Hoboken Installs New Smart Waste And Recycling System In Business District

Hoboken has announced the rollout of a cleanliness and sustainability upgrade featuring the installation of new Bigbelly smart waste and recycling bins along Washington Street and the city’s southern waterfront, in partnership with the Hoboken Business Alliance and South Waterfront Corporation.

The initiative includes the replacement of over 50 receptacle stations with the installation of more than 120 new bins citywide, most of which are capable of holding up to 150 gallons of trash  or recyclable materials. The deployment, which was completed last week, represents one of the most significant upgrades to Hoboken’s public waste infrastructure in recent years.

As part of this expansion, the City is also introducing its first-ever dedicated, compacting “Pizza Boxes Only” bins at select high-traffic locations, including Newark Street and Washington Street, First Street and Hudson Street, and First Street and Willow Avenue. Recyclable materials should not be discarded in these bins.  “The installation of these updated Bigbelly bins represents a step forward in keeping Hoboken’s streets, business corridors, and waterfront clean and welcoming,” said Mayor Emily Jabbour.  “By investing in smart infrastructure and expanding recycling access, we are making it easier for residents and visitors to do the right thing – and improve City operations and reduce landfill waste.”

The majority of new Bigbelly systems are equipped with solar-powered compactors that automatically compress waste, significantly increasing capacity between collections. Each unit also includes real-time fullness indicators, allowing the Division of Public Works to improve efficiencies along collection routes and reduce the likelihood of trash overflow.

Expanded access to bins and the closed lids are also expected to help further reduce pest activity by limiting rodent access to exposed waste, minimizing trash overflow, and making it easier for community members to not litter by improving access to a waste receptacle.

Funding for the bins and installation was provided through a partnership between the Hoboken Business Alliance and the South Waterfront Corporation.

“Maintaining clean streets is an essential part of creating attractive places for businesses and pedestrians, and we are proud to partner with the City of Hoboken on this initiative,” said James Runkle, President of the Hoboken Business Alliance Board of Trustees. “This investment improves the vibrancy and cleanliness of our business districts, supports local commerce, and demonstrates what strong public-private collaboration can accomplish.”

 “The addition of new Bigbelly trash containers to the streets of Hoboken will improve cleanliness and quality of life for residents, employees, tenants, and visitors alike while also delivering efficient, environmentally friendly infrastructure to the city’s streets,” said Barbara Quintana, Director of Property Management at SJP Properties. “Congratulations to Mayor Jabbour and her administration on delivering a solution that will reduce costs and improve recycling in public areas.”