Bergenfield, NJ Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Ch. 266, Art. IV (§§ 266-18 to 266-25)
- Who must separate
- All owners, lessees, occupants except disabled
- Motor oil disposal fee
- $0.25 per quart, DPW office
- Commercial tonnage report due
- January 15 annually
- First-offense fine
- Up to $1,000 or 90 days jail
Summary
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.
§ 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, glass, plastic bottles, cartons, e-waste, batteries, white goods, oil and antifreeze and construction and demolition debris and ferrous metals from any other trash and garbage generated by said persons, and they shall separately prepare the aforesaid described recyclable items in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations propounded by authority of this article.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 266, Article IV, adopted by Ordinance No. 2174 and last amended by Ordinance No. 19-2544 in 2019, spells out exactly what Bergenfield property owners must keep out of the garbage. Section 266-18 lists the designated recyclables: aluminum cans and foil, tin and bi-metal cans, glass beverage containers (excluding window glass), corrugated cardboard, ferrous scrap, white goods, PETE, HDPE and PP plastic bottles with caps removed, mixed and high-grade paper, leaves and yard waste, oil and antifreeze, construction and demolition debris, batteries, gable-top cartons and e-waste limited to computers, monitors, laptops, tablets, TVs and desktop printers or fax machines.
Section 266-20 turns that list into a legal duty: every owner, lessee or occupant of residential, commercial or institutional property, other than persons who are physically disabled, must separate these materials from other trash and prepare them under the Recycling Coordinator's rules. Commercial establishments carry an added obligation to separate high-grade white paper, mixed paper and construction and demolition debris, and must report the tonnage handled by private scavengers to the Coordinator by January 15 each year. , Monday through Friday; other liquid wastes cannot be brought to any municipal property at all. No plastic bags are allowed in curbside or single-stream recycling, and recyclables must be emptied and rinsed clean before being set out.
Violations & Fines
Violating Article IV or any regulation the Recycling Coordinator adopts under it carries a fine of up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, under Section 266-25. A second offense within the article draws a minimum fine of at least $100. Improperly disposing of liquid waste, including oil or antifreeze without a paid disposal ticket, is separately enforceable under Section 266-20G.
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials must Bergenfield residents recycle?
Is anyone exempt from the separation requirement?
How do I get rid of used motor oil legally in Bergenfield?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bergenfield
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