Bergenfield, NJ Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)

Article V of Chapter 266, adopted by Ordinance No. 05-2349 in 2005, governs yard waste, defined as leaves and grass clippings, placed loose at the curb. Section 266-27 sets the actual rule: sweeping, raking, blowing or otherwise placing uncontainerized yard waste at the curb or along the street is only allowed during the seven days before a scheduled and announced collection, and it can never be placed closer than 10 feet from a storm drain inlet. Put it out any other time, or leave it closer to a drain, and the person responsible is in violation and must remove the material from the street themselves.

A companion measure, Article VI (Ordinance No. 05-2350), goes further for landscapers: Section 266-30 bars property owners, occupants, and any landscaping contractor they hire from sweeping, raking, blowing or placing yard waste in the street at all unless it is containerized, meaning bagged or bucketed so it cannot spill or blow into the street and reach stormwater grates and drains. Both articles tie back to the same environmental concern, keeping loose leaves and clippings out of the storm drain system, since decomposing yard waste in catch basins is a major source of nutrient pollution and localized flooding. The Police Department and other municipal officials enforce both articles under Sections 266-28 and 266-31.