Trash & Recycling

Trash Recycling Collection Alerts

Holiday, Change & Closure Alerts:

  • RECYCLING COLLECTION: Collection is as regularly scheduled.
  • During regularly scheduled collection, recycling pickup occurs on the same day as your trash day.
  • Holiday Recycling Schedule: When collection falls on one of the holidays provided below, recycling will be collected the next day, and every collection during that week following the holiday moves to the next day.
    • New Year's Day
    • Memorial Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Labor Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas Day
  • Recycling Program Summary
  • The Recycling Advisory Committee is a team of dedicated volunteers that assists the city in finding ways to keep more materials out of the waste stream and to assist residents build more sustainable practices.
  • TRASH COLLECTION: Collection is as regularly scheduled.
    • Please clear a path for crews to access trash containers. If containers are not accessible, crews will not remove trash. 
    • During holidays, inclement weather and other emergencies, there may be a delay in pick-up time on your collection day. Please have your bagged trash out for collection the night prior when possible but no later than 6AM on the scheduled day of collection.
  • TRANSFER STATION: Operating on regular schedule.
  • DIAL-A-TRUCK: Collection is as regularly scheduled: Dial-A-Truck Schedule
  • CURBSIDE CHRISTMAS TREE PICKUP: Curbside Christmas tree collection begins on Monday, January 5, 2026, and continues through Friday, January 30, 2026. All ornaments, lights, and decorations must be removed, and trees should be removed from plastic bags. Residents should place garlands and wreaths in or next to trash cans; they will be picked up with trash collection. There are no specific pickup dates or times for Christmas trees. Please do not report a concern about tree pickup until after January 30, 2026.
  • LEAF COLLECTION: Fall 2025 collection has ended. Spring 2026 collection dates TBD.
    • Leaves should be placed at the curb in paper, biodegradable bags for pickup on residents' household trash collection day. Property owners should not rake or blow leaves into piles in the street. Do not include twigs, branches, or other yard debris in leaf bags. Please note, leaves are not picked up by the same trucks that collect trash; it is a separate truck that performs leaf collection.
    • Leaf collection is scheduled for curbside pickup on your household trash collection day. Learn more about the process on the Leaf Collection page.
    • Please note, leaves are not picked up by the same trucks that collect trash; it is a separate truck that performs leaf collection. More information is available at www.cityofsummit.org/leafcollection.
Transfer Station logo with compost (green), recycling (blue), and trash (black) logos.

Transfer Station

The municipal Transfer Station provides recycling, composting and solid waste disposal.

**The Transfer Station will be closed December 25 and January 1.

Hours: 

Tuesday - 7:30am - 3:45pm 

Wednesday - 7:30am - 3:45pm 

Thursday - 7:30am - 3:45pm

Friday - 7:30am - 3:45pm 

Saturday - 7:30am - 4:45pm

CLOSED: Sunday, Monday, and holidays


Visit the Transfer Station page to learn more.

Transfer Station Regulations

Cover page for Transfer Station FAQ form. cityofsummit.org/transferstation

Transfer Station FAQs

Page containing transfer station regulations. Cityofsummit.org/transferstation
Recycle coach app icon

Not sure where to recycle or dispose of something? Click here to check out the Recycle Coach app!

recycle right graphic

Check out this series of short videos featuring RAC members who share helpful recycling tips for Summit residents. Click here to watch now!

Black logo with person putting trash into a trash can, captioned "Trash"

Trash Collection

  • Trash is collected weekly on your regular trash day (PDF), including all holidays.  
  • Trash should NOT be brought to the curb on your collection day.  It should be left up your driveway with a clear path for collectors to gather it on your specific day. 
  • Bagged trash should be placed in your trash receptacle by or before 6am on the day of collection. 
  • The Garbage & Recycling Collection information sheet can assist in answering questions you may.  
  • Missed trash collections can be reported online for the fastest service using Report-A-Concern or by calling (908) 273-6404 during business hours.
  • Please clear a path for crews to access trash containers. If containers are not accessible, crews will not remove trash. 
  • During holidays, inclement weather and other emergencies, there may be a delay in pick-up time on your collection day. Please have your bagged trash out for collection the night prior when possible but no later than 6am on the scheduled day off collection.
Recycling logo with white arrows circulating with a green background

Residential Recycling

Residential curbside recycling collection falls on the same day as your trash collection. The Recycling Flyer (PDF) contains information regarding what can be recycled curbside and at the City of Summit Transfer Station (operated by the city). Please note:

  • Summit recycling is collected by an outside contractor on the same day as your trash collection day.
    • Your trash receptacles should remain in the side or rear of the property as usual.
  • When collection falls on a holiday, all collection days during that week following the holiday move to the next day: Holiday Recycling Schedule
  • Clean and dry recyclable items should be placed in covered, water-tight containers at the curb the night before collection or by 6AM the morning of collection in a water-tight container(s).
  • Recycling may be combined in the same water-tight container(s). Paper/cardboard and glass/plastic/metal can all be placed in the container together.
  • Recycling should NOT be placed in plastic bags due to the destructive effects they have on the material sorting equipment. Plastics bags are not accepted as recyclable material at this time nor should recycling materials be placed in plastic bags and left at the curb for collection.
  • Keep recycling containers at the curb or your designated collection area until all is collected.
  • Missed pick-ups should be accompanied by an affixed notice by the vendor as to why the materials were rejected. You should report a missed collection immediately:
    • Missed recycling collections can be reported online for the fastest service using Report-A-Concern or by calling (908) 273-6404 during business hours.
    • After reporting a missed pickup (phone or web), leave recycling in your pickup location. Missed collections take place the next day including Saturdays.
  • Check out the Recycling Advisory Committee's Recycle Right videos for some helpful tips about what not to include in your curbside recycling!

Click to download

2022 Recycling Flyer w. FAQ_1

Click to download

Recycling flyer second page 032323

Click below to watch now on our YouTube channel!recycle right graphic

The Recycling Advisory Committee shares some helpful recycling tips in this series of short videos. Click here to watch now.


Recycle Coach ~ Summit Recycling Directory: 

Recycling icon with white arrows circulating on a blue background

Business Recycling

For information on procedures for recycling by businesses, click the following link to view Business Recycling Flyer (PDF).

Click the image below to learn more:

Collection Info Sheet regarding how to recycle and utilize mixed paper

Click to enlarge

Compost flyer image

Food Composting at the Transfer Station

There is a new composting program at the Transfer Station. Residents with a disposal permit are now able to bring food scraps and other items to the Transfer Station. The new composting area is in a separate location adjacent to the current composting area for leaves, grass clippings, and garden trimmings on the lower level of the Transfer Station. Click here to view a list of accepted items.

Compost icon with green recycling arrow symbol

Curbside Leaf Collection

The city offers curbside leaf collection twice a year from residential properties during the spring and fall. Leaves are collected on trash day.  

Bulky Item Pickup Icon with blue sofa and gray text

Dial-A-Truck

Visit the Dial-A-Truck page to learn more about the city’s bulky item curbside pick-up program including acceptable items and schedule.

Summit Free Market Logo

Summit Free Market

The Summit Free Market is a student-run initiative that allows Summit residents to bring reusable, yard-sale quality items to share, and take whatever they may want or need at no charge. Since its inception in 2008, the Summit Free Market has served more than 5000 residents and has kept over 165 tons of reusable material from the waste stream. Visit the Summit Free Market webpage or on Facebook (with a Facebook account) for donation guidelines and more information.

Graphic of hazardous waste including gas, propane, and anti-freeze in cans

Union County Disposal Events

Union County hosts the following events:

Visit the Union County website to learn more and find upcoming dates and locations.

Click to download

Proper Paint Disposal Poster from the Department of Community Services