Recycling Center Change Sparks Frustration In Brick

BRICK, NJ — A change in the hours at Brick Township's Recycling Center has frustrated residents and sparked rumors for more than a week.

On Tuesday night, Mayor Lisa Crate explained how the township came to the decision to reduce Saturday availability to one Saturday per month during the township council meeting.

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The change in the access at the facility at the township's Public Works property on Ridge Road took residents by surprise on July 11, when people went to drop off recyclables and brush and found it closed.

It also set off angry discussions on social media, and speculation about what the change indicated, including rumors of layoffs or possibly a referendum.

Crate said the decision to reduce Saturday access to once a month was the result of several weeks of discussions sparked by what she said was a need to cut the township's expenses because of the surge in gasoline prices and electrical costs, the same issues people are facing in their everyday lives.

All of the township's department heads were asked to cut their operating budgets for the remainder of 2026 by 10 percent, Crate said.

They also were asked to reduce their capital budgets for 2026, she said.

"We asked them, 'What is it that you don't have to have this year,' " Crate said.

The public works department reached the decision that the best approach was to reduce the Saturday availability, she said.

Part of that, Crate said, was because there are other options available to residents, including the Northern Ocean County Recycling Center at 535 South Oberlin Ave. in Lakewood, just off New Hampshire Avenue.

The Northern Ocean center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays except for holidays. It accepts brush, paint, motor oil, and a host of other items at no charge. The full list is in Ocean County's waste guide.

Crate said in addition to reducing the costs of staffing the center on weekends, having items taken to the county also reduces the township's tipping fees at the Ocean County Landfill.

Residents who spoke at Tuesday's meeting suggested the town try other options to continue to offer Saturday hours every week, such as juggling work schedules or closing on a weekday.

Crate said the contract for the public works employees defines their workweek as Monday through Friday, and does not make an allowance for shifting employees' work weeks. Saturdays are paid as overtime with a six-hour minimum, she said.

For the remainder of 2026, the township's recycling center will be open Mondays through Fridays as always, and the first Saturday of the month from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with those dates Aug. 1, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5.

Crate said the schedule will be revisited in 2027.

She also reminded residents that township ordinances limit residents to 12 visits to the recycling center per year, and 12 bulk pickups at their homes per year.

Crate, who said she had fielded several phone calls from residents about the change, also said the township will be keeping closer track of who is bringing items to the center, in response to complaints that nonresidents were dumping items at the recycling center.