Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Paramus
Trash Day
Trash is collected twice weekly divided by Midland Avenue: South of Midland Avenue is picked up on Mondays (kitchen garbage) and Thursdays (separated garbage and trash); North of Midland Avenue is picked up on Tuesdays (kitchen garbage) and Fridays (separated garbage and trash).
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly by color section (Monday: Section 1 Red; Tuesday: Section 2 Blue; Wednesday: Section 3 Green; Thursday: Section 4 Orange; Friday: Section 5 Brown), alternating weekly between paper/cardboard and commingled bottles and cans.
Yard Waste
Every Wednesday borough-wide for grass and vegetative waste in cans or paper bags; seasonal loose leaf collection runs curbside during the fall.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash and recycling collections are municipal services funded through your local property taxes, meaning residents do not receive a separate trash utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Online (e-Check, Credit Card), Mail, Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
State and local property tax relief and senior citizen deductions are available through the Tax Assessor's office.
Township-provided automated container Bin (Trash)
Kitchen garbage must be bagged and placed entirely inside the covered automated collection container. Trash left outside the bin or in other areas of the property will not be removed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Kitchen food scraps
- ✓Bagged household garbage
OTTO container (Lid color varies by section) Bin (Recycling)
Commingled plastics and glass go inside the OTTO container. Cardboard must be collapsed and tied. Newspapers must be tied securely or placed in brown paper bags and placed next to the container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic beverage and laundry containers
- ✓Newspaper and cardboard (placed separately outside bin)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Garden debris
- ✕Newspapers or cardboard inside the OTTO container
Yard Waste Bin
Branches must be cut to 4-foot lengths and tied in bundles (limit 10). From early Oct to late Nov, leaves and grass may be placed loose at the curb. Otherwise, they must be in pails or biodegradable bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Branches
- ✓Brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a week on your designated end-of-week collection day.
Placement
Bulk trash must be separated from kitchen garbage. Rugs must be cut and tied. Contractors hired by residents are fully responsible for removing their own construction debris.
Accepted
- ✓ Chairs
- ✓ Tables
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Rugs (cut to 3-foot lengths, rolled and tied)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction materials (cabinets, sheetrock, fencing, wood)
- ✕ Propane tanks
- ✕ Electronic waste (must be scheduled separately)
The disposal and cost of dumping building or construction materials are the sole responsibility of the contractor or resident.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
In Paramus, if a holiday falls on your scheduled garbage, trash, or recycling day, your pick up for that specific route is completely cancelled.
Yard Waste Exception
If a holiday falls on a Wednesday, there will be no vegetative waste pickup for the entire borough that week.
A Monday holiday cancels South of Midland Avenue garbage. A Tuesday holiday cancels North of Midland Avenue garbage. Check the borough calendar for specific dates.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October 5 - November 29During the fall leaf season, grass and leaves may be put into the curb-line loose and un-bagged for pick up by municipal leaf machines. Absolutely no branches or twigs are accepted in these loose piles.
Winter
Starting November 30The loose leaf vacuum program ends. After this date, you must revert to standard vegetative waste rules by placing leaves and grass in garbage pails or biodegradable paper bags for Wednesday pickups.
Severe Weather / Holidays
Year-RoundIf a holiday falls on your collection day, your pickup is entirely cancelled for that day. It does not automatically roll over to the next day.
Local Tips & Community Info
Cash for Your Cans? Find Out Where Paramus Residents Can Turn Scrap into Sparkle!
While Paramus has a great recycling program, sometimes you've got extra bottles and cans that could bring in a little cash. New Jersey has a state-wide bottle redemption program for most beverage containers – just look for the 5-cent deposit symbol on them. While there aren't specific buyback centers right in Paramus, many grocery stores and larger retailers throughout Bergen County participate in redemption. For larger quantities of scrap metal, you might consider checking out local scrap yards in nearby areas; a quick search for "scrap metal recycling Bergen County NJ" should give you options for turning that old metal into money.
Give Your Gently Used Stuff a Second Life Right Here in Paramus!
Before you toss out items that are still perfectly good, think about donating them! For furniture, clothing, and household goods, the Goodwill Store & Donation Center in nearby Paramus is a fantastic spot to drop off your items. They support job training programs, so your donation really makes a difference. If you've got building materials or home improvement items, Habitat for Humanity ReStores often accept these, and there's one in nearby Bergenfield that might be worth a visit. It's a win-win: declutter your home and help someone else out!
Keeping Paramus Clean: How to Report Dumping & What's Happening Locally
Nobody likes seeing trash where it shouldn't be! If you ever witness illegal dumping in Paramus, the best course of action is to contact the Paramus Department of Public Works directly at (201) 265-2100, ext. 3100. They are equipped to handle these situations. While specific large-scale community clean-up events aren't always announced far in advance, keeping an eye on the official Borough of Paramus website or local community social media groups is a good way to stay informed about any upcoming volunteer opportunities to help beautify our town.
Drop-off Facilities
Paramus Recycling Center
Carlough Drive Public Works Building, Paramus, NJ 07652
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the residential garbage schedule in Paramus?
Residents living South of Midland Avenue have their kitchen garbage picked up on Mondays and their bulk trash on Thursdays. Residents living North of Midland Avenue have kitchen garbage picked up on Tuesdays and bulk trash on Fridays.
How do I properly recycle cardboard and newspapers?
Cardboard must be collapsed, tied, and placed at the curb. Newspapers must be tied securely or placed in brown paper bags. Never put paper or cardboard inside your commingled OTTO container, and never use plastic bags.
What is the borough's policy for fall leaf collection?
Between October 5th and November 29th, residents can rake grass and leaves loose and unbagged along the curb-line for vacuum collection. Branches cannot be mixed in. After November 29th, all yard waste must be bagged or placed in pails for Wednesday pickup.
What happens if my collection day falls on a holiday?
If a holiday falls on your scheduled garbage, recycling, or vegetative waste collection day, that specific pickup is completely cancelled. For example, if Wednesday is a holiday, there is no yard waste pickup for the entire borough that week.