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1. When is a permit necessary to use the Conservation Center?

Any resident who wishes to dispose of the following organic debris from their property may purchase a permit in the form of a decal for their vehicle:

• Branches
• Brush
• Garden Refuse
• Grass Clippings
• Logs
• Shrubs
• Twigs

Note that items cannot exceed two feet in length. The fee for the season is $60 for Westfield residents, and $120 for Scotch Plains residents. 

2. How do I get a permit?

Seasonal permits will be sold online only beginning Monday, March 14. No permits will be sold at the Center. Once you complete your online transaction, please keep a record of your confirmation page (by phone or paper) and bring it with you to your first trip to the Center. Display it, along with identification, in your window. A Department of Public Works employee will verify your purchase and will then place the seasonal decal on your vehicle.

3. What types of vehicles are permitted to use the Center?

Only non-commercial cars, vans, pick-up trucks, and utility trailers with a maximum capacity of three cubic yards may use the Center.

4. What types of vehicles are not permitted to use the Center?

Pick-up trucks with dump bodies, high sideboards, and insertable dump bodies, as well as any vehicles with commercial plates, are not permitted to use the Center.

5. What organic materials are accepted at the Center?

Acceptable Items

• Brush
• Christmas Trees (with lights and decorations removed)
• Grass Clippings
• Hedge Clippings
• Leaves
• Logs (not to exceed two feet in length)
• Organic Garden Debris
• Shrubbery
• Twigs

Please note that a permit is not necessary to deposit Christmas trees (January through March only) or leaves (fall only) at the Center.

6. What materials are not accepted at the Center?

• Concrete
• Construction Debris
• Fencing
• Non-Organic Materials
• Non-Recyclables
• Sand
• Soil
• Stone
• Tree Stumps
• Tree Trunks Greater Than 6 Inches in Diameter
• Wood

Any materials not listed as acceptable may not be deposited at the Center.

7. Can my landscaper bring the grass clippings from my property to the Center?

No. Commercial landscapers have access to other facilities to dispose of organic debris. (Please take note that during leaf collection season, residents may authorize their lawn care provider to deposit their leaves to the Conservation Center. See "Information for Landscape Contractors".)

8. Do I need to sort the organic debris or recyclable materials I bring to the Center?

Yes. Organic debris must be sorted into three categories -- grass, leaves, and all other debris -- and deposited on the ground in designated areas at the Center. Recyclables must be sorted into categories and placed in designated containers. Recyclables may be brought year-round during normal operating hours to the Center -- no permit is necessary. View a list of acceptable recycling items.

9. What can I do with the bags or containers I use to transport organic debris or recyclables to the Center?

All containers and bags used to transport organic debris or recyclables to the Center cannot be left at the Center and, therefore, must be removed by the Center user.

10. What if I have special circumstances?

Please email the Department of Public Works or visit them at 959 N Avenue W, or call 908-789-4100, weekdays during normal business hours for instructions if you incur any of the following circumstances:

• You are an existing permit holder that needs to replace a lost or stolen decal
• You are an existing permit holder who has changed vehicles
• You are a resident but you do not have a New Jersey license plate on your personal use vehicle
• You own property in Westfield but do not reside in Westfield
• You, the homeowner, need a special permit to allow someone else, excluding landscapers, to deliver organic debris to the Center on your behalf (This special permit is valid for one day only and costs $20)

11. Where can I dispose of household bulky waste?

Residents have several options to choose from. Among them:

• Household bulky waste materials which are generated from Westfield residential premises owned or occupied by a Westfield resident may be brought to the Conservation Center. There is a $40 fee per vehicle. Purchase a single-use permit online (no permits will be sold at the Center) and transport the household bulky waste in your vehicle to the Conservation Center during normal operating hours. Only automobiles, sport utility vehicles, and pick-up trucks less than a half-ton are permitted to enter the center for this purpose. Acceptable bulky waste items include appliances and furniture.
• The fee for Westfield residents is $40 per vehicle. Proof of residency will be required at the Center.
• The program has recently been extended to Scotch Plains residents for $60 per vehicle. Proof of residency will be required at the Center. 
• Residents may contact their private trash collector or a full-service junk removal company.