What Bergen County Utilities Authority does

Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA) is a county-level government utilities authority established in 1951 and headquartered in Little Ferry, New Jersey, with operating facilities in Moonachie. It provides two core service lines: wastewater treatment for 47 Bergen County municipalities through two treatment facilities processing over 83 million gallons per day, and solid waste management services for all 70 Bergen County municipalities. BCUA is a public agency operating under the oversight of Bergen County government rather than a privately owned entity, with no disclosed private equity or venture capital ownership.

The authority's underlying technology is industrial-scale wastewater treatment infrastructure augmented by a cogeneration facility that converts biogas into clean energy, an Energy Master Plan for carbon and cost reduction, and a wastewater reuse program for treated-effluent distribution. Solid waste operations span household hazardous waste collection, electronic and computer recycling, mobile paper shredding, tire collection, composting, and the Recycle Coach digital tool, supported by community education programs and a Speakers Bureau. Infrastructure investments are partially financed through the New Jersey Water Bank (NJWB), including ongoing cogeneration upgrades and conversion of the Edgewater Water Pollution Control Facility to a pump station.

BCUA generates revenue primarily through recurring user charges for wastewater and solid waste services set via annual public rate hearings, supplemented by one-time connection fees for new developments. Services are distributed directly through municipal service agreements (B2G) and community collection events (B2C), entirely within Bergen County, New Jersey. As of March 2026, the Bergen County Executive has issued a directive to formally evaluate a potential merger with Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority, which would consolidate service to roughly 80% of county residents and 38.7 billion gallons of annual wastewater processing.

Name

Bergen County Utilities Authority

Legal name

Bergen County Utilities Authority

Website

https://bcua.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wastewater Treatment Services

NAICS

Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Solid Waste Collection (562111), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Municipal Wastewater Collection (Sewer Networks) (BPALAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH), Universal Waste Management (Batteries, Lamps, Mercury-Containing) (BPALAHAL), Pharmaceutical Waste Management (RCRA/Non-RCRA, Take-Back) (BPALAGAF)

Keywords

• Wastewater treatment
• Solid waste management
• Municipal utilities
• Hazardous waste collection
• Recycling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Moonachie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Wastewater Service Charges: User charges for wastewater treatment services provided to 47 Bergen County municipalities. Rate hearings are conducted annually to set service charges.
2. Solid Waste Service Charges: Service charges for solid waste management services covering all 70 Bergen County municipalities.
3. Connection Fees: One-time connection fees for new developments and infrastructure connections.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA) is a county government authority that provides wastewater treatment for 47 Bergen County municipalities through two facilities processing over 83 million gallons per day, and solid waste management services for all 70 Bergen County municipalities. BCUA also delivers household hazardous waste collection, electronic/computer recycling, composting, mobile paper shredding, tire collection, school education programs, and a Wastewater Reuse Program, supported by an on-site cogeneration facility that converts biogas into clean energy.

Product overview

Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA) is a public utilities authority providing essential environmental services to Bergen County, New Jersey. The authority operates two core service lines: (1) Wastewater Treatment Services serving 47 municipalities through two treatment facilities processing over 83 million gallons per day, and (2) Solid Waste Management Services serving all 70 municipalities. BCUA has developed innovative programs including a cogeneration facility that uses biogas to create clean energy, reducing costs and carbon footprint. Additional services include household hazardous waste collection events, electronic/computer recycling, recycling programs with the Recycle Coach tool, composting, mobile paper shredding, tire collection, industrial pretreatment, CSO long-term control, and wastewater reuse programs. The authority also provides school education programs promoting recycling awareness among children. BCUA has been protecting the environment and health of Bergen County through sustainable wastewater and solid waste services since 1951.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wastewater Treatment Services Wastewater treatment provided to 47 Bergen County municipalities through two treatment facilities processing over 83 million gallons per day, including sewage sludge residual processing, industrial pretreatment, CSO long-term control, sewer operations and maintenance, and a wastewater reuse program for treated effluent distribution.
• Solid Waste Management Services Solid waste management services for all 70 Bergen County municipalities, including solid waste disposal, recycling programs, recycling enforcement, recycling markets support, composting education and bin sales, and waste planning.
• Household Hazardous Waste Collection Scheduled collection events enabling Bergen County residents to safely dispose of household-generated hazardous waste, household medicine and medical waste, with documented lists of acceptable and unacceptable materials and alternative disposal options.
• Recycling Programs Recycling education, enforcement, markets support, and source reduction programs available to Bergen County municipalities and residents, including the Recycle Coach app providing personalized recycling information.
• Computer and Electronic Recycling E-waste recycling program for computers and electronics, helping prevent hazardous materials from entering the solid waste stream in Bergen County.
• Composting Program Composting education and bin sale program that promotes organic waste reduction among Bergen County residents and municipalities.
• Mobile Paper Shredding Mobile document shredding collection service for secure disposal of sensitive papers, provided at scheduled community events throughout Bergen County.
• Tires Collection Used tire collection and proper disposal/recycling program operated as part of BCUA's community recycling events.
• Cogeneration System On-site cogeneration facility that converts biogas from wastewater treatment into clean energy, supporting BCUA's Energy Master Plan and reducing the authority's operating costs and carbon footprint.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 83 million gallons per day of wastewater processed
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northwest Bergen County Utilities AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Bergen County Executive announced a directive to formally evaluate a merger between Bergen County Utilities Authority and Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority. Together, they serve roughly 80% of county residents and process 38.7 billion gallons of wastewater annually. This potential merger represents a significant consolidation of regional wastewater treatment capacity.
• Bergen County Department of ParksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in annual Bergen County Harvest Festival held at Overpeck Park, where BCUA maintains educational tents and engages with residents about environmental programs.
• Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment StationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the annual Bergen County Harvest Festival, contributing to community environmental education efforts.
• 4-HminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the Bergen County Harvest Festival, working with BCUA on community outreach and environmental education.
• Bergen Community CollegeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHost site for household hazardous waste collection events and tire/electronics/paper shredding collections, providing accessible locations for community participation in recycling programs.
• Bergen County Campgaw Mountain ReservationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHost site for household hazardous waste collection events in Mahwah, providing facilities for community hazardous waste disposal programs.
• New Jersey Water Bank (NJWB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for infrastructure improvements including construction of upgrade improvements to Cogeneration Units and upgrades to the Edgewater Water Pollution Control Facility conversion to a Pump Station.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• New York City Department of Environmental Protection: Large municipal water and wastewater utility serving NYC. Operates wastewater treatment plants at far greater scale with cogeneration and biosolids management; broadly comparable in core wastewater treatment function but at city scale and with much broader mandate.
• WSSC Water: Bi-county water and wastewater utility in Maryland serving Montgomery and Prince George's counties. Comparable as a large regional wastewater authority with energy recovery and biosolids programs, though it also provides water supply.

Direct peers

• Union County Utilities Authority: New Jersey county utilities authority providing wastewater treatment, solid waste management, and recycling services. Closely comparable on county-authority structure, dual wastewater/solid-waste mandate, and recycling education/community engagement programs.
• Essex County Utilities Authority: New Jersey county utilities authority providing wastewater and solid waste services in Essex County. Direct peer on governance structure (county authority), service scope (wastewater + recycling/solid waste), and municipal customer base.
• Middlesex County Utilities Authority: New Jersey county utilities authority providing wastewater treatment and solid waste services. Comparable in service mix, county-authority governance structure, and customer base of municipal governments in a single New Jersey county.
• Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority: Adjacent New Jersey county wastewater authority and the subject of BCUA's pending merger evaluation. Operates complementary wastewater treatment infrastructure serving northwestern Bergen County municipalities, with comparable regulatory mandate, customer base, and treatment technologies.
• Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission: Major New Jersey regional wastewater treatment authority operating one of the largest treatment plants in the country. Comparable as a county/regional wastewater authority with similar regulatory mandate, industrial pretreatment programs, and cogeneration/biogas utilization.
• Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority: New Jersey county MUA providing wastewater and solid waste/recycling services. Comparable in scale, county-authority governance, treatment plant operations, and household hazardous waste collection programs.

Emerging players

• Veolia North America: Large private-sector operator of municipal and industrial water/wastewater services. Comparable technology base (cogeneration, biosolids, advanced treatment) and serves municipalities via O&M contracts; differs in being a private operator rather than a public authority.
• Suez Water Advanced Solutions: Private-sector provider of water and wastewater treatment services to municipalities and industrial clients. Comparable in advanced wastewater treatment technology and energy recovery systems; differs in being a private operator pursuing outsourcing contracts rather than a franchise authority.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BCUA-1802369573153877
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bergen-county-utilities-authority

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bergen County Utilities Authority