Brush Collection Update, 2/28/2023

Medford Township DPW will be making an early round of brush collection in the next few weeks.  Due to the mild weather we have been experiencing, we realize residents may be preparing their properties for an early Spring.  Crews will begin collections and follow the schedule below:

3/6         Zone 1 and Zone 2

3/13       Zone 3

3/20       Zone 4

3/27       Zone 5

Crews may complete each Zone sooner than scheduled and may move into the next Zone when complete.  Regular scheduled collections will begin on April 10th.

ANNUAL SPRING & SUMMER BRUSH COLLECTION PROGRAMS

The next scheduled Brush Collection will begin in April 2023 and will follow the schedule below: 

Spring Collection

Zone 2:  Week of April 10^th

Zone 1:  Week of April 24^th

Zone 3:  Week of May 8^th

Zone 5:  Week of May 22^nd

Zone 4:  Week of June 5^th  

Summer/Fall Collection

Zone 1:  Week of August 14^th

Zone 3:  Week of August 28^th

Zone 5:  Week of September 11^th

Zone 4:  Week of September 25^th

Zone 2:  Week of October 9^th

GENERAL INFORMATION & GUIDELINES FOR BI-ANNUAL BRUSH COLLECTION PROGRAM 

Brush may only be placed at the street during regular collection times posted on this website.  Residents who place brush at the street outside of designated collection times may be cited for violation of Township Code.  Residents who cannot wait several weeks for a collection have the option of bringing their brush to the DPW yard on Commonwealth Drive during regular business hours.  The DPW yard is open Monday through Friday from 7 am to 2 pm.

The yard will also be open the following Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm:

January 21, February 18, March 18, April 1 and April 15, May 6 and May 20, June 3 and June 17, July 1 and July 15, August 19, September 9 and 16, October 7 and 21, November 18,  and December 16. Residents must show proof of residency when entering the yard.  

Township Code states “All brush shall be stored on a resident's property and shall not be placed at the roadside earlier than 10 days preceding the Monday of the scheduled collection week.” This Ordinance is strictly enforced.   Brush placed at the street for collection outside of these collection dates will not be collected.  The Township will enforce Municipal Codes that prohibit the placement of leaves or brush at the street outside of scheduled collection times.  Residents who place material at the street outside of our collection schedule will be cited accordingly. 

Brush should be placed at the street no later than the Monday of the first scheduled collection week.  Each street will be collected once during the spring collection and once during the summer collection.   Brush shall include the pruning of trees, shrubs, bushes or vines, but exclude grass clippings, flowers, weeds, tree trunks, stumps, leaves and other foreign debris.  If the excluded items are mixed with the brush, Township crews will not pick it up.

All brush must be piled neatly at the edge of the property and cannot be placed in any roadway or sidewalk. The brush should not exceed 4-6 feet in length, and should not be any larger than 6 inches in diameter. Brush should be kept a minimum of five (5) feet from utility boxes and other hazards. 

Tree contractors who are hired to clear storm debris from residents properties must remove the resultant debris at their cost.  The Township will not remove any material placed at the street by contractors. In addition, Contractors are not permitted to dispose of any material at the DPW yard.  

Updates on Brush collection will be posted to the News Feed, via NIXLE alerts (www.NIXLE.com) and on the Township's official Facebook page.  Questions about brush collection may also be directed to the Department of Public Works at 609-654-6791.

ANNUAL FALL LEAF COLLECTION PROGRAM 

Medford Township leaf collection efforts commence annually in early November. 

Medford Township purchased two new leaf collection vehicles in 2022 that should greatly enhance leaf collection efforts.  These vehicles will help complete collections quicker and easier.  These trucks are self-contained units and only require one person to operate.  This will reduce dump times and will increase the number of loads that can be disposed of during a regular work day.  Please note that using these vehicles will require residents to follow strict collection guidelines.  

As there will be no additional staffing working with the driver operator to rake what cannot be reached, operators will leave behind any leaves that are around or behind trees, utility boxes, mailboxes, or utility poles.  Operators will only get leaves that are clear of any of these obstacles where there is no risk of damage to the equipment or private property.  Crews will collect each street once during the collection week.  Leaves MUST be curbside by Monday morning of the scheduled collection week.  Placing leaves at the street after the truck has passed will result in leaves not being collected until the next scheduled collection week.

Residents are encouraged to build enclosures out of four (4) foot vinyl construction fencing available at local home improvement stores.  These enclosures should be placed parallel to the roadway and should be no further than ten (10) feet from the edge of the roadway.  PLEASE NOTE THAT TRUCKS WILL NOT LEAVE THE ROADWAY FOR ANY REASON TO COLLECT LEAVES.  Drivers will stay on the roadway to prevent damage to any private property and reduce the chance of getting stuck.

Leaves must be free of sticks, branches, tree parts, rocks, vines, or other foreign materials.  These items will clog the suction tube resulting in increased down time and possible delays.  Leaf piles that include any of these items WILL NOT BE COLLECTED.  If a Zone is completed before the end of the collection week, crews may move forward to continue getting leaves off the street.  If this happens, crews will return on the scheduled week to perform collections in that Zone.

Placement of leaves at the curb or along the street at any other time or in any other manner is a violation of Township Ordinance 82.  Any leaves placed curbside outside of the times specified by the Township will be the responsibility of the homeowner to have removed.  Sweeping, raking, blowing or otherwise placing leaves at the curb is only permitted seven (7) days prior to a scheduled collection. 

Leaves must not be placed in the street or block any vehicle traffic lanes.  Leaves must be at least ten (10) feet from storm drains and leaf piles should not block the flow of stormwater on the roadway.  Vehicles should be parked away from leaf piles to allow crews to collect leaves quickly and safely.  Leaves blocked by parked cars WILL NOT BE COLLECTED.  Leaves placed curbside that do not meet the strict guidelines above WILL NOT BE COLLECTED.

Any leaves placed at the street by landscapers, contractors, or anyone hired by a homeowner, must be removed by them. Township crews will record addresses where landscapers are actively working and any leaves placed at the street will not be collected by Township personnel.

PLEASE DO NOT APPROACH OUR CREWS WHO ARE ACTIVELY WORKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.  DRIVERS OF THE NEW UNITS NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE OPERATION AND SHOULD NOT BE DISTRACTED.  Questions about leaf collection should be directed to the Department of Public Works at 609-654-6791.

Please note that winter weather may delay leaf collection if a snowfall is experienced during leaf collection times.  Schedule changes and updates will be distributed by Nixle alert and posted on the Township website at www.medfordtownship.com/neighborhoodservices. 

Leaves are the only substance that can be put into the gutter. It is very important to keep storm drains clear.  Please do not cover the storm drains and keep piles about 1 foot from curbs so rain water runoff can flow freely.  Also, please do not park vehicles close to piles; if a car is close to the pile, we will not risk any type of impact and the pile will be passed by.

Any leaves placed curbside outside of the times specified by the Township will be the responsibility of the homeowner to have removed. Sweeping, raking, blowing or otherwise placing leaves at the curb is only allowed seven (7) days prior to a scheduled collection.

Placement of leaves at the curb or along the street at any other time or in any other manner is a violation of Township Ordinance 82. You can also check the Home Page and Facebook page for updates as staff progress thru the Township.  The administration reminds residents of the requirements for leaf collection as included in the Medford Solid Waste Ordinance (82-4D) and the NJ State Stormwater Management Regulations.  Major provisions in Ordinance 82-4 are as follows:

1. Leaves can be placed curbside.  Any leaves placed curbside after the Township has picked-up in a Zone will be the sole responsibility of the homeowner to remove.  For those residents scheduled for a later pick-up, Township officials remind you that leaves left out too soon could create a fire hazard.
2. Leaves should be placed at least ten (10) feet from any storm sewer.  
3. Leaves must be piled away from the curb or edge of the property to allow for water runoff during storms, but not be placed any further than ten (10) feet from the edge of the roadway.  Leaves should not be placed in the roadway or block travel lanes.  This will help alleviate traffic and pedestrian/bike hazards.
4. Leaves should not be placed around trees, signs, utility poles or other obstacles.
5. Any leaves generated by professional landscapers, contractors, or anyone hired by a homeowner, must be removed by same.

In the past, the Township has encountered delays with leaf collection due to non-compliance with Township requirements, which impacts the Department’s ability to deliver prompt and efficient service. Residents that do not follow the above procedures are reminded that leaves will not be picked up.   The full provisions of Ordinance 82-D can be found on the website utilizing the "Council and Manager" link to Administrative Codes.

In a continuing effort to service residents wishing to dispose of leaves, the Medford Township Garage/Yard/Dump, located at 2 Commonwealth Drive, will accept leaves daily from 7 am until 2 pm, and every third Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm; excluding holidays. Residents must provide proof of residency to gain access to the drop-off point.  Absolutely no contractors will be permitted to drop off any items. 

WE APPRECIATE & THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION as it helps to maintain a safe, clean and attractive community.

Residents are reminded that both Leaf & Brush collection may be hindered due to the following unforeseen circumstances. Collections will resume as problems are corrected. 

• Breakdowns
• Recognized Holidays
• Manpower Availability
• Adverse Weather Conditions
• Other Emergency Operations or Problems

FAQs

The Township receives many inquiries regarding leaf collection. Some of the commonly asked questions include:

Q: My Zone was scheduled for collection next week but the township is collecting leaves in my Zone now. Is the posted schedule correct?
A: The Township will collect leaves in each Zone on the scheduled collection week. If time permits, a second sweep of the scheduled Zone may be completed. If crews complete the Zone before the end of the week, they may move forward into the next scheduled Zone. Depending on the volume of leaves, they may be a Zone or two ahead.

Q: I raked my yard after I saw the truck collecting in my neighborhood. The truck never came back to get my leaves. When will they come back to collect my leaves?
A: Residents should have their leaves placed at the street for collection by Monday morning of the scheduled collection week. If time permits, a second sweep of the scheduled Zone may be completed. Due to the volume of leaves in any Zone, crews may not return for a second sweep during the scheduled week. Every effort will be made to collect all leaves placed curbside on the scheduled collection week. If for some reason crews do not get to your street due to volume in any given Zone, we will make an effort to come back when time permits.

Q: Will signs be placed in my neighborhood indicating a scheduled collection?
A: Yes, as staffing permits.  We also utilize several other methods to notify residents of scheduled collections. The collection schedule was distributed via an Informational Brochure mailed to all residents with Tax bills, is posted on our website and Facebook page, and various alerts are distributed through Nixle and email blasts.

Q: My leaves were placed at the street for collection but were not picked up. Why did they skip my leaves?
A: Leaves may not be collected for several reasons. If your leaf pile contains branches, tree limbs, sticks, trash, or debris, crews will NOT collect your leaves. Leaves containing sticks, branches, trash and debris clog the machine, and create unnecessary delays. Trying to vacuum leaves with sticks and debris mixed in is similar to trying to pick up a pencil with a household vacuum. If your leaf pile is left behind, make sure your leaves are free of any foreign material. Leaves may also be left behind if they cannot be reached with the suction tube. Leaves located more than ten (10) feet off the roadway or placed around trees or obstacles will NOT be collected.  Crews will NOT rake large amounts of leaves to the suction hose.  Drivers are instructed not take the truck off the roadway to collect residents’ leaves.  If Township personnel witnessed landscapers or a private contractor placing your leaves at the street, they will NOT collect your leaves.

REMINDERS

1. Any Vegetation (leaves, brush and grass clippings, etc.) and recycling are NOT permitted to be disposed of in trash containers
2. Inclement weather including heavy rain, snow, or ice will affect leaf collection operations. When experiencing a snow event, leaves will NOT be collected. Our personnel move into winter weather operations whenever snow or ice is predicted.
3. The volume of leaves in any given area will slow our crews considerably. Residents with heavily wooded lots who remove leaves from every square inch of their property place excessive amounts of leaves at the street for collection. This will create substantial delays. Unreasonable amounts of leaves placed curbside by residents may not be collected, at the discretion of the Township.
4. Contractors hired by residents to perform leaf cleanups must dispose of the leaves at the contractor’s expense. The Township will NOT collect leaves placed at the street by contractors.

Did you know … Medford Township residents recycled more than 33,000 cubic yards of leaves in 2022?!?  This material, along with brush and other recyclables, counts towards our annual State Recycling Tonnage Grant; which helps to offset costs to provide recycling services to our residents.

If you are unsure what Zone you reside in, please use this link on the Township website:  http://www.medfordtownship.com/filestorage/233/251/Medford_Leaf_and_Brush_Collection_Map.pdf

Listing of Zones by Street / Neighborhoods
http://www.medfordtownship.com/content/233/251/326.aspx

(Please sign up for E-mail notifications, including brush & leaf operations information by clicking HERE.)  Additional program updates will be distributed as needed through this website page, our official Facebook page, and Nixle.  

**THE TOWNSHIP GARAGE, LOCATED BEHIND BOB MEYER PARK ON COMMONWEALTH DRIVE (OFF GRAVELLY HOLLOW ROAD), IS CURRENTLY OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 7 AM TO 2 PM.  PLEASE REVIEW IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MAIN PAGE.