Full Notification

Dear Fair Haven Residents,

The Borough of Fair Haven remains committed to ensuring that our local ordinances reflect the needs of our community, our shared environment, and our operational realities. It has long been the Governing Body’s intent to treat these ordinances as living documents — reviewed and updated as necessary to improve clarity, efficiency, and sustainability. Recent updates to the Brush and Leaf Ordinance aim to better support public works operations, safeguard local ecosystems, and enhance overall service to residents.
We also recognize that residents have varying preferences when it comes to managing leaves and brush on their properties — some prefer timely removal, while others retain these materials for composting and ecological benefit. Both approaches are valued, and our goal is to provide clear guidance that empowers all households to do their part. The information below outlines the ordinance changes now in effect, followed by important best practices for yard waste handling. These practices reduce costs, prevent flooding and environmental harm, and help keep Fair Haven clean, safe, and resilient.

ORDINANCE UPDATES
The Borough of Fair Haven and its Governing Body remain committed to treating all ordinances as living and evolving documents. As operational needs, resident feedback, and environmental conditions change, the Borough regularly reviews and refines local ordinances to ensure they are clear, practical, and beneficial to the community. The following updates have been adopted to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of brush and leaf collection:

1. Brush Cans May Be Used for Either Brush or Leaves: Residents may now use 32-gallon plastic cans (round, with or without wheels) for the disposal of either brush or leaves. Cans must be gray or another neutral color.
2. Disposal Near Storm Drains or Waterways is Prohibited: Residents may not sweep, rake, or blow brush, leaves, or any yard material into storm drains, ditches, or bodies of water and Fair Haven properties and Green Acres park areas. This practice poses serious environmental risks and may result in penalties. 
3. Ongoing Leaf Pick-Up in November and December: The Department of Public Works will conduct ongoing leaf collection during the months of November and December. Please note: Ongoing collection does not mean daily pickup at each residence. The DPW will manage collection based on operational priorities, with an emphasis on safety, including the clearing of school zones, intersections, and stormwater infrastructure.
4. Expanded Brush Can Color Options: Acceptable brush cans must be 32-gallon capacity, round, and plastic. They may now be gray or neutral in color and may have wheels or no wheels.
5. Non-Compliant Piles Will Be Marked and Issued a Warning: Any brush or leaf pile that does not comply with Borough guidelines may be clearly marked with environmentally safe spray paint to indicate a violation. Property owners will receive a one-time formal notice and will be given a one-time opportunity to cure the issue. Continued or repeated non-compliance may result in enforcement actions as permitted by ordinance.

1. Mulching Leaves Benefits Your Lawn: Shredded or mulched leaves return nutrients to your soil, improve lawn health, and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. This also reduces the volume of leaves requiring pickup, easing the burden on Borough crews and saving taxpayer money.
2. Mulch Leaves Before Placing at the Curb: Shredding leaves before placing them at the curb creates smaller, more compact piles. This makes pickup more efficient, requires fewer passes, and lowers overall operational costs.
3. Composting is a Practical Alternative: Composting leaves and small brush on your property is an effective and environmentally friendly way to manage yard material. It keeps organic matter within the local ecosystem, supports soil health, and reduces the need for Borough pickup.
4. Keep Leaf Piles Free of Litter: Leaves collected by the Borough are delivered to a local farm, where they are used in agricultural applications. Please ensure your leaf piles are free of plastic, pet waste, and other debris, which can contaminate the material and increase disposal costs.
5. Brush, Yard Waste, and Grass Clippings – Know the Difference:
   • Brush includes woody plant materials such as tree limbs, branches, or twigs that are less than 3 inches in diameter and no longer than 4 feet in length.
   • Yard Waste (also referred to as vegetative waste) includes grass clippings, leafy hedge trimmings, non-woody garden waste, annual plants, weeds, dead flowers, shrub clippings, dirt, and sand.
   • Grass Clippings are considered a Class C recyclable material and must not be placed with leaves or brush.
6. Why Leaves Are Left in McCarter Park: Mulched leaves are intentionally left in McCarter Park within dripline around trees as part of the Borough’s ecological strategy. This supports soil health, prevents erosion, and benefits native plant and animal life.
7. DPW Prioritizes Safety and School Zones First: The Department of Public Works manages brush and leaf collection routes with safety as the top priority — focusing first on school zones, near crosswalks, busy intersections with high potential of obstructed visibility and sight distance, areas of high pedestrian, bicyclists and vehicular traffic, and areas prone to storm drain blockages.
8. Keep Leaves Contained on Your Property as Long as Possible Before Placing at the Curb:
   • While we understand the desire for timely removal, residents are strongly encouraged to hold leaves on their property — in a neat and contained manner — until ready for collection.
   • Leaves left at the curb for extended periods are more likely to be driven over by vehicular traffic and higher potential of being traffic hazards for bicyclists and pedestrians.  Please do not park vehicles over leave and brush piles.
   • Proper timing of leaf placement helps maintain clean streets, reduces environmental risk, to include stormwater considerations, and allows DPW to serve the entire community more efficiently.
9. Yard Waste Disposal Options: Yard waste to be disposed of properly and brought to a local reclamation facility, including Mazza’s or the Monmouth County Reclamation Center.
10. Brush Does Not Include Non-Woody Waste: Brush does not include yard waste, leaves, grass, hay bales, corn stalks, or any non-woody or non-tree-related plant material. These materials are not accepted as brush and must be disposed of accordingly.
11. Mums and Pumpkins Are Accepted in Fall Pickup: During the fall season, mums and pumpkins may be placed at the curb for collection. These items are accepted by the Borough’s farm partner. However, root balls and corn stalks are not accepted and must be removed before disposal.