Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Pleasantville
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 container Bin (Trash)
Trash must be in proper receptacles weighing no more than 50 lbs (unless using a rolling cart). Limit of 4 cans per unit. Place at the curbline between 7:00 PM the day prior and 7:00 AM on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household solid waste
- ✓Food debris
- ✓Alkaline batteries
- ✓Dried solid latex paint
Resident-provided clearly marked recycling bin Bin (Recycling)
Recycling must be placed loose in outdoor curbside containers. Never bag recyclables. ACUA collects recycling on a biweekly schedule.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic containers (#1 and #2 with narrow necks)
- ✓Newspaper and flattened cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Frozen food boxes
- ✕Wrapping paper with metallic accents or glitter
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste must be placed in biodegradable paper bags or rigid reusable containers (like trash cans). Plastic bags are not permitted and will not be collected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Weeds
- ✓Tree limbs
- ✓Brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly, strictly on your designated ACUA trash day.
Placement
Place up to two accepted bulk items at the curbline alongside your standard trash bins prior to 7:00 AM on collection day. Keep items a few feet away from carts so the automated truck arms can operate.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Sofas and wooden furniture
- ✓ Carpeting (cut into 4-foot sections, rolled, and tied)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Televisions and electronics (requires separate appointment)
- ✕ Large metal appliances (requires separate appointment)
- ✕ Hazardous waste
Bulk pickup is free for up to two items. Anything exceeding two items, or unauthorized construction debris, will be left at the curb and requires a private dumpster.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
ACUA typically shifts standard trash and recycling collections forward by one day following a major observed holiday. Always check the ACUA holiday calendar for exact adjustments.
Yard Waste Exception
Pleasantville Public Works handles yard waste and special pickups (Thursday/Friday); these municipal services may be suspended entirely during holiday weeks.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, collection schedules generally remain unchanged. Check acua.com/holidays for real-time confirmation.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Frozen Food Boxes Out
Even though they look like regular cardboard, frozen food boxes are heavily lined with a specific plastic coating to prevent freezer burn [1.3.2]. This makes them incompatible with the ACUA's paper recycling stream. Always throw frozen food boxes in the regular trash.
Beware of Gifting Debris
During holidays and birthdays, remember that wrapping paper and tissue paper containing glitter, foil, or metallic accents cannot be recycled. These items contaminate entire batches of paper recycling and must be thrown in the garbage.
Never Use Plastic Bags for Leaves
A common mistake during autumn cleanups is stuffing leaves into large plastic garbage bags. Pleasantville Public Works mandates that all yard waste must be placed exclusively in biodegradable kraft paper bags or loose in an open rigid trash can.
Seasonal Information
Fall
October to DecemberDuring peak autumn leaf drop, adherence to the Thursday/Friday zone collection schedule is strictly enforced [1.4.2]. Residents must ensure all leaves are contained in paper biodegradable bags; placing loose leaf piles directly in the street can block storm drains and lead to flooding.
Spring
April to MayAs residents begin heavy yard maintenance, remember that standard household trash and yard waste trucks operate entirely separately. Do not mix spring weeds or brush into your standard 4-can trash limit.
Winter
December to MarchDuring significant Atlantic County snowstorms or coastal nor'easters, ACUA routes may be suspended for safety. Always check the ACUA website for real-time delay alerts, and ensure bins are cleared of snowbanks and accessible to automated trucks.
About Pleasantville Waste Management
Navigating Pleasantville's Hybrid Waste System
The City of Pleasantville operates a dual-pronged approach to waste management [1.2.2]. The Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) handles standard weekly household trash and biweekly recycling routes. Meanwhile, the local Pleasantville Public Works Department specifically manages the curbside collection of yard waste, large metal items, and mandatory electronic waste. Knowing which agency handles what material is crucial to avoiding missed pickups and municipal citations.
Strict Limits on Weekly Trash Receptacles
Pleasantville's municipal code sets strict boundaries on residential trash output to maintain clean neighborhoods. Each residential or multifamily unit is limited to a maximum of four standard trash cans per week. Standard containers must not exceed 50 pounds when full to protect sanitation workers, unless a specialized automated rolling cart is used. Bins cannot be placed at the curb earlier than 7:00 PM the evening before your designated ACUA collection day.
The Two-Item Curbside Bulk Waste Rule
Unlike towns that require residents to call weeks in advance or rent dumpsters for basic furniture disposal, Pleasantville makes it simple. Residents are allowed to place up to two bulky items—such as a mattress, sofa, or wooden dresser—at the curb directly on their regular weekly ACUA trash day. If disposing of carpeting, it must be cut into 4-foot lengths, tightly rolled, and tied; one roll counts as one of the two permitted bulk items.
Scheduling Metals and E-Waste by Phone
New Jersey state law explicitly bans electronic waste and large appliances from regular landfills. To accommodate this, the Pleasantville Public Works Department offers dedicated curbside pickups for televisions, computers, stoves, and scrap metal. These materials will not be collected by the standard ACUA trash trucks. Residents must call the Public Works office at (609) 484-3641 to schedule an appointment for collection.
Zone-Based Yard Debris Collection
Vegetative waste is managed directly by the city and is strictly separated by geographic zones. If you live North of Washington Avenue to Nevada Avenue, your yard waste is collected on Thursdays. For those South of Washington Avenue to Ridgewood Avenue, collections occur on Fridays. All brush and leaves must be housed in biodegradable paper bags or reusable rigid trash cans—plastic bags are explicitly prohibited and will be left at the curb.
Drop-off Facilities
ACUA Environmental Park (Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off)
6700 Delilah Road, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many trash cans can I put out each week?
According to the City of Pleasantville's municipal code, each residential unit is limited to a maximum of four (4) trash cans per week [1.4.2]. Containers must not exceed 50 pounds unless you are utilizing a specialized automated rolling cart.
Do I need to make an appointment to throw away an old couch?
No. You are permitted to place up to two (2) bulky items, such as a couch or a mattress, at the curb on your regularly scheduled ACUA trash collection day without making an appointment.
How do I dispose of a broken television or computer?
Electronics are banned from standard garbage. You must contact the Pleasantville Public Works Department directly at (609) 484-3641 to schedule a specialized e-waste curbside pickup.
When is yard waste picked up in my neighborhood?
Yard waste pickup is divided geographically. If you live North of Washington Avenue to Nevada Avenue, your pickup is on Thursdays. If you live South of Washington Avenue to Ridgewood Avenue, your pickup is on Fridays. It must be in biodegradable bags or a rigid can.