fertilizer. This practice is recommended by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension (rce.rutgers.edu).

Paints
Residents may dispose of paint at the DPW Recycling Yard on the second Saturday of each month from 8 AM-12 PM. Acceptable items are latex based paints, oil based paints, stains, varnishes, lacquers, thinners and spray paints (aerosols). Items must be labeled. Paint removers are not accepted.

Hazardous Waste
Call the Middlesex County Division of Solid Waste Management at (732) 745-4170 for disposal dates and locations or click here.

Christmas Trees
From the end of December through the month of January, the DPW picks up bare, unadorned Christmas trees curbside. Trees in plastic bags will not be picked up.

Street Sweeping Services | April through September
DPW operates the street sweeper between April and September. If a sweep falls on a holiday, the sweep will be rescheduled for the following day. Please keep your vehicles off the street on the day of your street's sweep:
• First Monday of the month: NORTHEAST SECTION
Streets north of North Avenue (Rte 28) and east of Lincoln Avenue
• Second Monday of the month: SOUTHWEST SECTION
Streets south of North Avenue (Rte 28) and west of New Market Road (not including New Market Road)
• Third Monday of the month: SOUTHEAST SECTION
Streets south of North Avenue (Rte 28) and east of New Market Road; the Borough does not provide this service to the streets in Dunellen Station
• Fourth Monday of the month: NORTHWEST SECTION
Streets north of North Avenue (Rte 28) and west of Lincoln Avenue (not including Lincoln Avenue)

2023 DPW Street Sweep_1000pixels wide (1)



Free Annual Household Rubbish Disposal Service in September and October every year. Check back for 2024 schedule soon!
“Roll Off” Guidelines
• Drop off household rubbish at the DPW Recycling Yard on your street’s assigned day in September or October 
• Event is for Dunellen residents only. Identification is required.
• Commercial contractors are NOT permitted.
• Rubbish disposal is limited to:
• Two carloads/minivans/small pick-up trucks; OR
• One van/full sized pick-up truck load.
• Adjustments are made for bulky items. No trailers permitted.
• Accepted materials are general household rubbish, furniture and scrap metal.
• Excluded materials are household garbage, asbestos, fuel tanks, heavy household construction debris, concrete, asphalt, hazardous waste (chemicals, insecticides, etc.), tires and auto batteries.
Assistance for Senior Citizens & Disabled Community Members
To schedule assistance, Dunellen’s senior citizens and disabled community members who do not have the means to bring material to the disposal site should call the DPW Office at (732) 968-5455 ONE WEEK AHEAD OF THE SCHEDULED DROP OFF DATE. Pick up will be on the Friday before your street’s scheduled disposal.



Snow Emergencies: Parking Restrictions and Options
For snowplows to operate freely and unimpeded, during the period of time commencing one hour after snow has been continuously falling and ending 12 hours after snow ceases to fall, no person shall park, stop, stand or leave abandoned vehicle on a street within the Borough of Dunellen. Alternate off-street parking during snow emergencies is available at the:

  • American Legion Post 119 at 137 New Market Road;
  • McCoy Park at 246 Fourth Street; and
  • Columbia Park at 200 Orange Street.

Reduce

If you wish to discontinue the delivery of STAR-LEDGER EXTRA advertising material to your Dunellen home, contact the advertising agency CBA Industries and ask to be removed from their delivery list: email basantos@cbaol.com or call (800) 376-6222
 
Sewer Backup Issue
If you are experiencing a sewer back up into your home, please contact Police Dispatch at (732) 968-3000.
 
Recycling
How to Purchase A New Recycling Container
Dunellen residents can purchase a new recycling container at the Municipal Clerk’s Office at Borough Hall, 355 North Avenue; office entrance is on Prospect Avenue. Containers are $15 each; cash, check or money order payable to “Borough of Dunellen” is accepted. Then take your receipt of payment to the DPW Recycling Yard to pick up your new recycling container
 
New Residents Receive Free Recycling Container
New residents can get up to 2 free recycling containers by showing the Municipal Clerk their certificate of occupancy, which must have been issued within the past 6 months. If you purchased a townhome in Dunellen Stations, please bring your certificate of occupancy to the Clerk's Office to get a recycling container.  
 
Use the Recycle Coach App 
Want automatic reminders about curbside recycling pickup? Download the Recycle Coach app (search “Recycle Coach” in your app store) to get Middlesex County’s recycling collection schedule, pick up reminders and recycling tips. If your recycling was not picked up you can use the app to notify the County. Download this app to personalize your own recycling calendar and use the What Goes Where?  Search tool to better sort your recyclables. Available in the App Store or Google Play. For more information, click here. 
 

Recycling Pick-Up Issues
To determine the cause of a service interruption, please note whether:
  * It is your day or week and/or your recycling was put out by the curb no later than 6AM
  * Your entire street’s recycling has been affected
  * A container no larger than 32 gallon has been used
  * Any unapproved items are mixed in with your recycling
  * Your recycling was placed in plastic bags, which are not permitted

If you still have a concern, comment or question regarding your recycling pick-up, please send an email to mciarecycling@mciauth.comWrite your name, address and telephone number in the body of the message so that a representative may contact you at their earliest availability. 

Middlesex County Improvement Authority Recycling Complaint Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScCfIXdNMuKEoqoaVX1QH0EUlAcel-iXbIyVRrDbHGak-B9tg/viewform

2024 MCIA Recycling Schedule Jpeg