City of Melrose Offers Residents an Affordable Way to Purchase Lidded Trash Barrels
In response to positive feedback provided by residents, the City of Melrose will move forward with its plan to make a bulk purchase of 35-gallon trash barrels in an effort to provide residents with an affordable way to buy barrels that are compliant with the City’s updated trash receptacle ordinance.
The 35-gallon barrel is a gray plastic square-topped toter with two wheels and an attached lid. A sample for residents to view will be on display at Melrose Public Library at 69 West Emerson Street.
Residents whose barrels are currently compliant do not need to purchase one, and those who need a new barrel are welcome to purchase a compliant barrel from a provider other than the City. To learn more about the updated trash receptacle ordinance and read the FAQs, www.cityofmelrose.org/trash-recycling/pages/new-trash-barrel-requirements-melrose-residents.
While some municipalities charge residents over $200 annually to use government-owned 35-gallon barrels, Melrose’s bulk purchase provides residents with a way to purchase a barrel, or as many as four (4), for only $50 each, plus the City will offer qualifying property owners significant discounts.
- Property owners aged 65 + will receive a 10% discount off their barrel purchase(s)
- Property owners aged 65+ who receive the City’s Senior Citizen Low Income 50% Trash Discount will receive a 50% discount off one barrel
- Property owners aged 65+ who receive the City’s Senior Citizen Low Income 100% Trash Discount will receive one barrel for free
- Property owners who receive the City’s Low Income 100% Trash Discount will receive one barrel for free
The City is currently accepting pre-orders of barrels through the Department of Public Works (DPW), and residents may pre-order as many as four (4) barrels, per the City’s residential barrel limit, which states no more than four (4) barrels and one (1) bulky item per week will be picked up from each household.
Orders of the 35-gallon barrels will be placed on a rolling basis and will be distributed on a first come, first-served basis. The DPW will schedule a Barrel Pickup Day at the City Yard, located at 72 Tremont Street around the delivery date, anticipated in late March for the first order. The City will provide residents with shipment updates as they are received from Melrose’s third-party vendor, Cascade Cart Solutions. A separate date is being arranged in April for swapping/recycling/disposal of your old barrel as needed.
To reserve a barrel(s), residents may contact Lisa Scott, the City’s Environmental Outreach Coordinator, at recycle@cityofmelrose.org or call (781) 665 – 0142.