Millburn and Short Hills homeowners on county roads will get three rounds of leaf pickup between November and December, with the first trucks rolling through the week of Nov. 2.
Essex County announced its 2026 leaf collection schedule, placing Millburn in Section II alongside South Orange and Maplewood, according to Montclair Local News. The three collection windows are:
- Monday, Nov. 2 through Friday, Nov. 6
- Monday, Nov. 30 through Friday, Dec. 4
- Monday, Dec. 28 through Thursday, Dec. 31
The schedule applies only to properties that front Essex County roads. Residents on municipal streets follow a separate Millburn Township pickup calendar.
Rules to follow
The rules are straightforward.
County crews will collect leaves in biodegradable bags or as loose piles swept to the curb. Two requirements could mean a missed pickup: leaves cannot go out more than seven days before the scheduled collection, and piles must sit at least 10 feet from storm drains.
Residents with questions can call the Essex County Department of Public Works at 973-226-8500, Ext. 0. The department is located at 99 W. Bradford Ave. in Cedar Grove.
What about Livingston?
Livingston has a shared-services agreement with Essex County, meaning the township's own public works department handles leaf collection on county roads there. Bloomfield, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair and Nutley have similar arrangements. Residents in those towns should contact their local public works offices for dates.
Tax bills already carried the schedule
Millburn Township mailed final 2026 and preliminary 2027 property tax bills on Wednesday, Sept. 16, and those bills included the leaf collection schedule, according to a township notice. The next property tax payment is due Nov. 1.
The county divides its routes into four sections. Section I towns, including Caldwell, Cedar Grove, West Orange and others, begin their first window the week of Oct. 26. Section III covers Belleville and East Orange starting the week of Nov. 9. Section IV, which includes Irvington, Orange and Newark, starts the week of Nov. 16.
Millburn's first county pickup window opens Monday, Nov. 2.
