Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Clifton
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.
Any standard container Bin (Trash)
Use metal or plastic containers no larger than 35 gallons. Limit of 3 barrels or tied bags per pickup. Place at the curb after 6:00 PM the night before collection. Empty receptacles must be removed the same day and stored behind the house.
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Any labeled recycling receptacle Bin (Recycling)
Clifton utilizes standard curbside recycling. Containers should be clearly marked for recycling. Heavy cardboard must be tied in bundles no longer than 3 feet and weighing less than 50 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, and #5
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Newspaper and mixed paper
- ✓Flattened cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Plastics #3, #4, #6, #7
- ✕Tissues and paper towels
- ✕Construction materials
Yard Waste Bin
Collected strictly on Wednesdays (place out Tuesday night). Must be in biodegradable paper bags or open, sturdy containers under 35 gallons. Plastic bags are prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches and twigs
- ✓Vegetative waste
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (First garbage day only)
Placement
Place your 2 allowed bulk items neatly at the curb after 6:00 PM the night before your first collection day of the week. Do not place bulk out on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Wooden cabinets
- ✓ Doors and tables
- ✓ Rugs (must be cut to 4-foot lengths and tied)
- ✓ Lumber (must be cut to 4-foot lengths and tied)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Propane tanks
- ✕ Dirt, stones, concrete, and bricks
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
There are no additional fees for placing two standard bulk items out per week, but exceeding the limit or improper placement will result in uncollected items and potential fines.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday, trash, bulk, and recycling collections may be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. Normal schedules typically resume the following Monday.
Yard Waste Exception
Wednesday yard waste collections are subject to cancellation or shifting during holiday weeks. Residents should verify specific date changes via the Recycle Coach app.
Clifton strongly encourages residents to download the free Recycle Coach app to receive real-time, address-specific notifications about holiday scheduling and weather-related delays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Absolutely No Heavy Construction Debris
Do not mix dirt, concrete, bricks, stones, or hazardous waste into your regular garbage containers. These materials exceed weight limits, damage the collection trucks, and will cause your entire bin to be left at the curb.
Keep Propane Tanks Out of the Trash
Empty or full propane tanks are the strict responsibility of the homeowner and are incredibly dangerous if crushed in a garbage truck. Never place them curbside or in your trash; doing so can result in an immediate municipal summons.
Ditch the Plastic Bags for Yard Waste
If you bag your grass clippings or leaves in standard plastic garbage bags, the collection crews will bypass your home. Clifton strictly enforces the use of biodegradable paper leaf bags or rigid, open-top yard waste barrels.
Seasonal Information
Spring
March - MayThe City of Clifton traditionally holds an annual 'City Wide Clean Up' in the spring. This special event allows residents to dispose of refuse that is normally too bulky for standard collection. Specific dates are published on residential water bills and in the Clifton Record.
Fall
October - DecemberFrom approximately October 15 to December 20, the Superintendent of Public Works directs the specialized autumn leaf collection program. During this window, residents should rake leaves to the curb according to the published zone schedule rather than bagging them for regular Wednesday yard waste.
Winter
December - FebruaryDuring severe winter weather, snowbanks can disrupt curbside services. Ensure your 35-gallon cans are easily accessible from the street and not buried in snow. Holiday weeks often shift garbage and recycling collections forward by one day.
About Clifton Waste Management
The First-Day-Only Bulk Waste Rule
Clifton has a highly specific schedule for bulk waste collection to keep neighborhoods clean throughout the week. Oversized items like mattresses, wooden furniture, and carpets are only collected on your first scheduled garbage day of the week (Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday). You are strictly limited to exactly two bulk items per week. If you place bulk items at the curb on your second garbage day (Thursday, Friday, or Saturday), they will be rejected and you may be subject to a property maintenance summons.
Strict Container Size and Bag Limits
Unlike some neighboring New Jersey towns that provide automated 95-gallon rollout carts, Clifton requires residents to provide their own trash cans and imposes strict size limits. Garbage containers, whether metal or plastic, cannot exceed 35 gallons in capacity. Furthermore, the city limits household collections to a maximum of three barrels or three securely tied plastic bags per pickup. Bins must be taken to the curb after 6:00 PM the night before and removed the same day after collection.
Vegetative Waste Wednesdays
Keeping your lawn tidy in Clifton requires following precise yard waste protocols. All vegetative waste, including grass clippings, twigs, and soft plant material, is exclusively collected on Wednesdays. Residents must place these materials curbside on Tuesday night. Crucially, plastic garbage bags are entirely prohibited for yard waste. You must use biodegradable paper bags or reusable, open-top containers weighing no more than 35 gallons.
Navigating White Goods and Freon Disposal
Disposing of large appliances (white goods) like refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners in Clifton requires strict adherence to environmental safety laws. Before the city will collect these items, a certified technician must safely extract all Freon and attach a certification sticker to the unit to prove compliance with the Federal Clean Air Act. Additionally, for child safety reasons, all doors must be completely removed from refrigerators and freezers before placing them curbside.
The Municipal Recycling Depot Advantage
In addition to curbside single-stream recycling, Clifton operates a robust Recycling Depot located at 900 Clifton Avenue on 'Recycle Road' within the Municipal Complex. This facility is a vital resource for residents looking to drop off excess cardboard, used clothing, textiles, and newspapers without waiting for their scheduled collection day. The city also utilizes the Recycle Coach app, making it easy to check depot hours and search for specific item disposal methods.
Drop-off Facilities
Clifton Recycling Depot
900 Clifton Avenue (Recycle Road within Municipal Complex), Clifton, NJ 07013
Materials Accepted
Passaic County Household Hazardous Waste Events
Various locations county-wide
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I put bulk items like a mattress out for collection in Clifton?
You can only put out bulk waste on the FIRST garbage day of your specific collection week (either Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday). You are limited to two items. Never put bulk waste on the curb for your second collection day (Thursday, Friday, or Saturday).
What is the maximum size for a trash can in Clifton?
Clifton enforces a strict 35-gallon limit for all metal or plastic garbage containers. Furthermore, residents are limited to placing a maximum of three barrels or three securely tied plastic bags on the curb per scheduled collection.
How do I dispose of a refrigerator or air conditioner?
Before the city will collect a refrigerator or AC unit, federal law dictates that all Freon must be professionally removed. You must hire a certified technician to remove the gas and place a certification sticker on the appliance. You must also remove the doors before placing it curbside.
Can I put my grass clippings in black plastic bags?
No. Vegetative yard waste is collected on Wednesdays, and it must be placed in biodegradable paper leaf bags or in an open-top, reusable container weighing under 35 gallons. Any yard waste placed in plastic bags will not be collected.