Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Nutley
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.
Township-authorized 95-gallon grey cart Bin (Trash)
Must use the official 95-gallon cart provided by the township. Lid must be closed properly. Do not place loose bags or overfill past safety margins.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable household waste
- ✓ bagged trash securely fitting inside the cart
Separate round, rectangular, or specialized recycling bins Bin (Recycling)
Sort commingled items and paper separately into appropriate containers. Place at the curb no earlier than 5:00 PM the night before and no later than 6:00 AM on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Commingled glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and metal food cans
- ✓Rigid plastics (#1, #2, #5)
- ✓Newspaper, corrugated cardboard, and mixed paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic shopping bags
- ✕Styrofoam and bubble wrap
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Window glass or ceramics
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in the designated green vegetation carts or brown biodegradable paper bags between April and December. Plastic bags or containers exceeding 50 pounds are strictly rejected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Branches and twigs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Twice a month on Wednesdays (by reservation based on zone)
Placement
Place approved bulk items neatly at the curb the evening before your scheduled Wednesday collection date. All appliance doors must be removed beforehand.
Accepted
- ✓ Living room couches and furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be clean)
- ✓ Indoor wood furniture and desks
- ✓ Carpets cut, rolled, and tied in 4-foot lengths
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household garbage or standard trash bags
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris or building rubble
- ✕ Electronics and televisions
- ✕ Tires (require special DPW scheduling)
Standard residential bulk collection up to 5 items is covered under municipal services, but contractor-generated building waste is strictly prohibited.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When garbage collection falls on a major holiday, collection services typically resume on your next regularly scheduled collection day. Recycling collection is explicitly canceled on listed municipal and state holidays.
Yard Waste Exception
Vegetative and leaf collections are suspended during weeks featuring major public holidays and resume on the following normal operating cycle.
Always double-check the current digital calendar on the Nutley Recycle Coach app for sudden route adjustments caused by holiday backlogs.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of Commingled Bins
Never bag your plastic, glass, and metal recyclables. Loose placement is mandatory because plastic film tangles in the automated sorting equipment utilized by F. Basso, Jr. Rubbish Removal.
Respect Weight Limits on Yard Waste Bags
When using brown biodegradable paper bags for seasonal leaves, ensure individual bags weigh under 50 pounds. Overweight bags or those containing unauthorized dirt, stones, or plastic liners will be left behind.
Separate Paper from Commingled Containers
Because Nutley deploys two separate trucks for recycling—one for paper handled by the DPW and one for commingled containers handled privately—do not mix paper products directly inside your plastic/glass recycling buckets.
Seasonal Information
Fall Leaf Collection
October - DecemberCurbside leaf pickup operates on Wednesdays. All leaves must be safely contained inside brown biodegradable paper bags or authorized vegetative bins; raking loose leaves directly into the street gutter is prohibited to protect stormwater systems.
Summer Operations
May - SeptemberThe Department of Public Works shifts to summer operational hours (7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday). Residents should ensure carts are tightly secured to control odors during high summer temperatures.
Winter Weather Adjustments
January - MarchSnow events can disrupt collection routes. Avoid placing carts directly on top of snow banks or in the street plow path; set them back behind the curb line so sanitation vehicles and snowplows can pass safely.
About Nutley Waste Management
The 95-Gallon Automated Cart Program in Nutley
Nutley utilizes an automated garbage collection framework featuring durable, township-issued 95-gallon carts designed to contain odors and handle up to 300 pounds of waste. Rolled out to modernize sanitation operations, homeowners are strictly required to use these official carts for regular waste. Loose bags or non-authorized containers left at the curb will not be serviced by collection crews.
The Dual-Truck Curbside Recycling System
A unique aspect of Nutley's waste management is its split recycling methodology. Two separate trucks and two distinct containers service every household on collection day. Commingled materials like metal cans, plastics, and glass are collected by private contractor F. Basso, Jr. Rubbish Removal Inc., while paper and cardboard materials are managed directly by the Township Department of Public Works.
Targeted Bulk Trash Scheduling by Zone
Large household items and furniture require advanced planning through Nutley's reservation system. Residents must complete an online Bulk Trash Scheduling Form by 10:00 AM the day before their scheduled collection date. Pickups occur twice a month on Wednesdays, neatly aligned with your zone's specific schedule—such as the first and third Wednesdays for Zone 1, and the second and fourth Wednesdays for Zone 2.
Seasonal Vegetation and Leaf Management
To manage yard waste cleanly, single-family through four-family homes receive specialized vegetation carts for seasonal green waste collection running from April through December. During peak autumn months (October through December), the township also permits brown biodegradable paper bags for leaf disposal, ensuring organic materials are kept completely out of the standard automated garbage stream.
Drop-off Facilities
Nutley Department of Public Works Yard
384 Passaic Avenue, Nutley, NJ 07110
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own plastic garbage cans with Nutley's automated collection?
No. Nutley utilizes an automated 95-gallon cart system. Garbage must be placed inside the official township-issued grey carts, as non-authorized cans or loose bags will not be emptied by the trucks.
Why are there two different trucks picking up my recycling?
Nutley splits its recycling stream to optimize efficiency. Commingled containers (cans, glass, plastics) are collected by a private contractor (F. Basso, Jr.), while paper and cardboard are collected directly by the Township DPW using separate trucks.
Do I need to schedule a pickup for old furniture or couches?
Yes. Bulk trash collection requires you to complete an online Bulk Trash Scheduling Form by 10:00 AM the day before your designated zone's Wednesday collection date, with a limit of 5 items per pickup.
Where can I get extra recycling or vegetative bins in Nutley?
Residents can pick up free-of-charge recycling or vegetative bins (limited to one round, one rectangular, and one vegetative bin per household) directly at the Department of Public Works yard with proper identification.