Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Gloucester Township
In New Jersey, municipal refuse and recycling routes operate weekly. Your exact collection days are determined by your local borough or township.
State Mandate
The NJ Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act requires all residents to separate designated recyclables.
Standard resident-provided or township bin Bin (Trash)
Place at the curb according to your scheduled zone day (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday). Do not overload your receptacles, and ensure all regular household trash is securely contained.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household waste
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Up to 2 tires (rims removed)
- ✓Sinks and toilets
Township-issued automated cart Bin (Recycling)
Keep recyclables loose and dry. The cart lid must be fully closed. Place the cart 5 feet from obstacles and within 2 feet of the street, with handles facing the house.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and bi-metal cans
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2 only
- ✓Flattened cardboard (placed vertically)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Bubble wrap
- ✕Plastics #3 through #7
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Grass and leaves are collected weekly on your normal recycling day. Use yellow buckets, two-handled 32-gallon cans, brown paper bags, or untied trash bags. Limit of 20 bags per week, max 40 lbs each.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Brush and branches (under 4 feet)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on regular trash day / Wednesdays for appliances
Placement
For Wednesday White Goods collection, you must call DPW by Tuesday at 4:00 PM to schedule. Remove appliance doors before placing them at the curb.
Accepted
- ✓ Sinks and toilets (weekly)
- ✓ Up to 2 tires with rims removed (weekly)
- ✓ Refrigerators and freezers (Wednesdays only)
- ✓ Washers, dryers, and water heaters (Wednesdays only)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Concrete and bricks (curbside)
- ✕ Dirt and sod (curbside)
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Tires still mounted on metal rims
Standard residential bulk and appliance pickup is included in municipal services. Dropping off concrete or dirt at the DPW garage is free but requires proof of residency.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a major observed holiday occurs on a weekday, trash and recycling pickups are typically delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Brush collections scheduled for Friday are routinely picked up on Thursday instead. Holiday weeks may further alter this specialized yard waste schedule.
Always consult the official Gloucester Township website or text CITIBOT at 856-644-6414 for real-time schedule adjustments affecting Interstate Waste Services.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
No Plastic Bags in the Recycling Cart
The single-stream sorting machinery cannot process plastic bags or film. Keep your recyclables loose inside the cart. Placing your bottles and cans in tied plastic garbage bags will cause the entire cart to be rejected.
Keep the Automated Lid Fully Closed
Do not overload your automated recycling cart. If the lid cannot close completely, the automated mechanical arm may spill materials across the street or severely damage the cart's hinges during the lifting process.
Separate Brush from Grass and Leaves
Keep bundled brush and woody debris entirely separate from soft yard waste. Grass clippings and leaves are mixed and recycled into organic compost by the GTMUA, and mixing in woody debris disrupts this composting process.
Seasonal Information
Spring & Summer
April - SeptemberResidents are permitted to place up to 20 bags or 40-pound containers of grass clippings on the curb per week. Ensure they are placed in untied trash bags, brown compostable bags, or two-handled buckets.
Fall
October - DecemberWeekly leaf collection aligns with your normal recycling day. Leaves must follow the same packaging rules as grass clippings (max 40 lbs, max 20 bags per week) and should never be swept loosely into storm gutters.
Winter
December - MarchDuring heavy snow events, carts must be placed on a level, shoveled area. They cannot be placed on top of snowbanks or frozen leaf piles, as the automated trucks require completely flat ground to operate safely.
About Gloucester Township Waste Management
Navigating the Split-Hauler Waste System
Gloucester Township uniquely divides its waste management responsibilities to optimize efficiency. Since February 2021, regular household trash is collected by a private contractor, Interstate Waste Services. Meanwhile, curbside recycling remains under the jurisdiction of the Gloucester Township Sewer Utilities Department, and yard waste or appliances are managed directly by the Department of Public Works. Knowing which department to contact ensures rapid resolutions for any missed pickups or schedule questions.
Strict Clearances for Automated Single-Stream Recycling
The township utilizes an automated, bi-weekly single-stream recycling program. Carts must be placed on level ground no more than two feet from the street, with the wheels touching the curb and handles facing your home. Because the collection trucks deploy a 12-foot mechanical arm and require 15 feet of overhead clearance, residents must position carts at least five feet away from mailboxes, parked cars, yard waste piles, and low-hanging tree branches.
White Goods Wednesdays for Large Appliances
Disposing of a refrigerator, washing machine, or water heater requires advanced scheduling. Gloucester Township dedicates Wednesdays exclusively to collecting large metal appliances, known as 'White Goods.' Residents must call the Department of Public Works by 4:00 PM on Tuesday to secure a spot on the route. For child safety regulations, the doors on all appliances must be completely removed before they are left at the curb.
Specific Handling for Tires, Sinks, and Toilets
Unlike many municipalities that heavily restrict automotive and plumbing waste from curbside collection, Gloucester Township permits the disposal of sinks, toilets, and up to two tires per household on your regular weekly trash day. However, to ensure Interstate Waste Services will accept the tires, residents must ensure the metal rims are completely removed prior to placing them on the curb.
Managing Overflow Cardboard from Online Shopping
With the continuous rise in e-commerce, households often generate more cardboard than fits inside a standard automated cart. Gloucester Township accommodates this by allowing oversized cardboard to be left outside the recycling bin for a separate overflow collection truck. The cardboard must be fully flattened, free of plastic inserts or bubble wrap, and safely taped together in small batches on the ground beside the cart.
Drop-off Facilities
Gloucester Township Public Works Complex
1729 Erial Road, Blackwood, NJ 08012
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I throw away an old refrigerator or washing machine in Gloucester Township?
Large metal appliances, known as 'White Goods,' are collected strictly on Wednesdays. You must call the Department of Public Works at 856-228-3144 by 4:00 PM on Tuesday to get placed on the schedule. Ensure all doors are removed before placing the item at the curb.
Can I put cardboard boxes on the ground next to my recycling bin?
Yes. While you should flatten and vertically stack as much cardboard as possible inside your cart, oversized cardboard can be flattened, taped together in small batches, and placed safely on the ground next to your cart for a separate overflow truck.
What is the proper way to dispose of grass clippings and leaves?
Grass and leaves are collected weekly on your designated recycling day. Use old yellow recycling buckets, two-handled containers under 32 gallons, compostable paper bags, or untied trash bags. Each bag or container must weigh under 40 pounds, with a strict limit of 20 bags per week.
Where exactly do I place my automated recycling cart?
Place the cart on level ground no more than 2 feet from the street, with the wheels touching the curb (except in cul-de-sacs). Ensure the handle faces your house and the cart is at least 5 feet away from mailboxes, cars, yard waste, or utility poles.