Trash & Recycling in Bergenfield, NJ (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Bergenfield, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Before Department of Public Works crews will take it, refuse in Bergenfield has to be packaged a specific way: dead animals and feces double-bagged in three-mil plastic, cardboard flattened into bundles no larger than three feet square, and brush cut to four-foot lengths. Contractors hauling bulk or trade waste must arrange their own removal.
Bergenfield Refuse Preparation Rules for Pickup
Some RestrictionsBergenfield Borough Code § 344-54
§ 344-54. Preparation of refuse for collection. A. Animal feces and dead animals shall be placed in a synthetic bag of at least three mil strength and securely tied. ... D. All cardboard cartons shall be flattened and tied in bundles or packed in suitable containers of a size that they may be readily handled by one collector, and in no case shall such bundle or container be larger than three fe...
Bin Placement Rules
Bergenfield's Sanitary Code tells residents exactly where garbage receptacles go and how fast they must come back off the curb: containers are set out between the curb and sidewalk, must be tightly covered, and have to be pulled back within 12 hours after being emptied. Paper bags and cardboard boxes may never serve as containers.
Bergenfield Trash Receptacle Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsBergenfield Borough Code § 344-52
§ 344-52. Receptacles and manner of storage. ... D. Receptacles shall be conveniently located on premises for the storage of refuse and maintained in such a manner as to prevent the creation of a health nuisance to the residents. If cans or non-roll-off dumpsters are used, they shall be tightly covered. E. Receptacles of refuse shall be set out for collection between the curb and the sidewalk o...
Bulk Item Disposal
Bergenfield caps bulk item pickup at four pieces of furniture, two major appliances and one carpet or rug per household every quarter. Brick, mortar, stone, concrete and similar material get no municipal pickup at all under Section 344-53, and professionally removed carpet is excluded too.
Bergenfield Quarterly Bulk Refuse Limits
Some RestrictionsBergenfield Borough Code § 344-53
§ 344-53. Maximum allowable bulk refuse by type. A. The maximum allowable bulk refuse allowed quarterly per household/unit is: ... (2) One carpet or rug that does not exceed 12 feet in length and/or one foot in diameter (including the pad) or a mixture of fragments from a carpet or rug of said size. The Borough of Bergenfield will not collect carpets removed professionally; (3) Four pieces of h...
Recycling Requirements
Bergenfield requires every residential, commercial and institutional property to separate a long list of designated materials, from aluminum and glass to e-waste and construction debris, from regular trash under Borough Code Chapter 266, Article IV.
Bergenfield Mandatory Recycling Separation
Some RestrictionsBergenfield Borough Code §§ 266-18, 266-20
§ 266-18. Recyclable materials. Recyclable materials are designated below: ... All persons, except those physically disabled, who are owners, lessees or occupants of residential, commercial and institutional properties in the Borough of Bergenfield shall separate leaves, grass clippings, branches, vegetative yard waste, newspapers, magazines, office grade paper, mixed paper, aluminum, tin, glas...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping solid waste, refuse or garbage on any land or water in Bergenfield, or into someone else's collection container, is unlawful under Section 344-57 of the Sanitary Code. Whoever dumps it must remove it themselves, and an unidentified dumper's cleanup falls to the property owner.
Bergenfield Illegal Dumping Ordinance
Heavy RestrictionsBergenfield Borough Code §§ 344-57, 344-59
§ 344-57. Illegal dumping or disposing of solid waste. A. It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit, place or dump, or allow the dumping, depositing or placing of any solid waste, refuse, garbage, yard trimmings, tree limbs or other materials upon any land or in any water of this Borough. ... § 344-59. Removal of illegally dumped materials. A. Any person violating any provisions of § 344-5...
Yard Waste Collection
Bergenfield only allows loose leaves and grass to be swept or blown to the curb in the seven days before a scheduled collection, and never within 10 feet of a storm drain inlet, under Borough Code Section 266-27.
Bergenfield Yard Waste Curb Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsBergenfield Borough Code § 266-27
§ 266-27. Placement of yard waste. Sweeping, raking, blowing or otherwise placing yard waste that is not containerized at the curb or along the street is only allowed during seven days prior to a scheduled and announced collection and shall not be placed closer than 10 feet from any storm drain inlet. Placement of such yard waste at the curb or along the street at any other time or in any other...
Dumpster Rules
Bergenfield requires business dumpsters and recycling receptacles to stay tightly covered and rodent-proof, allows uncovered roll-off dumpsters only under strict conditions, and bans dumping liquids like cooking oil into any dumpster, under Section 266-42.
Bergenfield Commercial Dumpster Covering Rules
Some RestrictionsBergenfield Borough Code § 266-42
Roll-off type dumpsters which do not have lids may be kept uncovered under the following conditions only: (1) No recycling containing food wastes is stored within. (2) The height of the recycling does not exceed the height of the dumpster. (3) The recycling cannot be scattered by the wind. (4) Does not constitute a health nuisance of any type. ... Business establishments may not store or dispos...
Collection Schedule
Bergenfield residents cannot put garbage, recyclables or bulk refuse at the curb before 6:00 p.m. the night before their scheduled collection day. The Department of Public Works Superintendent sets which areas get which collection day and time, with the Board of Health and Health Officer sharing enforcement.
Bergenfield Curbside Trash Set-Out Time Rule
Some RestrictionsBergenfield Borough Code §§ 344-55, 344-56
§ 344-55. Time of placement and removal. It shall be unlawful for any person to place, or cause to be placed, or permit to remain at the curb, any receptacle, plastic bag or bundle containing bulk refuse, garbage or recyclables earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the night prior to collection for that premise's regular collection day as established by the Department of Public Works. ... § 344-56. Adminis...
Recycling Rules
Bergenfield's Mayor and Council appoint a Municipal Recycling Coordinator to enforce the recycling program, and once recyclables hit the curb they belong to the Borough, making unauthorized scavenging a separate offense for every pickup under Chapter 266.
Bergenfield Recycling Coordinator and Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsBergenfield Borough Code §§ 266-19, 266-22
§ 266-19. Designation of Recycling Coordinator. The Mayor and Council shall appoint a Municipal Recycling Coordinator and enforcement agent under this article. ... § 266-2 ... 2. Unauthorized collection of recyclables. From the time of placement at the curb for pickup, collection and recycling, recyclables shall be the property of the Borough of Bergenfield or its duly authorized agent. No pers...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bergenfield city rules.
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