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A public resource guide
Every legitimate way to get rid of furniture, appliances, mattresses, and bulk waste in Camden, including the 3-item weekly bulk limit, special appliance pickup, electronics program, donation pathways, and verified A901-licensed paid haulers.
Camden resource guide
Camden, New Jersey, at a glance: Every legitimate way to get rid of furniture, appliances, mattresses, and bulk waste in Camden, including the 3-item weekly bulk limit, special appliance pickup, electronics program, donation pathways, and verified A901-licensed paid haulers. This page pulls the Camden specifics for scrap metal out of our full Camden junk removal guide: what the city program accepts, where to donate, the prep that keeps a pickup from being skipped, and paid options when you need scrap metal gone this week.
Nobody should pay to get rid of metal. These are the routes, from zero effort to a small payout. Here is how each route works in Camden.
Camden rules: closest category is “Washer, dryer, water heater, stove”
VariesSpecial appliance pickup, 856-757-7000. Free.
Donation pickup in Camden (usable scrap metal)
FreeItems in usable condition (no significant damage, stains, or pest history) can be donated free through several Camden-area programs:
Habitat for Humanity ReStore, multiple South Jersey locations accept furniture, appliances, and home goods. Free pickup for larger donations. Often the most flexible for large items.
Independent scrapper pickup
FreePost a photo and 'free scrap metal, curb pickup' on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or Nextdoor and someone collects it, usually the same day in any metro. Appliances, grills, bed frames, patio furniture, water heaters, filing cabinets, exercise machines, and pipe all move this way. This is the right path when you want it gone and do not care about the few dollars.
Put it at the curb or driveway edge so no appointment is needed.
Remove propane tanks and batteries first; scrappers cannot take them to the yard.
Scrap yard drop-off (paid to you)
Paid by weightYards buy steel at a low per-pound rate and non-ferrous metals at much higher rates. Sorting aluminum cans, copper pipe and wire, brass fixtures, and stainless into separate bins before you go is what makes a trip worth it. Bring ID; most states require it.
Copper pays the most; plumbing pipe, stripped wire, and motor windings count.
Insulated wire pays less than stripped; strip only if you have a lot.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in Camden: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering scrap metal, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Camden: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Camden, NJ provides free curbside bulk pickup of up to 3 large items per week on the second weekly collection day, with separate special pickup pathways for appliances and electronics. The city also runs an active illegal dumping enforcement program, so understanding the rules matters: bulk items placed on non-scheduled days or in excess of the 3-item limit count as illegal dumping under city ordinance. This guide covers every legitimate disposal option for Camden residents, free city services, donation programs, and (when needed) verified NJ A901-licensed paid haulers.
Camden does not list scrap metal as a separate line in its bulk rules. The closest category in the city table is “Washer, dryer, water heater, stove”: Special appliance pickup, 856-757-7000. Free. Treat that as the starting point and confirm with the city program before set-out.
Why scrap metal are different from ordinary bulk. Most household scrap is mixed. An appliance is a steel shell around a copper motor and aluminum fins; a bike is a steel or aluminum frame with rubber and plastic. Yards accept mixed items at the steel rate, so sorting pays only if you have enough non-ferrous metal to make it worth the time. A magnet and ten minutes usually tells you.
Three mistakes that get scrap metal left at the curb:
Paid options barely exist for metal, except when the metal is attached to things that are not metal.
Mixed loads to a transfer station
$20 to $60If metal is mixed into a larger cleanout, transfer stations charge by weight for the whole load. Pull the metal out first and give it to a scrapper; it reduces the fee and keeps metal out of the landfill.
Most transfer stations have a free metal pile. Ask before you tip.
LoadUp paid scrap metal pickup
$80+If your items are in usable condition and you’d prefer help coordinating a donation pickup rather than scheduling directly with Salvation Army, Habitat ReStore, or a Furniture Bank, LoadUp can help facilitate donation logistics in Camden. The donation organization performs the actual pickup; LoadUp helps with scheduling and routing for usable items.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your scrap metal. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
What this is: Coordination assistance for donation-eligible items going to qualified 501(c)(3) recipients. Items must be in usable condition (no significant damage, stains, or pest history). Tax receipts come from the receiving donation organization.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book scrap metal pickup in Camden with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Camden proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Camden junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national scrap metal disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Camden: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Camden pick up scrap metal for free?
Camden does not list scrap metal separately. The closest category in the city’s by-item rules is "Washer, dryer, water heater, stove": Special appliance pickup, 856-757-7000. Free. Confirm with the city program before set-out.
Where can I donate scrap metal in Camden?
Items in usable condition (no significant damage, stains, or pest history) can be donated free through several Camden-area programs:
How much does paid scrap metal removal cost in Camden?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single scrap metal pickup in Camden starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. If your items are in usable condition and you’d prefer help coordinating a donation pickup rather than scheduling directly with Salvation Army, Habitat ReStore, or a Furniture Bank, LoadUp can help facilitate donation logistics in Camden. The donation organization performs the actual pickup; LoadUp helps with scheduling and routing for usable items.
Will someone pick up scrap metal for free?
Yes. Independent scrappers in every metro collect appliances, grills, frames, and other metal from the curb free, usually the same day you post it, because they sell it by weight. Many city bulk programs also collect metal.
How much does a scrap yard pay?
Steel pays a few cents per pound; a washer or water heater might bring a few dollars. Aluminum pays several times more, and copper and brass pay the most, often a few dollars per pound. Prices change weekly with commodity markets.
How do I tell what kind of metal I have?
Use a magnet. If it sticks, the metal is ferrous (steel or iron) and pays the base rate. If it does not, it is aluminum, copper, brass, or stainless and worth sorting out. Copper is reddish, brass is yellow, aluminum is light and silver, stainless is heavy and silver.
Can I scrap a refrigerator or air conditioner?
Yes, but the refrigerant must be recovered first by a certified technician or by the yard if it has recovery equipment. Do not cut the lines. Many yards accept sealed units and recover the gas themselves; call first.
Is this Camden page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Camden guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.