Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Kearny
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 Bin (Trash)
Use standard metal or plastic garbage receptacles with tight-fitting lids. Place bins at the curb the night before or early morning on your zone's designated collection days.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small amounts of home repair debris
Resident-provided (Reusable container) Bin (Recycling)
Commingled items must be in a reusable container. Mixed paper can be placed in a garbage can, a cardboard box, or tied neatly with string. Set out on the first garbage day of the week according to the alternating schedule.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics marked #1 through #7
- ✓Aluminum and metal food/beverage cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Mixed paper, magazines, and office paper
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and boxes
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Household batteries
- ✕Food-soiled paper (e.g., greasy pizza boxes)
Yard Waste Bin
Leaves must be placed strictly in biodegradable brown paper leaf bags. Do not use plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Twice a week (on regular garbage collection days)
Placement
Place your two bulk items neatly at the curb alongside your standard household garbage.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Wrapped mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Carpeting
- ✓ Small amounts of home repair debris
Not Accepted
- ✕ Major construction or renovation materials
- ✕ White goods/Appliances (requires appointment)
- ✕ Electronics/TVs (requires appointment or drop-off)
- ✕ Hazardous waste
Standard bulk collection is included in municipal taxes. However, the town's contractor is not obligated to collect large volumes of construction debris from major renovations, which requires a private dumpster.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Because Kearny collects garbage twice a week in residential zones, a holiday may result in a skipped pickup rather than a delayed one, resuming on your next scheduled day. Residents must check the DPW calendar or the Recycle Coach app for exact holiday route adjustments.
Yard Waste Exception
The DPW Recycling Center on Bergen Avenue is closed on all municipal holidays.
Download the Recycle Coach app to receive real-time push notifications regarding weather or holiday-related sanitation schedule changes directly to your smartphone.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Mattresses Must Be Wrapped
Before placing any mattress or box spring at the curb for your twice-weekly bulk pickup, it must be completely sealed inside a plastic mattress bag. Unwrapped mattresses will be rejected by Cali Carting to protect workers from bedbugs.
Never Bag Your Recyclables
When placing your commingled containers (plastics, glass, and metal) at the curb, leave them loose in a reusable bin. Plastic grocery bags jam the automated sorting machinery at the recycling plant.
Separate Your Paper from Plastics
Because Kearny operates on an alternating weekly schedule for recycling, never mix paper and cardboard into the same bin as your plastic and glass containers. The truck will only collect the specific material designated for that week.
Seasonal Information
Fall & Spring
October - December & March - MayDuring designated spring and fall leaf seasons, all leaves must be placed curbside in biodegradable brown paper bags. Leaves swept loose into the street or placed in plastic bags will not be collected.
Winter
December - MarchDuring heavy snowfall or blizzard conditions, sanitation trucks may experience delays. Keep garbage and recycling receptacles visible and clear of snowbanks to ensure collection.
Year-Round
MonthlyKearny schedules a specific 'Clean Out' day once a month. Residents should refer to the annual recycling calendar distributed by the DPW for these specific dates.
About Kearny Waste Management
Kearny's Zoned Garbage Collection System
The Town of Kearny utilizes a four-zone system to manage its waste collection efficiently. The three residential zones (Zone 1 Blue, Zone 2 Red, and Zone 3 Green) receive curbside garbage collection twice a week. Zone 4 Yellow covers the business district along Kearny and Midland Avenues, where garbage is collected seven days a week. It is crucial to determine your exact zone to know your specific collection days.
Twice-Weekly Bulk Waste Allowances
One of the most accommodating features of Kearny's sanitation program is its generous bulk waste policy. Residents are permitted to place up to two (2) bulk items at the curb during every single scheduled garbage pickup. Because residential zones are serviced twice a week, this allows for continuous, hassle-free disposal of large items like furniture, carpeting, and minor home repair debris without the need to horde items for a single seasonal cleanup.
Alternating Curbside Recycling Schedule
Unlike garbage, curbside recycling in Kearny is collected just once a week—specifically on the first garbage collection day of your assigned zone. The town employs an alternating schedule, meaning commingled containers (plastics, glass, aluminum) are collected one week, and mixed paper (newspapers, cardboard, magazines) is collected the next. Keeping track of this rotating schedule via the Recycle Coach app is essential.
Scheduling Appointments for E-Waste and Appliances
Electronic waste, such as televisions and computers, and large appliances like refrigerators (white goods), cannot simply be left on the curb with your regular garbage. Kearny requires residents to either drop these items off at the DPW Recycling Center on Bergen Avenue or call the Public Works Department at 201-998-3700 to schedule a curbside pickup. Appliances and metal goods are strictly collected by appointment on Fridays.
The Bergen Avenue Recycling Drop-Off Center
For residents who miss their curbside day or have hazardous vehicle fluids, the Kearny Recycling Center at 357 Bergen Avenue is a vital resource. Open Monday through Friday, the facility accepts excess cardboard, paper, and commingled recyclables, as well as specialized items like used motor oil, antifreeze, and rubber tires without rims. When dropping off liquids, residents must report to the yard attendant to ensure proper handling.
Drop-off Facilities
Kearny DPW Recycling Center
357 Bergen Avenue, Kearny, NJ 07032
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bulk items can I throw away in Kearny?
Kearny residents are allowed to place up to two (2) bulk items, such as furniture or carpeting, at the curb during each of their scheduled garbage pickups. Since residential zones have collection twice a week, you have multiple opportunities to dispose of bulk waste.
How do I throw out a refrigerator or washing machine?
Large metal appliances, known as white goods, are not collected with regular bulk trash. You must call the Kearny Department of Public Works at 201-998-3700 to schedule a specialized Friday pickup, or you can bring the item directly to the Recycling Center on Bergen Avenue.
Does Kearny collect plastic and paper recycling in the same bin?
No. Kearny operates on an alternating weekly schedule for recycling. One week they collect commingled containers (plastics #1-#7, glass, aluminum), and the following week they collect mixed paper and cardboard. You must separate them and only put out the material scheduled for that specific week.
What is the rule for getting rid of a mattress?
To protect sanitation workers from health hazards and bedbugs, all mattresses and box springs must be completely wrapped and sealed in a plastic bag before being placed at the curb with your regular garbage.