Businesses and institutions in Middlesex County are required by law to recycle certain materials, such as:

• Aluminum and steel cans
• Glass bottles and jars
• Plastic bottles, jars, jugs, and tubs (1 gallon or less)
• Newspaper and mixed paper (magazines, office paper, junk mail, cereal boxes)
• Corrugated cardboard
• Leaves, brush, and Christmas trees (non-artificial)
• Motor oil
• Textiles
• Tires
• Masonry and paving materials (asphalt, block, brick, cinder, concrete)
• Computers, TVs, monitors, printers, fax machines
• White goods (washers, dryers, ranges, fridges, AC units)
• Rechargeable batteries (Nickel Cadmium [Ni-Cd], Nickel Metal Hydride [Ni-MH], Lithium Ion [Li-ion], and Small Sealed Lead [Pb])
• Fluorescent bulbs
• Plastic film (warehouses, retail establishments, and supermarkets with 25+ employees)
• Wood scrap (new construction sites only)
• Food waste (large generators only)

Common recyclable plastics include: water, soda, juice, and detergent bottles, mayonnaise jars, yogurt and margarine tubs, and milk jugs.

Some businesses are required to recycle food waste under New Jersey law.

You may be required, if:

• Your business falls into a qualifying category (restaurants, supermarkets, schools, hospitals, or similar institutions)
• You generate 52 tons or more of food waste per year
• You are within 25 road miles of an approved recycling facility
• Recycling doesn’t cost more than 10% above your current disposal costs (if costs exceed that threshold, your business may be exempt)

For help estimating your food waste, visit the Wasted Food Estimation Guide.

Middlesex County conducts inspections of businesses and multifamily properties to ensure compliance with recycling requirements.

Mixing recyclables with trash may result in violations or fines. The program is designed to support businesses through education while maintaining compliance.

For questions, contact the Environmental Health Division at 732-745-8480.

Frequently Asked Questions