City of Melrose Solid Waste & Recycling Information

Solid Waste

Solid Waste Recycling and Collection Fee

Buildings with more than 6 dwelling units do not receive solid waste collection services from the City of Melrose. For further information on the Solid Waste Collection Fee, contact the Water Department at 781-979-4175.

Collection Schedule
Trash is collected weekly and should be set out at curbside by 7:00 AM on your collection day, but not prior to 5:00 PM the day before scheduled collection. Click for Trash and Recycling Route Schedule. If you are unsure of your collection day, contact Public Works at 781-979-4170.

Collection on holiday weeks will be picked up one day late after the holiday, with Friday's collection on Saturday. Empty containers should be removed from the sidewalk area within twelve hours after collection. Please note: city employees are forbidden to enter upon private property to pick up containers, including: driveways, cellars, garages or yards.

Number, Type and Size of Containers for Trash 
Plastic bags for trash are preferred. Plastic or metal barrels are acceptable. Rubbish will not be collected if set out in paper shopping bags or cardboard containers. Every attempt should be made to keep trash from blowing around. No more than four (4) barrels or bags plus one (1) bulky item per week will be picked up form each household. Maximum weight to ensure collection is forty-five (45) pounds.

Items Requiring Special Preparation
Certain items require special preparation before being placed curbside for trash collection.

Broken Glass: To avoid accidental injuries, broken glass must be placed in an open barrel or open cardboard box so that it is visible to the collector.

Doors/Windows: A homeowner may place one (1) wooden door or one (1) set of wooden windows at curbside weekly with trash.

Garbage: To prevent animals from foraging, garbage and foodstuffs should be drained, wrapped in a plastic baggie, and then placed into the rubbish container on collection day.

Wood: Pieces of wood should be cut to a maximum of four (4) feet in length and  tied with strong twine or 1/8-inch clothesline.

Property/Sale
Large scale cleaning/disposal due to ownership change, a sudden death or otherwise requires special arrangements. Homeowners/realtors should contact a private hauler or arranged for a private dumpster. Call the Tremont Street Operations Center at 781-665-0142 for additional information. Failure to notify the city will result in trash not being picked up.

Items Not Collected
Rubbish generated from construction, renovation, or fire damage (e.g. wood, plaster, masonry, etc.) will not be collected, and requires the property owner to rent a construction dumpster. Rubbish from commercial establishments and from apartment houses of more than six (6) units will not be collected. Rubbish from churches, synagogues, and other like organizations will be collected; however, rubbish from any ancillary activities (such as a day care center operation, church school, fund raising activity, etc.) will not be collected. Other items not collected includes (but is not limited to) the following: earth, gravel, stones, concrete, asphalt shingles, asbestos materials, plaster, cement blocks, bricks, sand, or any refuse materials from building construction, demolition, or renovation. For questionable items, contact Public Works at 781-979-4170 or the Tremont Street Operations Center at 781-665-0142.

Curbside Recycling Collection

Schedule
Melrose Public Works provides biweekly recycling collection on the same day of the week as your trash collection. The City is divided into “Red” and “Green” recycling collection routes; each route receives collection service every other week based on the recycling calendar. If you do not know if you reside in a “Red” route or a “Green” route, contact Public Works at 781.979.4170.

Click here for a City-wide alphabetical Street listing of Curbside Recycling and Trash Routes.

Bins
Red or green recycling bins may be obtained at the Tremont Street Operations Facility located at 72 Tremont Street. Bins are $5.00 for a 14 gallon bin and $6.00 for an 18 gallon bin. Residents may also label a barrel for recycling. Stickers to label barrels are available at no cost in the Public Works Office located in City Hall. If you choose to use a barrel for recycling, please be aware that the maximum weight to ensure collection is 45 pounds, and that you must continue to separate paper from containers (see below). The barrel must also have drainage holes so water does not collect. 

Acceptable Materials for Recycling
The following chart lists materials accepted in Melrose’s curbside recycling program, as well as the appropriate way to prepare these materials for recycling.

When placing recyclable materials at the curb for collection, place glass, plastic, and metal containers directly into your recycling bin; place paper products inside a paper bag and set on top of or next to your bin or put in a separate recycling bin. Note that mixing paper with containers directly in the bin constitutes contamination, and may result in your bin not being emptied. Paper must be kept dry and weigh less than 45 pounds.

Do not place paper or plastics in plastic bags. Plastic bags, even with the recycle logo are not collected.

Corrugated cardboard must be flattened and cut to 2’ x 2’ pieces, then tied into a bundle with string or twine and placed next to your recycling bin. Boxes that have not been flattened and cardboard pieces larger than 2’ x 2’ in size will not fit into the recycling truck.

Item	Include	How to Prepare	Exclude
Paper	Office paper, file folders, newspapers, newspaper inserts, magazines & catalogs, junk mail, letters, cards, envelopes, paperboard boxes (cereal, crackers, etc), soft & hardcover books, spiral notebooks & writing tablets, phone books, paper bags	Paper must be clean and dry. Remove plastic liners in food boxes. Windowed envelopes, staples, and paperclips are okay.	Shredded paper (see below for instructions).Plastic bags, paper cups and plates, napkins, tissues, paper towels, plastic “Tyvek” envelopes, wet or soiled paper, any packaging that has come in direct contact with food (such as paper take-out sandwich wrappings, pizza boxes, or cardboard instant soup containers).
Shredded Paper	Any paper shredded for confidentiality purposes (such as bills, credit card solicitations, etc.)	Contain in a paper bag separate from other paper; fold over the top and staple closed.Clearly label bag “Shredded Paper.”	Any non-paper items
Corrugated Cardboard	Clean dry corrugated cardboard boxes.	Flatten; cut to 2’ x 2’ in size (larger pieces will not fit into the recycling truck), and tie into a bundle with string or twine.	Wet or soiled cardboard, waxy cardboard, Styrofoam padding, plastic strapping, shrink wrap, bubble wrap
Glass	All bottles & jars, clear or colored glass, deposit or non-deposit	Rinse clean.Label may be left on.	Pyrex, plate glass, auto glass, window glass, dishes, ceramics, mirrors, light bulbs, any other non-container glass
Aluminum and other metal cans	All aluminum and steel (“tin”) food or beverage cans and containers, deposit or non-deposit.	Rinse clean.May flatten to save space.Label may be left on.	Aluminum foil, aerosol cans, paint cans, cans containing hazardous materials, scrap metal
Plastic	Containers labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 in the recycling triangle (usually located on the bottom of the container).	Rinse clean. May flatten to save space. Label may be left on.	Film, storage and sandwich bags, storage wrap, bubble wrap, plastic grocery bags, styrofoam block, trays or peanuts.

Yard Waste Collection

Curbside Collection
Leaves, grass clippings, and brush up to one inch (1”) in diameter, bundled and tied, will be collected seasonally at the curb on your regular rubbish day according to the recycling schedule. Yardwaste must be set out in paper leaf bags or in barrels and all bags and barrels must weigh less than forty-five (45) pounds. 10 barrel/bag maximum per pick up. Barrels must be labeled with “yard waste” stickers to avoid confusion with regular household waste. Yard waste barrel stickers are available free at the Public Works Office in City Hall. Yard waste barrels without stickers will not be picked up with other yard waste, and cannot be picked up as trash. Please click Waste Bans or visit the MA DEP at www.mass.gov/dep.

Drop-off Collection
Leaves, grass clippings, and brush up to one inch (1”) in diameter, bundled and tied, may be dropped off at the Tremont Street Operations Center in accordance with the Solid Waste & Recycling Regulations. In order to drop off yard waste at the Tremont Street Operations Center, you must have a Recycling and Yard Waste Resident Permit. To obtain a sticker, bring your car registration to the Tremont Street Operations Center – Dispatcher. This sticker is free of charge.

Christmas Trees
During the first two weeks in January, Christmas trees are collected curbside or may be dropped off at Mount Hood. Remove stand and all plastic bags, tinsel, twine, lights, ornaments, etc. Trees in plastic bags cannot be collected.

Commercial Recycling Options
The Tremont Street Operations Center is now open to Melrose businesses for commercially generated recyclable materials. In order to access the site, businesses must display a valid Commercial Recycling Drop-Off Pass. Passes are available free of charge at the Public Works Office in City Hall. Businesses participating in the drop-off program will be provided with the Facility Guidelines, including a list of Acceptable Recyclable Materials. Please note that Public Works reserves the right to revoke Passes for noncompliance with Facility Guidelines.

Fluorescent light bulbs have been added to the list of Acceptable Recyclable Materials provided with the Commercial Recycling Drop-Off Pass.

Item	Include	How to Prepare	Exclude
Fluorescent Light Bulbs, CFLs	Any fluorescent light bulb, including straight bulbs, circular bulbs, “U-tube” bulbs, etc.	Use caution when transporting, as these items contain mercury.  Bring to Dispatch Office at Tremont Street Operations Center.	Incandescent light bulbs

 

Tremont Street Operations Center Drop-off Recycling Collection

72 Tremont St.
Monday-Friday:  7:30 AM-2:45 PM
Saturday:          8:00 AM - 3:00 PM (seasonally - see Recycling Calendar)

Items Accepted for Drop-off  - Proof of residency required

Paper products:
Newspapers with inserts
Magazines
Catalogs
Office paper
Phonebooks
Junk mail
Paperboard (cereal boxes)

No soiled paper
No plastic bags
No waxed paper

Corrugated cardboard
Please flatten cardboard before disposing.

Plastic Containers Labeled 1 through 7
Glass
Tin
Aluminum

Clothing & Textiles
Please place in the Planet Aid container.  (No toys, etc., please:  take such items to the Route 1 Salvation Army Drop-off site).

Yard Waste
Small branches (1" in diameter)
Brush
Raked yard waste may be brought to the drop-off:
     in barrels and dumped
     in plastic bags and dumped (plastic bags may not be left on site)
     in cardboard boxes
     in paper leaf bags

Be sure to follow the signs about where to place items as each yard waste category gets processed differently.
Melrose residents only; NO commercial landscapers. 

Acceptable Materials for Recycling
Residents may drop off all recyclable materials accepted in the curbside recycling program at the Tremont Street Operations Center. All items should be placed in the appropriately marked containers. The Tremont Street Operations Center also accepts the following items:

Item	Include	How to Prepare	Exclude
Clothing & Textiles	Clean, dry clothing.	All materials should be clean and dry. Package in plastic bags tied shut, place in appropriately marked container.	Toys, food products, dishes, books, furniture, other non-clothing items for donation.
Yard Waste	Leaves, grass clippings, branches and brush less than one inch (1”) in diameter	Leaves & grass can be placed in paper leaf bags (available at home improvement stores) or delivered loose. Branches and brush should be bundled. When dropping off, place each type of yard waste in the appropriately marked area.	Plastic bags, trash, earth, gravel, stones, sand, etc.
Mercury-containing items	Fluorescent light bulbs, CFL's (compact florescent lights) batteries (alkaline batteries may be thrown in the trash, all others must be recycled), thermostats, fever thermometers	Take care not to break fragile items such as light bulbs. Bring to the Dispatch Office at the Tremont Street Operations Center.
Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs)	Televisions and computer monitors	Bring to the Dispatch Office at the Tremont Street Operations Center. There is a fee of $7.00 per unit, payable by check only.
Propane Tanks	Propane tanks from gas grills	Bring to the Dispatch Office at the Tremont Street Operations Center.	Acetylene tanks (used in welding), helium tanks, medical tanks (oxygen, etc.)
Latex Paint	Latex	Lid off, dried out with drying agent or kitty litter, stir stick in dried paint.	Oil paint, any product that is labeled combustible and must be cleaned with mineral spirits.

Special Collections & Events

Metal and Other Special Items
Metal items, such as refrigerators, stoves, exercise equipment, washing machines, dryers, iron sinks, pipes, storm doors/windows, hot water heaters, radiators, bicycles, chairs, etc, are picked up curbside by appointment only, on Tuesdays coinciding with the “Red” recycling week. Appointments are made in the Public Works Office in City Hall, and must be made by the Friday prior to collection. There is a fee of $15.00 per itempayable by cash, check, or money order (no credit or debit cards, or third party checks) when the appointment is scheduled.

All doors must be removed from refrigerators, freezers and other major appliances before these items are placed at curbside for collection. The City of Melrose will not pick up items with doors still attached. All glass must be removed from storm doors or other metal frames before the frames are set out for collection.

Empty propane tanks from barbeque grills may be brought to the Tremont Street Operations Center for recycling at no cost.

If you have further questions, contact Public Works at 781-979-4170.

Drop-off Days
Public Works holds special drop-off events at the Tremont Street Operations Center from time to time for the collection of mercury-containing items, tires, cathode ray tubes (CRTs, primarily found in televisions and computer monitors), and dried latex paint with lid off and stir stick in to prove paint is hardened. These events take place from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, and are held on the third Saturday of April, May, June, September, and November.

Any recyclable materials normally collected at the Tremont Street Operations Center may be dropped off during these events as well.

Household Hazardous Waste Day
The City’s annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event is also held at the Tremont Street Operations Center, generally on the third Saturday in October. Hazardous waste is very difficult to dispose.Residents need to plan accordingly. Melrose has a HHW Day every year, the third Saturday in October. The Town of Lexington has once a month drop-offs from April through November that are open to non-members. The link for dates and location is http://ci.lexington.ma.us/DPW/hhhwfacility.cfm

Hazardous waste includes:

From the workbench: oil paint; stains and varnishes; wood preservatives; paint strippers/thinners; solvent adhesives; lighter fluid.

From the garage: fuels/gasoline/kerosene; antifreeze; motor oil; engine degreaser; brake fluid/carburetor cleaner; transmission fluid; car wax, polishes; driveway sealer; roofing tar; swimming pool chemicals.

From the yard: poisons; insecticides; fungicides; chemical fertilizers; weed killer; moth balls; flea control products.

From the house: rubber cement; airplane glue; fiberglass resins; photo chemicals; chemistry sets; furniture polish; floor and metal polish; oven cleaner; drain and toilet cleaner; spot remover; rug and upholstery cleaner; hobby supplies, artist supplies.

Please note:Latex Paint is not hazardous, but it takes time to dispose. First, dry the paint by placing a commercial paint hardener or kitty litter (much less expensive) in the can. The trick to both methods is to stir the drying agent well at the beginning and leave the lid off the paint can and the stir stick in the paint. This should be done at least two days in advance, as the paint takes time to dry. Please leave the stick in the paint can so the dispatcher at the Tremont Street Operations Center can be certain that the paint is dried when it is dropped off Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM-2:45 PM, at 72 Tremont Street.

Massachusetts Waste Bans
Since 1990, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has been instituting restrictions on the disposal and transfer for disposal of certain hazardous and/or recyclable items at solid waste facilities in Massachusetts. These restrictions, known as Waste Bans, mean that Melrose residents must remove and recycle banned material from their trash. Including banned materials in your trash increases the risk that the entire truckload will be rejected at the transfer station or charged additional fees.

The following table lists materials that are subject to the waste bans:

 

Material	Including	Not Banned
Recyclable paper	All paper, cardboard, and paperboard products	Low-grade paper products: egg cartons, tissue paper, toweling, waxy cardboard, paper plates/cups, etc; any paper that has come in direct contact with food. No waxed paper, milk and juice containers.
Glass containers	Glass bottles and jars	Light bulbs, Pyrex cookware, drinking glasses, plate glass, windows, ceramics,windshields, etc.
Metal containers	Aluminum, steel, or bi-metal beverage and food containers	Non-food containers
Single-resin narrow-necked plastics	Soda or water bottles, milk jugs, detergent containers, etc.	Wide-necked containers such as take-out containers or yogurt containers. Melrose's recycling program accepts most of these containers; look for the recycling triangle on the bottom of the container and click here for a list of materials accepted for recycling.
Leaves and Yard Waste	Leaves, grass clippings, weeds, garden materials, shrub trimmings, brush one-inch or less in diameter	Diseased plants
Batteries	Lead-acid (automotive) batteries, button batteries Collection buckets for battery recycling are located at the Tremont Street Operations Center Dispatch Office and a the Public Works Office in City Hall.	Household alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D and 9-volt).
White Goods	Large household appliances (hot water heaters, freezers, stoves, washing machines, refrigerators, dryers, etc)	n/a
Whole Tires	Motor vehicle tires of all types	n/a
Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs)	Any glass tube used to provide the visual display in televisions, computer monitors, and scientific instruments.	n/a
Asphalt pavement, brick, and concrete	Asphalt pavement, brick, and concrete from construction activities and demolition of buildings and similar sources	n/a
Metal	Ferrous and non-ferrous metals derived from building materials, appliances and vehicles, etc.	n/a
Wood	Treated and untreated wood, including wood waste.Wood may be disposed at combustion facilities.	Bulky furniture waste such as tables, chairs, desks, etc.

More information on the Waste Bans can be found on the DEP website at www.mass.gov/dep.The legal citation is 310 CMR 19.017.

 Additional Information
For additional information about the City’s recycling, solid waste, and yard waste/composting programs, contact the Public Works Department at 781-979-4170, the Tremont Street Operations Center at 781-665-0142, or email publicworks@cityofmelrose.org.

The Tremont Street Operations Center is located at 72 Tremont Street. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday: 7:30 AM-2:45 PM and Saturday: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM (seasonally - see Recycling Calendar).