Newark, NJ Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Bulk item cap
- 10 items per collection day
- Excess items
- Owner must hire licensed hauler
- 1st-offense fine
- $250 per excess item
- Max penalty per incident
- $10,000
- Mattresses
- Must be wrapped in plastic
Summary
Newark limits residential bulk waste, like furniture, appliances and mattresses, to 10 items per scheduled bulk collection day under City Code Section 15:4-11(f). Anything beyond 10 items must go through a licensed private hauler at the owner's expense, and the DPW can remove hazardous items itself and bill the property owner.
Every privately owned residential property shall be limited to 10 bulk items that can be placed outside on the scheduled bulk collection day. [i] Each item over 10 bulk items shall be removed by a licensed private hauler, on the same day and at the owner's expense. [ii] Items placed outside that are determined by the Director of the DPW to be a hazard to public health, safety, and welfare shall be hauled away by the DPW, the cost of which shall be charged to the residential property owner. ... First Offense. A fine of $250 for each item over 10 bulk items. If the bulk waste items are not picked up on the same day, then a fine of an additional $250 per day shall be assessed until the offense is abated. ... The maximum penalty for a violation of this subsection shall not exceed $10,000 per incident.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 5019615; v61 updated 2026-06-17; through 06-17-2026).
Full Breakdown
" If the Director of the Department of Public Works decides an item set outside is a hazard to public health, safety or welfare, the DPW can haul it away itself and charge the cost back to the property owner, on top of any fine. Section 15:4-11(c) separately bars storing bulky household waste, appliances, furniture and mattresses in a residential zone at all except inside a fully enclosed structure or during the days set aside for bulk collection, and mattresses specifically must be wrapped in plastic before disposal to stop the spread of bed bugs and other pests.
Section 15:4-11(d) applies the same enclosed-structure rule to stored tires. The bulk-item cap and mattress-wrapping rule are enforced by the Department of Public Works alongside the Division of Sanitation.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of the 10-item cap draws a $250 fine per excess item, plus another $250 per day until picked up. Fines rise to $350 per item for a second offense, $450 plus up to 90 days of community service for a third, and $1,500 per item for a fourth or later offense, with matching daily add-ons. Total penalty per incident is capped at $10,000, and the DPW's hazardous-item hauling cost is billed on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bulk items can I put out for collection in Newark?
Can I store an old couch or mattress in my yard until bulk pickup day?
What if my bulk item is dangerous, like a broken appliance with sharp edges?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Newark
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