Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Voorhees
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.
Blue Cart Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit inside the blue cart with the lid closed. Keep the cart at least 4 feet away from mailboxes, cars, and the recycling cart to allow the automated arm to function.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and packaging
Green Cart Bin (Recycling)
Single-stream recycling must be kept completely loose in the green cart. Never bag your recyclables. Excess cardboard requires a scheduled pickup.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard (broken down)
- ✓Mixed paper, newspaper, and junk mail
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags of any kind
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Hazardous waste
- ✕Food-soiled paper
Yard Waste Bin
Place vegetation at the curb line every Monday by 6:00 AM. One pile per week, max volume of 2 cubic yards. No plastic bags allowed. Landscapers must remove their own debris.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings (in biodegradable bags or cans)
- ✓Small branches (bundled, max 4 feet long, under 40 lbs)
- ✓Leaves (loose only during spring/fall)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a month (Third full week)
Placement
Place bulk items at the curb on your normal trash day during the 3rd full week. Ensure a 4-foot clearance from the blue trash cart so the automated arm can operate.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (MUST be fully sealed in plastic)
- ✓ Carpet (cut into 4-foot widths, rolled and tied, under 40 lbs)
- ✓ Excess household trash that does not fit in the blue cart
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous materials
- ✕ Construction and remodeling debris
- ✕ Electronics and appliances (require separate scheduled pickup)
- ✕ Metal waste (requires separate scheduled pickup)
Bulk collection is a free municipal service. Note that electronics, appliances, and metals are also collected for free but require a phone call to schedule.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Collection schedules are generally delayed by one day following a township-observed holiday. Always check the official Voorhees Township calendar for specific shaded dates indicating shifts in trash and bulk collections.
Yard Waste Exception
Monday vegetation collections may be delayed to Tuesday during weeks where Monday is an observed public holiday.
The 'first full week' for determining bulk collection is officially defined as the week that includes a Monday. Check the township calendar for your exact 3rd-week bulk dates.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Watch Out for the 'OOPS' Tags
If you receive an orange tag on your trash or a yellow tag on your recycling, it means your cart was overfilled, placed too close to an obstruction, or contained prohibited materials. Correct the issue and contact the township for a rescheduled pickup.
Properly Manage Excess Cardboard
Do not wedge oversized cardboard into your green cart so tightly that it gets stuck, and do not leave excess boxes on the ground next to the cart. You must flatten them inside the cart or call Public Works to schedule a free special pickup for the excess.
Seasonal Information
Spring & Fall
Designated WeeksLoose leaves are only permitted to be raked to the curb line during the specific designated spring and fall collection schedules. Piles must be kept free of branches and other debris.
Summer & Winter
Off-SeasonOutside of the dedicated spring and fall collection windows, all leaves must be placed in biodegradable paper bags or designated yard waste cans. They will not be collected if left loose at the curb.
Year-Round
OngoingVegetation and brush are collected throughout the year on Mondays. Bundles must not exceed 4 feet in length, and branches must be under 5 inches in diameter.
About Voorhees Waste Management
Navigating Voorhees' Automated Collection and 'OOPS' Tags
Voorhees Township operates an automated trash and recycling collection system that utilizes specific mechanical arms. To ensure smooth pickups, carts must be placed with wheels facing the property and kept at least four feet away from any obstructions like mailboxes, fences, or parked cars. Recently, the Public Works Department introduced friendly 'OOPS' tags—orange for trash/vegetation and yellow for recycling. These tags notify residents if their cart was overfilled, placed incorrectly, or contained prohibited items, allowing them to correct the issue for a rescheduled pickup.
Mastering the Monthly Bulk Waste Schedule
Unlike municipalities with weekly bulk pickups, Voorhees collects bulk trash strictly once a month. Items like furniture and excess trash are picked up during the third full week of every month on your regularly scheduled trash day (with the 'first full week' defined as the week that includes a Monday). To ensure collection, all mattresses and box springs must be fully sealed in sheet plastic or a designated plastic mattress bag before being placed at the curb.
Scheduling Electronic, Appliance, and Metal Collections
Heavy metals, appliances (white goods), and electronic waste like televisions and computers are banned from standard bulk collection. Residents must actively call the Department of Public Works at 856-428-5499 to schedule a special curbside pickup, which typically occurs within one to three days of notification. Remember, by state law, all doors must be completely removed from refrigerators and freezers prior to placing them outside to prevent entrapment hazards.
Single-Stream Recycling and Excess Cardboard Rules
Voorhees utilizes a single-stream recycling system where all approved paper, plastics, and glass can be commingled loosely in your green cart. However, the township strictly forbids the use of plastic bags in the recycling stream. If you have excess cardboard that does not fit inside the green cart, do not leave it piled at the curb; instead, you must contact Public Works to arrange a special cardboard pickup.
Seasonal Vegetation and Yard Waste Guidelines
Vegetation and garden refuse must be placed at the curbline every Monday by 6:00 AM. Branches must be bundled, weighing less than 40 pounds, and grass clippings must go in biodegradable paper bags or dedicated cans—never in plastic bags. Notably, loose leaves are only permitted at the curb during designated spring and fall collection schedules; at all other times of the year, they must be properly bagged or canned (but never in the blue or green municipal carts).
Drop-off Facilities
Camden County Household Hazardous Waste Events
Various locations (e.g., Pennsauken Sanitary Landfill / Cherry Hill Public Works)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I throw away a mattress in Voorhees?
Mattresses and box springs can be placed at the curb during your monthly bulk trash day. However, township rules require that all mattresses and box springs be completely sealed in sheet plastic or a plastic mattress bag before being placed out for collection.
When is my bulk trash pickup day?
Bulk trash is collected once a month during the third full week of the month, on your regularly scheduled trash day. The township defines the 'first full week' as the week that includes a Monday. You can refer to the shaded dates on the Township calendar for exact days.
How do I dispose of a TV, computer, or refrigerator?
Electronics, appliances, and metal items are not collected with standard bulk trash. You must call the Department of Public Works at 856-428-5499 to schedule a special pickup, which will occur within 1-3 days. Refrigerator doors must be removed before placing them outside.
What happens if I put plastic bags in my recycling cart?
If you put plastic bags in your green recycling cart, the Public Works Department may reject your pickup and attach a yellow 'OOPS' tag to your cart. Voorhees utilizes single-stream recycling, and materials must remain completely loose in the cart.