Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Bloomfield
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.
Resident-provided standard trash bin Bin (Trash)
Trash must not be placed at the curb before 6:00 PM the night prior, and no later than 5:30 AM on collection day. Receptacles must be removed within 24 hours of collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Standard alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, 9-Volt)
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Resident-provided reusable container Bin (Recycling)
Commingled (bottles/cans) and Paper (cardboard/mixed paper) are collected on alternating weeks. Do not bag recyclables in plastic. Cardboard must be flattened and tied.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (clear, green, brown)
- ✓Aluminum, steel, and tin cans
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, #5
- ✓Mixed paper, newspaper, and magazines
- ✓Flattened cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Window glass and mirrors
- ✕Motor oil or antifreeze containers
- ✕Food-contaminated pizza boxes
- ✕Electronic waste
Yard Waste Bin
Must be in biodegradable brown paper bags. Branches must be tied in bundles no longer than 4 feet and under 30 lbs. Picked up on your designated recycling day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small brush and twigs
- ✓Tree and shrub branches (tied and bundled)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your second garbage collection day
Placement
Place your 3 allowed items at the curb no earlier than 6:00 PM the night before your second weekly garbage pickup day, and no later than 5:30 AM.
Accepted
- ✓ Wooden furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Box springs
- ✓ Couches
- ✓ Carpeting (cut, rolled, and tied)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Refrigerators and stoves (requires Tuesday appointment)
- ✕ Televisions and computers (must go to depot)
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Hazardous waste
Bulk trash is included in municipal services. Tuesday metal and appliance pickups are also free but require a phone call by 3:00 PM the Monday prior.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled garbage or recycling collection falls on an observed holiday, your pickup will be skipped for that day. Garbage will be collected on your NEXT regularly scheduled garbage day.
Yard Waste Exception
Because yard waste is collected on the same day as recycling, holiday delays will shift yard waste pickups accordingly.
If a Monday holiday disrupts your recycling collection, Monday's recycling is usually pushed to Tuesday. Always verify shifts using the Recycle Coach app.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Alkaline Batteries Belong in the Trash
Unlike rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, standard alkaline batteries like AA, AAA, and 9-volts should not be placed in your recycling bin. The DPW advises residents to throw these directly into their regular household garbage.
Window Glass is Not Recyclable
Never place broken window glass, mirrors, or ceramic plates into your commingled recycling bin. Because they melt at a different temperature than glass bottles, they ruin the recycling batch. Wrap them heavily in paper, double-bag them, and place them with your regular trash.
Ditch the Plastic Bags
Do not collect your aluminum cans and plastic bottles in a plastic grocery bag or black garbage bag. Plastic film wraps around the sorting machinery at the recycling facility, causing delays and classifying your whole bin as contaminated.
Seasonal Information
Autumn and Spring
October 15 to December 31 & April 1 to May 15During peak leaf collection seasons, the DPW actively picks up brown biodegradable bags of leaves and yard waste on your normal recycling day. Never rake leaves directly into the street.
Winter
January 1 to March 31Routine bagged yard waste and leaf collection is suspended entirely during these three months. The DPW shifts its focus to pothole repairs, snow removal, and dedicated Christmas tree pickups in January.
Summer
June to AugustThe Township heavily promotes the 'Cut It and Leave It' grasscycling program. Instead of bagging grass clippings, residents are encouraged to leave them on the lawn to act as a natural fertilizer and retain moisture.
About Bloomfield Waste Management
Understanding Bloomfield's Alternating Recycling Schedule
Bloomfield Township operates on an alternating weekly schedule for its curbside recycling program. One week is dedicated entirely to commingled materials, which include glass bottles, aluminum cans, and plastics labeled #1, #2, or #5. The following week is strictly for mixed paper and cardboard. To avoid missed pickups, residents should download the Recycle Coach app or refer to the municipal calendar. All items must be at the curb by 5:30 AM on collection day, but no earlier than 6:00 PM the night before.
The Three-Item Limit for Weekly Bulk Trash
Disposing of large household items like wooden furniture, mattresses, or carpeting is straightforward in Bloomfield, but strict limits apply. The Township allows up to three large bulk items to be placed at the curb on your second scheduled garbage pickup day of the week. Remember that this limit only covers standard bulky waste; it does not include metal items, appliances, or electronic waste, which have entirely separate disposal procedures.
Mandatory Tuesday Appointments for Appliances and Metals
If you are trying to dispose of 'white goods' like a refrigerator, stove, washing machine, or scrap metal, you cannot leave these items out on your regular bulk collection day. The Bloomfield DPW collects metals and appliances exclusively on Tuesdays. To secure a pickup, residents must call the DPW at (973) 680-4127 no later than 3:00 PM on the Monday prior to collection to be placed on the route list.
Strict Biodegradable Bag Policy for Yard Waste
Bloomfield takes its environmental responsibilities seriously, actively promoting a 'Cut It and Leave It' grasscycling initiative. However, if you must dispose of yard waste like leaves, grass clippings, or small twigs, they must be placed in brown biodegradable paper bags. The DPW will completely reject and leave behind any vegetative waste packed in standard plastic garbage bags. Yard waste is collected on the same day as your recycling.
Saturday Mornings at the Grove Street Recycling Depot
For items that cannot wait for curbside collection, or for electronic waste that is banned from the curb, residents can utilize the Bloomfield Recycling Depot located at 230 Grove Street. The facility is open exclusively on Saturday mornings from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. While it accepts paper, cardboard, commingled containers, and e-waste like televisions and computers, it strictly prohibits household garbage and bulk furniture drop-offs.
Drop-off Facilities
Bloomfield Recycling Depot
230 Grove Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Materials Accepted
Essex County Fleet Management (Household Hazardous Waste Days)
99 West Bradford Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the garbage pickup schedule in Bloomfield, NJ?
Bloomfield collects regular household garbage twice a week. You must place your bins at the curb after 6:00 PM the night before or by 5:30 AM on your collection day. To find your exact days, check the Township's Recycle Coach app.
How do I schedule a bulk or appliance pickup?
For standard large furniture (up to 3 items), simply place it at the curb on your second garbage day of the week. However, for metal items and large appliances, you must call the DPW at (973) 680-4127 by 3:00 PM on Monday to schedule a specialized Tuesday pickup.
Can I put leaves and grass in black garbage bags?
No. The Bloomfield DPW strictly requires all leaves, grass, and vegetative waste to be placed in brown biodegradable paper bags. Plastic bags will not be collected. Alternatively, you can use a trash can with a designated 'Yard Waste' sticker.
Where can I recycle my old TV or computer?
Electronic waste cannot be placed at the curb with your regular bulk trash. You must bring items like televisions, computers, monitors, and microwaves to the Bloomfield Recycling Depot at 230 Grove Street, which is open on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.