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The responsibilities of the Department of Public Works include maintaining municipal roadways and drainage systems, the issuance of road opening permits, snow removal, garbage collection, brush and yard waste collection, maintaining the township's recreational facilities and the care of the municipal buildings.

Brush & Yard Waste

Township administrative code outlining collections guidelines. Collected once a month according to the Zone Collection Map

Zone 1 - Collection the week containing the first Monday of the month

Zone 2 - Collection the week containing the second Monday of the month

Zone 3 - Collection the week containing the third Monday of the month

Zone 4 - Collection the week containing the fourth Monday of the month

Materials may not be put out prior to the Saturday proceeding the week scheduled for collection. Plants, bushes, twigs and branches (not longer than five feet in length) may be put out unseparated adjacent to the street (not in bags). Leaves must be separated from all other plant material and should be placed adjacent to the street, loose (not in bags).

Compost & Wood Chips

Compost and double ground wood chips are available free of charge to all Lawrence Township residents and are available at the Township Ecological Facility, located at 3701 Princeton Pike, just south of Fackler Road. The compost site is open for Saturday hours on April 5, 2008. Hours of operation are:

• 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
• 7:30 a. m. 2:30 p.m., Saturdays
• Closed Township Holidays and Sundays

Residents should bring their own containers or light trucks for material. Residents also may dispose of leaves and brush during the above hours. Absolutely no commercial vehicles are permitted!

Recycling

Recycling is a service provided by the County through the Mercer County Improvement Authority. For a guide to recyclables, contact the MCIA at 609-278-8086. Recycling is picked up every other Monday. If Monday falls on a holiday, the pickup is the following Sunday. If recycling is missed or additional yellow and green cans are needed, please call the Publics Works Department at 609-844-7137. MCIA recycling schedule and items to recycle.

Garbage Collection

Daily Collection Schedule

By contract, collection begins at 7:00 a.m. Please be sure to place carts or bulk waste at the curb by that time. Pick-up days vary across the township depending on your street address.

Street Listing showing Garbage Collection Day (pdf)

Some streets have private a private service arranged by the responsible housing association. The Township is not responsible for scheduling private services of these associations.

Holiday Collection

Trash Holidays: New Years day, Memorial day, July 4th, Labor day, Thanksgiving & Christmas

When a holiday falls on Monday or Tuesday, collection normally scheduled for that weekday will be the Saturday before the holiday. When a holiday falls on Wednesday, Thursday (Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day) or Friday, collection will be on the Saturday following the holiday.

Bulk Waste Pick-Up

Bulk waste will be picked up on your regular collection day. Bulk waste consists of items to be discarded which are too large to fit into your new cart. The exceptions are "white goods" such as washers, dryers and refrigerators and bulky material too large to fit in the "hopper" of any vehicle used for collection.

The Cart

The Township purchased and distributed the new carts that are specially constructed to be used in an automated or semi-automated collection system. The cart is designed for ease of handling, is durable and has a lid which keeps odors in and moisture out. It is the only container which can be used with the new system. Each cart has a serial number that corresponds to your address. The cart is the property of the Township and remains behind for the new resident should you move from your current location.

Unless you requested something smaller, you received a 95 gallon cart. The capacity of the 95 gallon cart is more than three times greater than the standard residential cart. If you determine that you need more capacity, additional carts may be leased for a one-time fee based on cart size.

There is a weight limit for each cart size. The 35 gallon cart can accommodate 100 pounds of waste. The 65 gallon cart will accommodate 200 pounds of waste. The 95 gallon cart will accommodate 300 pounds of waste. A cart filled with standard household waste will not exceed these limits.

Grass Pickup

The Mercer County Improvement Authority no longer collects grass clippings. The Township encourages composting. However, if you choose to throw out your grass clippings, it must be placed in your garbage cart on the regular garbage pickup day.

Clippings may not be disposed of in plastic bags left at the edge of the road or in containers other than the Township carts!

Hazardous Waste

Herbicides, pesticides, pool chemicals, used gasoline and other hazardous materials may be disposed of by calling the Mercer County Improvement Authority at 609-278-8086.

Snow Removal

Township ordinance requires that owners, occupants and tenants of property which abut a sidewalk are responsible for removing snow or ice from the sidewalk. A path must be cleared to a width of 24 inches and must be cleared within 24 hours from the time that the snow event ended or the ice formed.