Frequently Asked Questions

Electronic items are picked up by Public Works. Call HamStat Call Center at 609-586-0311 to arrange for a pick up of electronic items such as:

• Televisions
• Computer equipment
• Printers
• Monitors
• Scanners
• Speakers
• Fax machines

Or submit a citizen service request under "Electronic Pick Up".

Place item curbside by 7:30 am on the Monday following your request, and Public Works will pick it up during the week. These items may also be dropped off at the Ecological Facility. The Ecological Facility will have a drop-off box to collect old cell phones.

• E-cycle NJ
• Options for Large or Heavy Electronic Items 
• MCIA’s 2026 Hazardous Waste and Shredding Events 

Freon

Refrigerators, Air Conditioners, and Freezers are picked up curbside by Public Works. All doors must be removed.

To arrange for a pickup, submit a citizen service request (select "Freon/Metal Pick Up") or call HamStat at 609-586-0311 and you will be placed on a list for pickup. Pick-up will occur the week following your request. Place the item curbside by 7:30 am on the Monday following your request, and Public Works will pick it up one day during that week. Items may also be dropped off at the Ecological Facility.

If your refrigerator or freezer is in working condition and greater than 10 cubic feet in size, visit the New Jersey Refrigerator / Freezer Recycling Program where you can receive $50 for your refrigerator or freezer.

All of the oil and gas must be drained from the riding lawn mower. Once drained, contact the HamStat Call Center at 609-586-0311 to arrange for a curbside metal (white goods) pick up by Public Works.

Metal items such as:

• Hot water heaters 
• Stoves
• Washers
• Dryers
• Cast iron bathtubs
• Sinks
• Dishwashers
• Microwave ovens
• Lawnmowers
• Grills

are picked up curbside by Public Works.

To arrange for a pickup, submit a citizen service request (select "Freon/Metal Pick Up) or call HamStat at 609-586-0311 and you will be placed on a list for pickup. Pick-up will occur the week following your request for a pickup. Place the item curbside by 7:30 am on the Monday following your request, and Public Works will pick it up one day during that week. Items may also be dropped off at the Ecological Facility.

X-rays can be dropped off at the facility where they were taken or can be dropped off at the radiology department at RWJ at Hamilton; call 609-584-6611 for the file room at RWJ).

Throw away small (18 inches or less) cylinder fire extinguishers, which must be empty, in your household trash. To empty, put the extinguisher in two heavy-duty plastic bags, such as contractor bags. Then, fold over the top of the bags to seal them and step on the seal with your foot to be sure it stays closed. Grab the lever through the bag with your hand and squeeze slowly to let out all the contents. Then tie the bags tightly and throw it out in your trash.

Dispose of aerosol extinguishers in the household trash. Aerosol extinguishers differ from traditional cylinder fire extinguishers - the fire suppressant is in an aerosol can, much like hair spray and spray paint.

Kerosene can be taken to Mercer County Improvement Authority's (MCIA) Chemical and Electronics Waste Disposal Day. Events will be held at the Dempster Fire School located at 350 Lawrence Station Road on:

• March 21, 2026
• June 13, 2026
• Sept. 26, 2026

Events are from 8 am to 2 pm. MCIA’s 2026 Hazardous Waste and Shredding Events

There are strict COVID-19 protocol residents must follow:

• Limit of one person per vehicle
• All residents must remain in vehicle at all times with their windows closed
• Disposal items must be placed in the trunk or back of vehicle cannot be in passenger seat
• Containers will not be returned

Every year in January, Public Works collects Christmas trees.  Hamilton residents place their Christmas Trees  curbside and Public Works will pick-up and dispose of the trees. Flocked trees are accepted.  This is for the month of January.

As part of the service, residents are asked the following:

• Remove all decorations, ornaments, tinsel, wires, nails, etc.
• Do not place trees in plastic bags
• Allow up to 2 weeks for pick up

Hamilton residents can also dispose of Christmas trees at the Township's Ecological Facility, which is located on Kuser Road, on weekdays between the hours of 8 am and 3:30 pm and on Saturdays between the hours of 8 am and 3:30 pm. The Township Ecological Facility offers this drop-off service free-of-charge to Hamilton residents; however, any commercial vehicles that drop off Christmas trees will be charged a fee.

For questions regarding Christmas tree collection, residents can call HamStat at 609-586-0311 between the hours of 8 am to 4 pm.

A couch may be placed out for bulk collection on the 2nd scheduled trash day of the week for bulk pick up. (Maximum of 3 bulk items on the 2nd trash day.)

Dehumidifiers can either be dropped off at the Ecological Facility or can be scheduled for a curbside metal/white goods pick up for Public Works.

Fences would be considered a bulk item.  All concrete must be removed.

For Wood Fences/Vinyl/Chain Link: Cut into 4 feet in length, bundled and tied, weighing less then 50 pounds, nails must be removed or bent. Maximum of 3 bundles each 2nd trash day. Work done by contractors will not be taken.

The hot tub must be cut down into 4 foot lengths weighing no more than 50 pounds. This is considered a bulk pick up item and must be placed curbside on your second garbage collection day (Thursday, Friday or Saturday).

For disposal of large quantity of cooking grease, contact a cooking grease recycler. Companies that provide this service are:

• Valley Proteins Inc.: 540-877-2590
• Restaurant Technologies Inc.: 610-494-7827
• Darling International: 800-842-5927

A mattress and a box spring may go out on the 2nd regular garbage day of the week for bulk pick up (maximum of 3 bulk items on the 2nd day).

• Wood products (doors, paneling, plywood, pressboard, pallets) are considered a bulk item (maximum of 3 bulk items on 2nd garbage day of week)
• Cut into 4 feet lengths, bundled and tied, weighing less than 50 pounds
• Nails and screws must be removed
• Work by contractors will not be taken

Pianos must be taken apart and broken down under 50 pounds. 3 pieces of the piano may be placed out on the 2nd regular trash day of the week (3 bulk items is the maximum).

Satellite dishes can be put out on 2nd garbage day of the week as bulk item.

A toilet goes out on the 2nd trash day of the week for bulk collection. No bags or box. Maximum of 3 bulk items on the 2nd trash day.

The mailbox is located in Veteran's Park in front of the Public Works Maintenance Building. The building is situated near the Kuser Road entrance to the park.

Once a year the Mercer County Division of Veteran Services partners with local veterans from American Legion Post 31 and the Hamilton Township Patriotic Committee to hold the "flag retirement" ceremony. The official decommissioning ceremony is usually held in June.

American flags that are tattered, soiled or otherwise "unfit for display" will be burned in a dignified manor in a pit in the ground during the ceremony.

If resident is doing the work themselves, they must first contact Jonathan Holmes at MCIA by calling 609-278-8083. There are many regulations that the resident must conform to and Jonathan will go over all of them with the resident.

If no one answers the phone at the provided number, leave a message and Jonathan will return the call.

• Household batteries may be placed in your normal trash due to the fact that mercury levels have been significantly reduced and fall with Department of Environmental Protection standards.
• Rechargeable batteries can be dropped off at one of the Rechargeable Battery Drop Off Locations.
• Car batteries/Automobile batteries can be dropped off at the Ecological Center or at MCIA's Household Hazardous Waste and Used Electronics Collection Event held on March 21, June 13, and Sept. 26 at the   John T. Dempster Fire School from 8AM-2PM.

For more information on how to dispose of or recycle batteries go to the Call2Recycle website.

Must contact disposal company of your choice to make an arrangement. Blacktop is no longer accepted at curbside or the Ecological Facility.

Car batteries can be taken to the Ecological Facility.

They can also be taken to MCIA's Household Chemical and Electronics Waste Disposal Day (PNG) held at Dempster Fire School.

Concrete is not accepted at the Ecological Facility or curbside for garbage. For concrete disposal, contact an independent waste disposal contractor of your choice that will accept this item. 

Grass clippings can be placed curbside on your regular trash day in bags or containers. (Not in cardboard boxes.) Bags and containers can weigh no more than 50 pounds. Containers must have handles.

Central Jersey Waste will take as many bags as they can on the first scheduled collection day. As long as additional bags are not added, they will pick up the rest on your second regularly scheduled collection day.

Grass Clippings may also be dropped off at the Ecological Facility.

Hay may not be dropped off at the Ecological Facility. It must be placed in bags or containers, not to weigh more than 50 pounds and placed out on your regularly scheduled garbage collection day.

MCIA has advised this is considered non-toxic and can go in regular household garbage.

• Fluorescent and CFL bulbs can be taken to MCIA's 2026 Household Hazardous Waste Day and Event)
  • Events are from 8 am to 2 pm, March 21, June 13, and Sept, 26
• Incandescent and LED light bulbs can be put in regular household garbage

Nails can be taken to the Ecological Facility where they can be thrown in the metal dumpster.

• Latex paint is not a hazardous waste and therefore can be included with household garbage, however not in liquid form. Remove lids and fill cans with absorbent material such as sand or kitty litter and completely dry out. Containers of dried latex paint (without lids) can be placed curbside or in tightly sealed plastic bags on your 2nd trash day of the week.
• Oil or lead based paint must be taken to MCIA's Household Chemical and Electronics Waste Disposal Day.  Events will be held at the Dempster Fire School located at 350 Lawrence Station Road, March 21, June 13, and Sept. 26. Events are from 8 am to 2 pm.

For a list of additional materials that are accepted, view MCIA’s 2026 Hazardous Waste and Shredding Events

Goodwill Home Medical Equipment collects, sanitizes, refurbishes and sells gently used, durable medical equipment and unopened medical supplies at affordable prices

For a list of items with directions on the correct way to get rid of them view our  Guide (PDF).

Guidelines for Proper Disposal

Project Medicine Drop accepts solid pharmaceuticals such as pills, capsules, patches, inhalers and pet medications seven days a week, 365 days a year. The boxes are located within the headquarters of participating police departments and are highly visible with the "Project Medicine Drop" logo. Syringes or liquids are not accepted. A drop box is located at the Hamilton Police Station. Visit the Project Medicine Drop Locator and scroll down to Mercer County to find additional locations.

If a drug take back or collection program is not available follow these steps to properly dispose of your prescription drugs:

1. Keep medicine in original container. Mark out personal information on prescription bottles by covering it with black permanent marker or duct tape, or by scratching it off.
2. Mix liquid medicine with an undesirable substance, such as cat litter, dirt or used coffee grinds. Dilute pills with water, then add coffee grinds, cat litter or dirt.
3. Place bottles in an opaque container, like a yogurt container or an empty margarine tub. Secure lid or wrap in a dark colored plastic bag.
4. Hide the container in the trash. Do not recycle.

This applies to Home Generated Medical Waste only.

How to dispose of sharps:

Sharps can be disposed of in containers made specifically to hold sharps, these may be provided by a healthcare professional or purchased at a pharmacy or online.  If you do not have a container made specifically for sharps, a bottle with strong plastic, laundry detergent bottle or bleach bottle, may be used.  Some Hospitals (please see below) participate in Safe Syringe Disposals programs, where sharps in the proper container can be dropped off and disposed. Sharps can also be discarded in household trash when they are properly contained in the correct bottles.  Please see all instructions and hospital locations below: 

Household Waste

• Rigid Container - use rigid containers with strong plastic and screw on caps - such as laundry detergent or bleach bottles.  Do not use soda bottles, glass bottles or other containers where the cap can come off easily.   
• Avoid - Avoid removing, bending, breaking or recapping needles used by others tp prevent needle sticks.
• Fill - Fill the container no more that 3/4 full, do not overfill.  Close the cap each time a sharp is put into the container.   
• Seal - Seal the container and wrap duct or electrical tape around the cap area.
• Label - Label the bottle with a warning in permanent marker, such as "CAUTION - SYRINGES/NEEDLES, NO NOT RECYCLE" 
• Disposal - When you are ready to throw away the container put it in the trash, DO NOT RECYCLE.

Safe Syringe Disposal Locations: 

• Capital Health System (Hopewell) - 1 Capital Way, Pennginton, NJ 08534 (1-800-637-2374)
• Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center - 1 Plansboro Road, Plansboro NJ, 08536 - (866-460-4776)
• Hyacinth Foundation - 849 W. State Street, Trenton, NJ 08618

Places to donate eye glasses:

• Mercer County Hopewell Valley Lions Club
• Pennington Quality Market, Route 31, Pennington
• NJ Mercer County Library, Hopewell Township Branch,  Hopewell
• NJ Stoney Brook School
• Brandon Farm, Hopewell Township 
• NJ Pennington Presbyterian Church, Main Street Pennington Contact: Nancy Mason by email at: Masonnj@msn.com 
• West Windsor Lions Club 
• West Windsor Library (Lobby)., 333 North Post Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550.  Contact Jim Hynes at 609-731-5099 or Frank Schoemann at 609-529-8890

To get rid of a plastic car bumper, you would need to find a vendor of your choice to dispose of this item.  It is not accepted under our Township Ordinance into the waste stream.