Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Hackensack
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.
Blue Cart Bin (Trash)
Must be placed at the curb (NOT in the street) after 6:00 PM the night before collection. All waste must fit inside the 90-gallon cart with the lid closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard non-recyclable household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Blue Barrel or Open 35-Gallon Plastic Can Bin (Recycling)
Commingled items must be loose in an open container with a lid. Cardboard and paper must be bundled. Placed at the curb after 6:00 PM the night before.
Accepted Items
- ✓Commingled glass, tin, aluminum, and plastic
- ✓Corrugated cardboard (crushed and tied)
- ✓Newspaper (tied in bundles max 12 inches)
- ✓Junk mail (bundled or in open container)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Paper bags (for commingled items)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Light bulbs and mirrors
- ✕Toys and dishes
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in brown biodegradable leaf bags or an open, unlined container. Collected on the same day as your designated recycling pickup. No plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small twigs
- ✓Plant trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Every other Wednesday (Alternating by Routes 1-5 and 6-10)
Placement
Place items at the curb (not the street) after 6:00 PM the night before your route's designated Wednesday collection.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and couches
- ✓ Wooden furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large non-metal household goods
Not Accepted
- ✕ White goods (appliances, metal desks, metal sheds)
- ✕ Construction materials
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
Standard bi-weekly rubbish collection is free, provided it stays within the two-item limit. Metal/White goods require a prepaid $10 sticker per item.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled garbage or recycling collection day falls on an observed holiday, your waste will be collected on the following day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the recycling schedule and will similarly be pushed back by one day following a holiday.
Always refer to the official Hackensack Recycling Calendar mailed to your home or available online to confirm specific route adjustments for holiday weeks.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ban the Bag in Recycling Containers
Commingled glass, tin, and plastic must go directly into an open, unlined 35-gallon can. Hackensack DPW will automatically reject any recyclables that are tied up in plastic grocery bags or even paper sacks, as these jam the sorting facilities.
Bundle and Tie All Cardboard and Paper
Loose cardboard creates hazardous wind-blown litter across Bergen County streets. Hackensack mandates that all corrugated cardboard be flattened, crushed, and securely tied. Newspapers must be bundled tightly, no higher than 12 inches per stack.
Keep the Street Clear for Sweepers
Never place your recycling or trash carts directly in the roadway. Hackensack actively runs street sweepers, and blocking the gutter line with waste containers is a direct violation of municipal ordinances. Keep all bins firmly on the curb.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - MarchDuring heavy Northern New Jersey snow events, keep your blue cart safely out of the roadway. Placing bins in the street obstructs Hackensack’s snowplow trucks, creating safety hazards and resulting in missed pickups or destroyed carts.
Autumn
October - DecemberBergen County's autumn leaf drop requires strict compliance. Rake leaves into brown paper bags or open containers, never plastic. Do not blow leaves directly into Hackensack’s public streets, which clogs vital storm drains during heavy fall rainstorms.
Spring
April - MaySpring cleaning often yields excessive household waste. Remember that Hackensack limits bi-weekly 'rubbish' collection to just two furniture items or two bags of debris. Major home clean-outs or construction debris will require you to rent a private dumpster.
About Hackensack Waste Management
Mastering Hackensack’s Public Works Sanitation Services
In the bustling heart of Bergen County, Hackensack's Sanitation Department efficiently manages waste for nearly 46,000 residents. The city utilizes a highly specialized, route-based system spanning from Route 1 to Route 10, meaning your weekly schedule is exclusively customized to your specific neighborhood. Unlike municipalities that rely entirely on private haulers, Hackensack features a dedicated 30-person municipal crew working out of the East Broadway headquarters to strictly enforce local ordinances and keep streets clean.
Navigating the 90-Gallon Blue Cart Regulations
The cornerstone of Hackensack's residential garbage disposal is the city-issued 90-gallon blue cart. Homeowners are legally required to fit all non-recyclable household waste within this single bin. Placing loose bags next to or on top of your blue cart is prohibited by city ordinance; any excess waste outside the cart will be left on the curb. Proper placement is equally vital—bins must sit entirely behind the curb line, never extending into the street, to accommodate the city’s rigorous daily street sweeping program.
Bi-Weekly Rubbish Collection Constraints
Disposing of larger household goods in Hackensack requires careful planning. 'Rubbish' (the city's official term for bulk waste) is collected only every other Wednesday on an alternating route schedule. Residents are strictly restricted to setting out a maximum of two large furniture items or two bags of debris per collection cycle. Exceeding this limit will result in uncollected items cluttering your curb and potential code enforcement citations.
Navigating the Metal and White Goods Protocol
If you are tossing out a metal desk, refrigerator, or air conditioner, do not leave it on the curb for standard rubbish day. Hackensack classifies all metal items and appliances as 'White Goods,' which demand a strict protocol. Residents must visit the Sanitation Office to purchase a $10 municipal sticker per item (payable by check or money order). Only after securing this sticker and scheduling a direct appointment will the DPW dispatch a specialized truck for pickup.
Drop-off Facilities
Hackensack Sanitation and Recycling Office
120 East Broadway, 2nd Floor, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put my blue garbage cart in the street on pickup day?
No. Hackensack ordinance requires that all garbage carts and recycling containers be placed strictly at the curb, not in the street. Putting bins in the roadway interferes with the city's active street sweeping program and winter plowing.
What do I do if one 90-gallon cart isn't enough for my family's trash?
The Sanitation Department first recommends auditing your waste to ensure you are maximizing your recycling. If you are recycling fully and still need space, you cannot leave loose bags on the curb. You must contact the Sanitation Office at 120 East Broadway to purchase an additional authorized blue cart.
How does Hackensack handle bulk furniture pickup?
The city collects 'rubbish' (bulk trash) every other Wednesday, alternating between Routes 1-5 and Routes 6-10. You are legally limited to just two furniture items or two bags of debris per pickup. Any excess items will not be collected.
How do I get rid of a metal filing cabinet or old refrigerator?
All metal items and appliances are classified as 'White Goods' and will not be picked up with standard rubbish. You must purchase a $10 sticker (via check or money order only) from the Sanitation Office at 120 East Broadway, which will generate an appointment for a specialized collection truck.