Lakewood to End Trash Pickup for Private Schools and Houses of Worship on Jan. 1

Lakewood Township plans to stop municipal trash collection for private schools and houses of worship on January 1, 2027, according to reported statements by Mayor Ray Coles and township officials. Affected institutions will need to arrange their own collection services.

Coles said state officials would not approve a township budget that continued the service. The mayor estimated the change would save Lakewood about $2 million next year.

In a reported statement, the Township Committee said the cut was a condition for receiving state financial assistance intended to stabilize Lakewood's budget. Officials described the decision as a requirement tied to that assistance rather than a voluntary service change.

The reported change covers institutions using large dumpsters as well as smaller houses of worship using regular trash cans. Public school trash removal, which is funded by the Lakewood School District, will not be affected, according to the reports.

Schools and religious institutions that previously relied on township pickup will have to budget for private hauling. The cost will depend on the size of the institution, the amount of waste and how often it needs to be collected.

The sanitation change comes as township officials seek additional state aid and face wider pressure to reduce spending. With the new policy due to begin at the start of the year, affected institutions have about two months to arrange replacement service.