5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Essex County, New Jersey.
Verified from official government sources
Curbside trash collection in Essex County is arranged by each municipality, either with a town department or a contracted hauler. Countywide disposal is planned by the Essex County Utilities Authority, which handled over 533,000 tons of solid waste in 2020.
When and where to place trash and recycling bins at the curb is set by each Essex County municipality's collection ordinance, not the county. Most towns specify set-out windows the evening before or morning of pickup and prompt removal afterward.
Bulk-item pickup for furniture, appliances, and large debris is arranged by each Essex County municipality. The Essex County Utilities Authority also runs special county collection events for household hazardous waste and electronics.
Recycling is mandatory statewide under New Jersey's Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act. Every Essex County municipality must adopt an ordinance requiring residents and businesses to source-separate designated recyclables from the trash stream.
Illegal dumping is prohibited under New Jersey's Solid Waste Management Act and criminal littering statutes. Violations can bring steep DEP civil penalties, and Essex County municipalities like Newark enforce their own anti-dumping ordinances.
N.J.S.A. 13:1E-9(e)
The commissioner is authorized to assess a civil administrative penalty of not more than $50,000 for each violation provided that each day during which the violation continues shall constitute an additional, separate and distinct offense.
1 cities in Essex County have their own trash & recycling rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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Essex County Ordinance Hub →