Passaic, NJ Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 157-1, Ch. 157 Art. I
- Duty holders
- Owner, tenant, superintendent, business occupant
- Max container size
- 55 gallons
- First-offense fine
- $100–$250
- Third-offense penalty
- $750–$1,000 + up to 90 days jail
- Last amended
- Nov. 9, 2023 (Ord. 2420-23)
Summary
Every tenant, superintendent, owner, business owner or other occupant of a Passaic dwelling or building where garbage, refuse or rubbish accumulates must collect those materials and follow all of Chapter 157's container, placement and timing rules: collection is not optional and applies to the whole building, not just the landlord.
Every tenant, superintendent, owner, business owner, and any other individual or entity conducting business or occupying any part of a dwelling or building within the City, where garbage, refuse, or rubbish accumulate, is hereby required to collect these materials, and must adhere to the entirety of this article and ensure proper collection of these materials.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4978046; v41 updated 2026-07-01; through 07-01-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 157-1, amended by Ord. No. 2420-23 on November 9, 2023, places the collection duty on everyone connected to a property, tenant, superintendent, owner, business owner, or any other individual or entity occupying or conducting business in a dwelling or building, wherever garbage, refuse or rubbish accumulates. That duty runs to compliance with the entire Article I of Chapter 157, not just putting a can at the curb. Under § 157-2, garbage is limited to animal or vegetable food waste (retail-dealer garbage capped at six barrels per collection), while refuse, rubbish and bulky waste cover the broader household stream.
Section 157-3 requires each residential or commercial occupant to supply a dumpster or watertight, 55-gallon-maximum container, or, if there is no room for one, two-mil-thick heavy-duty black plastic bags. C. 5(d). Collection itself runs on a two-day-per-week residential cycle (the code references Monday/Thursday, Tuesday/Friday and Wednesday/Saturday routes when explaining the bulky-waste pickup day), with separate rules for designated business streets. Property owners who live outside Passaic must register a local agent for service of process with the Department of Community Development under § 157-10. Failure to collect or to comply with the article exposes every responsible party, owner or tenant alike, per § 157-11, to escalating fines under § 157-9.
Violations & Fines
First violation: fine of $100 to $250. Second violation: $250 to $750. Third and subsequent violations: $750 up to $1,000 plus up to 90 days in the county jail, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. Owners and tenants are jointly liable under § 157-11.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to arrange trash collection in Passaic: the landlord or the tenant?
Is curbside trash collection mandatory for Passaic properties?
What happens if a Passaic property repeatedly fails to comply with collection rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Passaic
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Collection Schedule in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Passaic County handle collection schedule.