Howell United NJ

Howell Township Public Works will be starting scheduling appointments for bulk pickup on September 9th.

HOWELL TOWNSHIP DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
FREE BULK WASTE PROGRAM

Howell Township will continue with its current bulk trash program which allows Township residents to drop off their bulky waste at our Township Recycling Center, located at 278 Old Tavern Road, Tuesday through Sunday 7:30am-3:00pm. The Recycling Center will be closed on Mondays to facilitate a widespread cleanup of the center and to haul waste for disposal. The Recycling Center will accept ALL debris that is normally allowed in the curbside bulk pickup program with the same limit of one pickup truck load per visit. All residents will be required to show proof of residency to gain access to the Recycling Center.

Proof of residency can be any of the following records:
 Active Driver’s license/non drivers identification card
 Property tax bill
 Original unexpired lease agreement with resident named as lessee or renter

At NO time will professional contractors or vehicles/trailers with commercial plates be allowed to access the center. All recycling, metal, and leaf/brush drop off will still be accepted with proper ID.

The center WILL NOT accept the following:
NO Demolition material/construction debris (flooring, sheds, doors, decks, sheetrock, lumber, shingles, trim/molding, cabinets, concrete, brick, etc.)
NO Tires
NO Hazardous materials
NO Paint or motor oil
NO Trailers will be accepted on Saturdays and Sundays for bulk trash.

*Trailers will only be accepted at the recycling yard for bulk drop-off Tuesday-Friday
*Leaves and brush will still be able to be dropped off by trailer (6) days a week

Howell Township will continue to offer curbside pickup on a limited schedule. Curbside pickups will be available in the spring and the fall for those residents that cannot make it to the center. Public Works will begin accepting appointments for fall pickup beginning on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Appointments can be made by calling the DPW office at (732) 938-4500 ex. 2450. No emails please.

You can't say you weren't warned! Very simple...Don't drink and drive.

Drunk driving fatalities spike in NJ during the summer months. We’re joining the NJ Division of Highway Traffic and law enforcement partners across the nation for the end of summer impaired driving crackdown.

New Jersey DHTS

HOW FAR IS TOO FAR? What’s Going On in Howell Lately?
From banning metal water bottles to increasingly detailed rules about what our kids can bring to school, you have to ask: Is the Howell BOE becoming too intrusive or is this simply about keeping students safe?
At what point does protecting children cross the line into government overreach? Seems to be happening at the local governing body level too.
This latest decision has parents talking. And maybe it’s time Howell residents start asking some bigger questions about who is making these decisions, why, and where the line should be drawn. Elections matter! Voting matters! What do you think?

Monmouth County school district bans metal water bottles from classrooms - NewsBreak Parents have started a petition opposing the decision, which has garnered more than 1,000 signatures since it was posted on Aug 12.

Lakewood’s tax warning should get Howell’s attention.
Lakewood was just rejected in its attempt to get a waiver to raise property taxes beyond the 2% state’s cap.
Could Howell eventually find itself heading in the same direction?
That’s why we need to ask a simple question: What is Howell doing today to prepare for tomorrow?
Howell's 2026 municipal tax levy is already over $37 million, up from about $35 million last year. Salaries and wages are also approaching $29 million.
Yet the conversation lately at Council meetings often seems to focus on adding recreation programs, adding employees expanding services and stopping economic growth.
Some of the things may be nice, but who is paying for them? Taxpayers!
Where is the aggressive focus on growing the tax base, attracting revenue, producing businesses, sharing services, controlling personnel costs and finding efficiencies?
We shouldn’t wait until Howell needs a waiver to start asking these questions.
The time to protect taxpayers is before the crisis, not after it.

JUST IN: State Rejects Lakewood’s Waiver Request To Raise Property Taxes Above The Cap Threshold - NewsBreak During a hearing this morning, the New Jersey Local Finance Board rejected Lakewood Township’s request for nearly $12.9 million in additional property tax

Tonight's event starts at 5:00pm. Food, music and fireworks.

The Lakewood Scoop (@LakewoodScoop) on X

A little Howell history worth remembering. In 2009, Southard School closed. Howell had a choice: sell an old school building or find a way to make it work for the entire community. In 2011, the Township, Board of Education and Howell PAL chose the second option. The governing body at the time Mayor Robert Walsh, Deputy Mayor William Gotto, Councilwoman Susan Clark, Councilman Robert Nicastro and Councilwoman Pauline Smith unanimously supported the shared-services agreement. Township Manager Helene Schlegel estimated it would save Howell about $175,000, while bringing recreation, PAL and other community programs together under one roof. (Township of Howell⁠) As Councilman Robert Nicastro said at the time:
“I think what happened was the governing body as a whole shared a vision where we wanted to do more for the community…”
That’s the kind of government worth remembering. A closed school became a community asset, not just a property to sell. And it offers an interesting comparison with what neighboring Jackson Township chose to do with their closed schools: sell the asset and move on, or find a way to make it serve the community for generations. Sometimes the best government decisions aren’t the ones that make headlines. They’re the ones that still benefit residents years later.

Plan in Place for PAL to Work on Recreation Projects Former Southard School to house new department

And you wonder why people are exiting NJ at higher rates than ever? You also have to wonder do state and local officials really want to solve this problem?

Here's what the housing market looks like for a young family trying to put down roots in New Jersey today.

According to a new Redfin analysis published this week, a family needs to earn $179,162 a year just to afford a typical home in the New Brunswick area. In the Newark area, that number climbs to $207,251.

The median household income in those same communities? $122,960 and $113,773 respectively.

That young family earning a combined $120,000 - two working parents, solid jobs, doing everything right - is still more than $56,000 short of what they need to buy a home in one of New Jersey's more affordable markets.

Meanwhile that same family is paying:
💸 The highest property taxes in America - roughly $10,890 a year on a $450,000 home
💸 $800 million in new taxes signed into law this summer
💸 Automatic NJ Transit fare increases with no vote required
💸 Automatic toll increases with no vote required

And New Jersey was just named the worst state to retire in America for the second year in a row meaning that young family's parents are probably already in Florida.

Assembly Republicans are fighting for affordability that shows up in people's actual lives, not just on a podium sign at a press conference.

Today, on National Purple Heart Day, we honor the extraordinary courage of the men and women who were wounded or made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. The Purple Heart is more than a medal, it is a symbol of valor, resilience, and the price of freedom.
Today, and every day, we remember. We honor. We are forever grateful. 💜🇺🇸

Is taxpayer funded county libraries still the most effective way to provide this service in 2026?
This isn’t about whether libraries have value, they do.
It’s about whether today’s model still makes sense. With digital books, online research, smart phones, schools and technology changing how people access information, taxpayers should know.
How many people actually use libraries? What does it cost per visitor? Could the same or better service be provided more efficiently? Government should never be afraid to review how taxpayer dollars are being spent.
Every program should be evaluated to ensure it’s delivering the best value, not just because “it’s always been done that way"

N.J. library director ousted after allegations of unsafe work environment, disruptive patrons The vote came after an independent investigation into the library concluded that the director should be terminated.