Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Bergenfield
In New Jersey, municipal refuse and recycling routes operate weekly. Your exact collection days are determined by your local borough or township.
State Mandate
The NJ Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act requires all residents to separate designated recyclables.
Black lid cart Bin (Trash)
Place the black-lidded cart at the curb after 6:00 PM the night before or before 6:00 AM on your quadrant's scheduled garbage ('G') day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Dried solid paint (lid off, on bulk days only)
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
Green lid cart Bin (Recycling)
Items must be empty, clean, dry, and placed loose in the green-lidded cart. Do not bag recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard (flattened)
- ✓Aseptic and gable-topped cartons (milk/juice/soup)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Electronics (TVs, computers)
- ✕Tires and vehicle batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Place out on designated 'V' (Vegetative) days. Do not use 60-gallon landscape barrels. In late fall, loose leaves are vacuumed; if snow threatens, use paper leaf bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Shrubs and branches
- ✓General yard waste
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Scheduled bulk pickup days only (varies by quadrant)
Placement
Place items curbside between 6:00 PM the night before and 6:00 AM the day of pickup.
Accepted
- ✓ Up to 4 pieces of household furniture
- ✓ Up to 2 appliances (refrigerator doors must be removed)
- ✓ 1 carpet/rug (max 12 feet long, rolled)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor debris and construction materials
- ✕ Concrete, bricks, and mortar
- ✕ Tires and vehicle batteries
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers)
Bulk collection is included in municipal services, but strict limits apply per household. Exceeding these limits requires hiring a private hauler.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
During holiday weeks, the Department of Public Works operates on an adjusted collection schedule. Refer to your quadrant's specific calendar for the holiday shift.
Yard Waste Exception
Vegetative waste pickups may be canceled or rescheduled on holiday weeks depending on your quadrant.
The Recycling Center at Twin Boro Ln. and DPW offices are closed on major holidays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Recyclables Loose and Unbagged
Do not use plastic bags in your green-lidded recycling cart [1.2.4]. Plastic bags jam the sorting machinery at the processing center. Toss your cans, bottles, and paper directly and loosely into the bin.
No 60-Gallon Barrels for Yard Waste
The DPW will reject any vegetative waste placed in oversized 60-gallon landscape barrels. Ensure your grass clippings and branches are placed in smaller, manageable containers.
Dry Out Your Paint
Liquid paint is considered hazardous and will be rejected. You must dry out latex paint completely (using cat litter or sand) and place the can at the curb with the lid off on bulk days only.
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October - DecemberCurbside leaf vacuuming is heavily dependent on weather. Leaves must be collected before the first snowfall [1.2.4]. If the season runs late, residents must use paper bags and call the DPW.
Winter
December - MarchDuring snow emergencies, it is illegal to park on Borough roads, and you must never shovel, blow, or plow snow from your property into the municipal streets.
Spring/Summer
April - SeptemberVegetative waste collections resume their normal 'V' schedule. Ensure your grass clippings and branches are properly bundled or placed in acceptable containers under 60 gallons.
About Bergenfield Waste Management
Mastering Bergenfield's Quadrant-Based Schedule
The Borough of Bergenfield divides its residential waste collection into four distinct geographical quadrants (Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest). Your specific collection days for regular garbage, commingled recycling, vegetative waste, and bulk items are entirely dependent on which quadrant you live in. Residents must consult the annual DPW calendar to track their 'G' (Garbage), 'R' (Recycling), 'V' (Vegetative), and 'B' (Bulk) days.
Proper Cart Usage: Black vs. Green Lids
To streamline automated collection, Bergenfield utilizes a color-coded cart system. Household trash must be placed in the black-lidded carts, while all recyclables go into the green-lidded carts. If your household consistently generates excess waste, you have the option to purchase additional or replacement 95-gallon carts directly from the DPW for $70 each by mailing a request to the Borough Hall.
Strict Limits on Monthly Bulk Pickups
Bergenfield does not offer special on-demand bulk pickups; you must wait for your quadrant's scheduled 'B' day. The borough enforces strict limits to prevent abuse: per collection, a household can only put out up to four pieces of furniture, two large appliances (with doors removed), and one rolled carpet measuring no more than 12 feet long. Homeowners are entirely responsible for disposing of contractor debris, concrete, and asphalt privately.
Navigating E-Waste and Hazardous Materials
Under New Jersey state law, electronic waste such as televisions, laptops, monitors, and desktop printers are banned from the standard bulk collection. Bergenfield residents must self-haul these e-waste items to the designated drop-off containers located behind Borough Hall at 198 N. Washington Avenue. Additionally, wet paint is strictly prohibited at the curb; you must let paint dry completely solid and remove the lid before placing it out on a bulk collection day.
Vegetative Waste and Autumn Leaf Rules
During the growing season, vegetative waste (like grass and branches) is collected on designated 'V' days, but the DPW explicitly states they will not service landscape barrels larger than 60 gallons. In the autumn, loose leaves can be raked to the curb for specialized vacuum collection. However, if leaf drops happen late in the season and snow is imminent, residents are required to bag their leaves in biodegradable paper bags—never plastic—and call the DPW for a specialized pickup.
Drop-off Facilities
Bergenfield Recycling Center
198 N Washington Ave (behind DPW building), Bergenfield, NJ 07621
Materials Accepted
Department of Public Works (E-Waste & Battery Drop-off)
198 N Washington Ave, Bergenfield, NJ 07621
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I throw out an old TV or computer in Bergenfield?
Electronic waste is banned from curbside bulk collection [1.1.4]. You must drop off TVs, computer towers, laptops, and desktop printers at the Recycling Center located at 198 N Washington Avenue (behind Borough Hall) during normal business hours.
How do I get an extra garbage or recycling cart?
Additional or replacement carts (black lid for trash, green lid for recycling) can be purchased from the DPW for $70 each. Mail a check payable to the 'Borough of Bergenfield' along with your physical delivery address to the DPW office.
What are the rules for bulk trash pickup?
Bulk trash is collected only on your quadrant's scheduled 'B' day. You are strictly limited to four pieces of furniture, two appliances (refrigerator doors must be removed), and one rolled carpet up to 12 feet long.
Will the town pick up debris from my home renovation?
No. The Bergenfield DPW does not collect contractor debris, concrete, bricks, asphalt, rocks, mortar, or cultured stone. The homeowner or their hired contractor is fully responsible for renting a private dumpster or hauling these materials to a private facility.