Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Ridgewood Village
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.
Any standard color Bin (Trash)
Place curbside between 5:00 PM the night before and 6:00 AM on collection day. Do not use beige recycling barrels. Cans must be stored out of view on non-collection days.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household solid waste
- ✓Non-recyclable items
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Plastic food trays and styrofoam peanuts
Beige barrel & Green/Blue crate Bin (Recycling)
Bottles and cans must go in the official 32-gallon beige barrel. Paper must be in the town-issued crate, paper bags, or nested cardboard boxes. Flatten all cardboard.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jars, jugs, and dairy tubs
- ✓Mixed paper, cardboard, and shelf-stable cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Deli/bakery plastic containers
- ✕Drinking cups and utensils
- ✕E-waste
Yard Waste Bin
Must be in a barrel (max 32 gallons/80 lbs) or a biodegradable paper bag. Branches must be tied in 3-foot bundles. No plastic bags or beige recycling barrels.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Plant trimmings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Branches and twigs (up to 3 ft)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Collected curbside on designated zone Wednesdays.
Placement
Place at the curb after 5:00 PM the night prior or before 6:00 AM on collection day. Mattresses must be in plastic mattress disposal bags.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Carpets and padding (cut under 72 inches)
- ✓ Mattresses (must be sealed in plastic bags)
- ✓ Non-freon scrap metals (on specific days)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronic devices (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Tree stumps and dirt
- ✕ Concrete and rocks
- ✕ Building and remodeling materials
Standard bulk collection on designated Wednesdays is free. However, an unscheduled curbside bulk or garbage pickup requires a $150 fee paid in advance to the DPW.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Garbage, recycling, and bulk collections scheduled on these major holidays are generally delayed by one day, shifting schedules for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulk collections may also experience shifts. Bulk refuse is generally not collected during holiday weeks.
Always check the Recycle Coach app or the printed Village Calendar to confirm your specific zone's modified holiday schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
No Greasy Pizza Boxes
While clean cardboard is fully recyclable, greasy pizza boxes will contaminate the paper stream. You must tear the box apart, throwing the grease-stained bottom in the garbage and recycling only the clean lid.
Keep Plastic Bags Out
Supermarket plastic bags cannot be placed in your beige recycling barrel, as they jam processing machinery. Take them to local supermarkets that offer recycling drop-offs, or throw them in the regular trash.
Don't Recycle All Plastics
Ridgewood only accepts plastic bottles, jars, jugs, and dairy tubs at the curb. Do not place plastic deli containers, produce trays, drinking cups, or plastic utensils in the recycling barrel.
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
Mid-October to Early DecemberDuring Leaf Collection Season, leaves may be placed directly in the street or in leaf bags per the mailed schedule. Curbside branch and brush collection is suspended during this period.
Spring/Summer
April to OctoberStandard yard waste collection is active. Place yard waste in proper 32-gallon barrels or biodegradable paper bags on scheduled days. Never use plastic bags.
Winter
December to FebruaryChristmas trees are picked up during the first two Wednesdays in January. During snow events, residents must shovel and clear a path to their refuse containers once the snow has stopped.
About Ridgewood Village Waste Management
Curbside Garbage Guidelines for Ridgewood Residents
The Village of Ridgewood manages solid waste pickups through its Department of Public Works. Regular household trash must be placed in sturdy containers or heavy-duty black trash bags capable of withstanding normal climatic conditions and wildlife scavenging. To maintain the village's aesthetic and cleanliness, containers must not be placed out prior to 5:00 PM the night before or 6:00 AM on collection day. Furthermore, household refuse will absolutely not be collected if placed in the beige municipal recycling barrels.
Mandatory Source Separation and Container Rules
Ridgewood enforces a strict source separation and recycling ordinance in compliance with New Jersey law. Residents are required to use the official 32-gallon beige barrel for bottles and cans (plastics, glass, and aluminum). Mixed paper and cardboard must be set out in the official town-issued milk crate, paper bags, or nested cardboard boxes. Utilizing these official containers ensures uniform pickups, protects the sanitation employees from injury, and maximizes the village's recycling efficiency.
Bulk Refuse and Metals Collection Specifics
Ridgewood designates specific Wednesdays for bulk refuse collection, limited to 7 items per pickup. Each item must not exceed 100 pounds or 72 inches in length. On these scheduled 'metals Wednesdays,' residents can also place appliances and scrap metal out, provided safety measures—like removing refrigerator doors—are taken. Crucially, all mattresses must be entirely wrapped in plastic disposal bags prior to curbside set out to prevent pest contamination. Electronic devices are strictly barred from curbside bulk pickups.
Seasonal Yard Waste and Leaf Management
Ridgewood maintains a designated yard waste season from early April through early October. During this period, residents must place grass clippings and brush in a barrel (maximum 32 gallons and 80 lbs) or a biodegradable paper bag. Brush needs to be securely tied in 3-foot bundles. Once the intensive leaf collection season begins in October, standard curbside brush collection is suspended. Instead, leaves can be placed directly in the street or in paper leaf bags according to the mailed Leaf Flyer schedule.
The Glen Avenue Recycling Center Drop-off
For materials not accepted at the curb, Ridgewood operates a robust Recycling Center at 203 E. Glen Avenue, open five days a week (closed Wednesdays and Sundays). This facility is a vital resource for disposing of e-waste, tires, scrap metals, clean styrofoam block packaging, and textiles. Residents can also drop off clean vegetative waste here year-round. Proof of residency is required upon entry, and no household or bulky trash is accepted at this site.
Drop-off Facilities
Ridgewood Recycling Center
203 E. Glen Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use the official beige barrel for recycling?
Yes, municipal ordinance requires bottles and cans to be placed in the official 32-gallon beige recycling container. This ensures consistency and protects sanitation workers from injury.
How do I dispose of a mattress in Ridgewood?
All mattresses, regardless of size or material, must be entirely sealed within a plastic mattress disposal bag before being placed at the curb on your scheduled bulk refuse Wednesday.
What do I do with electronic waste like old TVs or computers?
Electronic devices are strictly prohibited from curbside garbage and bulk collections. Residents must drop off e-waste at the Ridgewood Recycling Center located at 203 E. Glen Avenue during operating hours.
How should yard waste be prepared for curbside pickup?
Between April and October, grass and brush must be placed in a 32-gallon barrel (max 80 lbs) or a paper biodegradable lawn/leaf bag. Branches up to 3 feet long and 2 inches in diameter must be tied in bundles. Plastic bags are not permitted.