MIDDLESEX RECYCLING FAQs

What if my collection day falls on a holiday?
If your collection day falls on any of these holidays — New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas — collection is rescheduled for the following Saturday. Check your municipal collection schedule for specific dates.

Recycling collection is not affected by municipal public works holidays, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Columbus Day, Election Day or Veterans Day. Collections will take place on those days.

What do the bright orange or bright green stickers on my recyclable items mean?
These are rejection stickers. The most common reasons for rejection are:
• Trash mixed in with recyclables
• Containers larger than 32 gallons
• Newspapers in the mixed-paper container
• Recyclables in plastic bags
• Corrugated cardboard not properly prepared
Only recyclables that are properly sorted and prepared will be collected.

What if my recyclables were not collected?
Your recyclables should be placed curbside the night before your scheduled pickup or by 6 a.m. on the day of the pickup. Collection times are subject to change, and all material must be ready for pickup by 6 a.m.

If your recyclables were out at the curb on time and were not collected, call us within 24 hours. If you delay calling, your recyclables may not be picked up until your next collection date.

Will bad weather affect my pickup?
Collections are rarely canceled due to weather conditions. However, if extremely severe weather conditions exist, please refer to our web site at www.mciauth.com, or call (800) 488-MCIA (6242) to find out if collections will take place as scheduled. For safety purposes, if snow or ice conditions exist and collections are made, please ensure your collection containers are visible and easily accessible.

On windy and rainy days, make sure the lid on the mixed-paper (rectangular) container is secure. In your commingled recyclables (round) container, place the heavier items, such as glass bottles and jars, on the top of the pile so that the aluminum cans and plastic bottles won’t blow away.

As a new resident, how do I obtain containers?
New residents should contact their municipal recycling coordinator to obtain free containers; additional containers can be purchased.