Home › By item › Scrap metal › Newark
A public resource guide
Free scrap metal removal in Newark, NJ
Every free and paid way to get rid of scrap metal in Newark, verified October 2026.
Checked against Newark DPW
Home › By item › Scrap metal › Newark
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of scrap metal in Newark, verified October 2026.
Checked against Newark DPW
1st or 2nd Wed
bulk collection by zone, twice a month citywide
10
bulk items per residence per collection day
973-733-3644
DPW appointment line for refrigerators and other white goods
Every route for scrap metal in Newark, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Newark guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Newark, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Newark zone bulk collection and appliance appointments: scrap metal
FreeMetal household items go out with bulk, or to a scrap yard.
Who qualifies: Residential properties with City of Newark DPW collection.
How to schedule: No appointment for furniture: bulk is collected twice a month by zone, Zone A on the 1st Wednesday and Zone B on the 2nd Wednesday. White goods (refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, air conditioners) are collected by appointment only through DPW at 973-733-3644.
Limits: 10 bulk items per residence per collection day. Anything beyond 10 must be removed by a private hauler the same day at the owner's expense.
Set-out: Curbside the evening before your zone's bulk Wednesday, not blocking the sidewalk.
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 Newark: 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 Newark: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Newark runs a tightly enforced system that reflects the city’s ongoing fight against illegal dumping: monthly bulk collection by zone (Zone A on 1st Wednesday, Zone B on 2nd Wednesday), with a hard 10-item-per-property limit. Excess items result in $250-per-item fines starting at first offense, escalating to $450 and possible community service for repeat offenders. Mattresses must be wrapped in plastic before disposal by city ordinance to prevent infectious disease and bedbug spread. Trash is collected twice a week, an unusual frequency reflecting Newark’s urban density. White goods (refrigerators, washers, dryers, ACs) require a separate appointment via 973-733-4311. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Newark rule for scrap metal: Metal household items go out with bulk, or to a scrap yard.
Program basics: 10 bulk items per residence per collection day. Anything beyond 10 must be removed by a private hauler the same day at the owner's expense. Curbside the evening before your zone's bulk Wednesday, not blocking the sidewalk.
What the city will not take: Construction debris, paint, drywall, roofing tiles and shingles. Electronics go to the DPW e-waste drop-off at 62 Frelinghuysen Ave.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Newark Department of Public Works: Trash and Bulk Collection Schedule. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Newark. Newark residents can dispose of household hazardous waste through Essex County Utilities Authority (ECUA) HHW programs and periodic New Jersey state collection events. Several retailers also offer ongoing free recycling: Home Depot for batteries and CFL bulbs, AutoZone for motor oil and car batteries, Best Buy for electronics, and most pharmacies for unused medications. New Jersey state law (NJSA 13:1E-99.13) bans certain hazardous materials from landfills. Per Newark ordinance Chapter 15:4-7, hazardous refuse shall not be placed in receptacles for regular collection but shall be disposed of in accordance with State of New Jersey laws and regulations at the expense of the owner.
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 Newark. 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 Newark with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Newark proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Newark 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 Newark: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Newark pick up scrap metal for free?
Yes, on your zone’s bulk Wednesday, or a scrap yard.
How much does paid scrap metal removal cost in Newark?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single scrap metal pickup in Newark 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 Newark. 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 Newark page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Newark guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.