Brush pickups are by appointment only. Branches may not exceed five inches in diameter individually. Residents must bundle and tie branches prior to collection. Brush bundles may not exceed four feet in length or 18 inches in height and must weigh no more than 40 pounds. Residents are limited to no more than eight bundles per curbside pickup.
Leaf Collection
Leaves are recycled in the paper bags seasonally in the fall each year. At all other times, leaves are just yard debris and are collected in plastic bags by appointment. Better yet, Rutgers has a great fact sheet about backyard leaf composting and that can be found by clicking the following link: https://njaes.rutgers.edu/FS074/
Brush
Brush/branches as defined in §258-2 may not exceed four inches in diameter individually. Residents must bundle tie branches prior to collection. Brush bundles may not exceed four feet in length or 18 inches in height and must weigh no more than 40 pounds. Residents are limited to no more than eight bundles per curbside pickup. Residents must call the Department of Public Works to schedule a collection appointment.
Tree trimmings and similar materials, commonly referred to as brush may be placed curbside in lengths not to exceed 4 feet and securely tied in bundles not more than 2 feet thick or 40 pounds in weight. Contractors working in a homeowner’s yard must bundle brush accordingly or otherwise dispose of it. Loose brush will NOT be picked up.
Brush is picked up curbside by appointment weekly on Thursdays. Please call 732-297-1134 by noon on Wednesdays to ensure you are on the list.
North Brunswick no longer collects grass clippings in paper recyclable bags or in open containers. North Brunswick promotes the “cut and leave”, or “Grasscycling” option for homeowners. Grasscycling is the natural way you can have a green, healthy lawn while spending less time and money! Sound too good to be true? Well, it isn’t! Grasscycling is not new. Many parks and golf courses have been practicing Grasscycling for years. A typical lawn of 5,000 square feet generates 75 pounds of clippings per mowing. Years of research have shown that by mowing frequently (5-6 times per month) and not bagging those clippings, lawn owners can save up to 40% of the time they spend on routine lawn care!
Why did North Brunswick discontinue collection of grass clippings in paper recyclable bags?
- The Township, just like all residents, needs to use its resources as economically as possible. Grass collection uses tremendous resources – labor, fuel, bags, recycling costs, etc.
- Less than 15% of Township and Middlesex County residents use this service.
- Collection cost of recycling grass clippings run about $100 per ton.
- “Grasscycling” programs save our residents time and effort, and is a process used successfully for many years in professional settings such as golf courses and parks.
- Grass clippings will not be collected as a bulk pick up.
Simple steps to Grasscycle
| Water and Fertilize Less!
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What about thatch?
Thatch is an accumulation of dead roots, stems and rhizomes. Clippings are 95% water and decompose too quickly to contribute to thatch.
At no time may grass clippings, brush or yard raking debris be placed loose or in piles at the curb, on sidewalks, gutters or streets where it may be dispersed by wind, forces of nature, passerby or traffic.
