Trash & Recycling in Jersey City, NJ (2026)
8 verified trash & recycling rules for Jersey City, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Jersey City refuse cannot sit for more than 96 hours before removal: the cap applies to houses, apartment buildings, businesses and government sites using dumpsters alike. Restaurants and other food-service businesses face a tighter 24-hour limit on swill. The city collects and hauls refuse under § 287-5, while large generators must arrange private haulage.
Jersey City Refuse Accumulation and Pickup Limits
Some RestrictionsJersey City Code § 287-9
A.No person may permit the accumulation of more than 96 hours of refuse and, including but not limited to apartment buildings, commercial premises, industrial buildings and government buildings using dumpsters, may accumulate a maximum of 96 hours of refuse. B.No restaurant or place of business selling food for consumption on the premises may accumulate more than 24 hours of swill.
Bin Placement Rules
Jersey City refuse containers must hold 10 to 32 gallons and can't go out before 5:00 p.m. the evening of collection, earlier placement needs a Public Works permit allowing a 4:00 p.m. curb time the day before. § 287-8 also bans curbside refuse citywide between midnight and 5:00 a.m.
Jersey City Trash Cart Placement and Set-Out Times
Some RestrictionsJersey City Code § 287-8(C), (H)
C.Refuse containers shall not be smaller than 10 gallons nor larger than 32 gallons and shall be constructed of material capable of holding refuse without leakage or spillage. Refuse containers shall be provided with handles so as to be suitable for collection by one person. ... H.With the exception of Subsection I below, they shall be placed adjacent to the curb in front of the premises or oth...
Bulk Item Disposal
Oversized items and anything over 60 pounds don't go to the curb on a regular collection day in Jersey City, § 287-7 requires an appointment with the Department of Public Works first, and refrigerator or oven doors must be removed. Tree trimmings and brush are capped at 4-foot lengths tied into 2-foot bundles.
Jersey City Bulk Item and Brush Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsJersey City Code § 287-7(C), (D)
C.Tree trimmings, hedge clippings, lumber and similar material shall be cut to lengths not to exceed four feet each and securely tied in bundles not more than two feet thick.D.Objects which because of their size or shape do not fit into refuse containers or whose weight exceeds 60 pounds shall be placed out for collection only at such places and at times designated by appointment made with the ...
Recycling Requirements
Jersey City requires every owner, tenant and occupant, residential or commercial, to separate designated recyclables from trash under § 287-42. Materials like cardboard, glass, mixed paper, metals and plastics #1/#2 must go out separately at the curb, though qualifying commercial generators can apply for an exemption.
Jersey City Mandatory Recycling Separation Rule
Some RestrictionsJersey City Code § 287-42(A)
It shall be mandatory of all persons who are owners, tenants, or occupants of residential and non-residential premises located within the municipality of the City of Jersey City to separate designated recyclable materials from all solid waste. Designated recyclable materials shall be deposited separated and apart from other solid waste generated by the owners, tenants, or occupants of such prem...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping refuse, rubbish or solid waste anywhere in Jersey City not designated for disposal is flatly banned under § 287-13, and violators must remove everything they dumped or face a separate offense for every day it stays. Fines run $2,500 to $10,000 per Chapter 1's solid-waste penalty tier.
Jersey City Illegal Dumping Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsJersey City Code § 287-13
No person shall discard or dump any refuse, rubbish, household or commercial solid waste in any place or on any land in the city not specifically designated for the purpose of solid waste disposal.
Dumpster Rules
Placing a demolition container or dumpster on a Jersey City sidewalk or street requires a permit from the Division of Traffic and Street Maintenance under § 287-12. Containers can't be filled past four inches from the top and must carry a state ID number plus reflectors and a striped marking.
Jersey City Dumpster and Demolition Container Permits
Significant RestrictionsJersey City Code § 287-12(A), (C)
A.No person shall place or use a demolition container or dumpster on the sidewalks or streets of the city without first obtaining a permit therefor from the Division of Traffic and Street Maintenance. ... C.Demolition containers and dumpsters shall not be filled higher than four inches from the top edge. Demolition containers and dumpsters shall bear an identification number assigned by the sta...
Collection Schedule
Jersey City collects, hauls and disposes of residential refuse citywide under § 287-5, and residents may not let more than 96 hours of refuse accumulate between pickups under § 287-9(A). Larger generators, industrial buildings, restaurants, hospitals and big stores, must arrange their own private hauling instead under § 287-6.
Jersey City Mandatory Refuse Collection
Some RestrictionsJersey City Code § 287-5; § 287-9(A)
§ 287-5: Except as otherwise provided in this article, the city shall collect, haul and dispose of all refuse accumulating within the city. ... § 287-9.A: No person may permit the accumulation of more than 96 hours of refuse and, including but not limited to apartment buildings, commercial premises, industrial buildings and government buildings using dumpsters, may accumulate a maximum of 96 ho...
Recycling Rules
Recycling receptacles in Jersey City go out between the curb and sidewalk from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. the night before collection and must be pulled back by 10:00 a.m. after pickup under § 287-43. Containers must stay clean and safe to handle, per the city's Health Code.
Jersey City Curbside Recycling Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsJersey City Code § 287-43(A)
A.All receptacles containing recyclable materials shall be placed, prior to collection, between the curb and the sidewalk, or in the absence of curb and sidewalk, as near to the street as not to constitute a danger, where such receptacles shall be readily accessible to the collector without providing obstruction to pedestrians. The owner or occupant of the premises shall keep all receptacles cl...