Recyclopedia

The Recyclopedia is a guide for residents of how to recycle, reuse and correctly dispose of household items. Many of the items listed in the Recyclopedia can be dropped off at the Recycling Center at the Public Works Operations Facility at 72 Tremont Street. The Center is open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. seasonally. Some items have a fee (checks only) and are labeled by ($) in the Recyclopedia. For more information about the Center, call Public Works 781-665-0142 or email publicworks@cityofmelrose.org.

When in doubt about where to send off an item that may still have some life left in it, consult the Reuse Resources list put together by the city’s Solid Waste & Recycling Coordinator.

For any questions about the Recyclopedia, or for items not listed, email the committee at MelroseRecyclingCommittee@gmail.com.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has established the Recycle Smart program through which it is offering a Recyclopedia function that Melrose residents can consult with questions about specific items. It is important to note, however, that items that can be recycled curbside in some Massachusetts jurisdictions may not be recycled in others, because of differences among the trash/recycling haulers and their contracts with processors of recycled materials.

Thanks for doing your part to reduce, reuse and recycle!

A    B    C    D    E    F    G    H    I    J    K    L    M    N    O    P    Q    R    S    T    U    V    W    X    Y    Z

A

Air Conditioners ($)
Air conditioners are considered metal items. They can be disposed of in two ways. You can schedule a curbside pickup by purchasing a sticker at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for the location and hours) and place the air conditioner curbside with the sticker on it. You can also drop off your air conditioner at a Saturday recycling event (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events).

Aluminum
Aluminum cans can be recycled at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for the location and hours) or in your single-stream curbside recycling container. Aluminum foil and aluminum trays (used for BBQ’s and potlucks) can be put in your single-stream curbside recycling container if they are clean.

Appliances ($)
DPW accepts “home office and entertainment” electronics and some electronics with reusable batteries (no kitchen appliances). There is a fee for items with a screen. Other small household appliances in working order can be posted on one of the reuse resource sites (see here). Large appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, dryers, microwaves and ovens are considered metal items and can be recycled at DPW for a fee. They can be disposed of in two ways: (1) You can schedule a curbside pickup by purchasing a sticker at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for the location and hours) and place the air conditioner curbside with the sticker on it. (2) You can also drop off your air conditioner at a Saturday recycling event (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events).

Aseptic Packaging
Aseptic packaging (liquid carton packaging that does not need to be refrigerated including soup, wine, coconut water, almond milk, juice boxes and orange juice cartons ) can be recycled at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for the location and hours).

Auto Products, Fuels, and Parts ($)
Fuels and auto products are considered hazardous waste materials. Once a year Melrose has a Saturday Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) event where residents can dispose of hazardous waste at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (Click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events). Melrose works with Clean Harbors to recycle hazardous waste.

Auto products accepted at the HHW event include: Brake fluid, car wax, carburetor cleaner, engine de-greaser, gasoline, motor fluid, polish, radio, transmission fluid, tires, car batteries, boat and car covers. The Melrose DPW also schedules special Saturday collection events for dropping off motor oil, gasoline, and antifreeze.

If you would like to dispose of your hazardous waste at another time you can consult the other regional events open to Melrose residents here.

B

Batteries (rechargeable)
Alkaline batteries can be thrown in the trash whereas rechargeable batteries (lithium ion, lithion primary, nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, small sealed lead acid) can be brought to the Public Works Operations Facility (click here the for location and hours) or to Batteries Plus Bulbs on Rt. 1 in Saugus.

Please keep different types of batteries separate from each other and use tape to cover the contacts on batteries prior to storing, transporting or dropping them off.

Bedding
Some bedding (sheets, linens, pillows, comforters, but no foam products) can be recycled in the Bay State Textiles box at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here the for location and hours) or dropped off at their donation boxes located at the Melrose Public Schools. Click here for a full list of acceptable textile items.

OR Donate your bedding to:

Epilepsy Foundation
Phone: (888)322-8209
The Epilepsy Foundation provides drop-off locations and also does curbside pick-ups.  They accept clothing, media, houseware, bedding, electronics, furniture, sporting goods, musical instruments and more.  All donations benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of New England. Please see website for accepted materials and how to donate.

Books
Books can be dropped in the RecycleThat box at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for the location and hours).

OR

Epilepsy Foundation
Phone: (888) 322-8209
he Epilepsy Foundation provides drop-off locations and also does curbside pick-ups.  They accept clothing, media, houseware, bedding, electronics, furniture, sporting goods, musical instruments and more.  All donations benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of New England. Please see website for accepted materials and how to donate.

Brita Filters
Brita filters can be brought to your local Whole Foods. The one in Melrose is located at 880 Main Street.

Bubble Wrap

Bubble wrap can be recycled as plastic film at Shaw’s Supermarket (34 Essex Street) and Whole Foods (880 Main Street) if the bubbles are popped.

C

Cardboard
Cardboard can be recycled at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for the location and hours) or in your single-stream curbside recycling container.

Cell Phones
Cell phones can be recycled at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for the location and hours) or at:

Recycling for Charities
Phone: (866) 630-7477
Recycling for Charities is one of the only non-profits that recycles cell phones for charity benefits.   Recycling for Charities allows you chose which charity you want the profits from your cell phone to go to.  You can also send in your broken iPods, PDAs, Cameras, and laptops.

Hope Phones
Phone: (512) 333-5132
Email: info@hopephones.org
Hope Phones is also a great charity helping doctors in medical clinics in developing countries stay in touch with their patients. When an old phone is received, it is sold to buy new useable phones for clinic workers. These new cell phones allow doctors to help a greater amount of people, cut down on travel time, and put more money toward medicine.  Go to their website to print out your pre-made shipping label.

Staples and Best Buy
Recycle PDA’s, cell phones, and digital cameras for free.  Drop off your phone at the service desk in any of their stores.

Drop Off /Buy Back Options
Next time you are buying a new cell phone, ask your wireless provider if they recycle old phones.  Some major original equipment manufacturers and retailers have created recycling programs which can be found in the searchable database of EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge.

CD’s
CD’s can be recycled at the following:

Green Disk
Green Disk provides a mail-in service for recycling electronic devices and their cases. Green Disk accepts many forms of “techno-trash” and their cases such as zip disks, CDs, cassette tapes, video tapes etc. For a full listing of Green Disk’s accepted products, see their website.

Epilepsy Foundation
Phone: (888) 322-8209
The Epilepsy Foundation provides drop-off locations and also does curbside pick-ups.  They accept clothing, media, houseware, bedding, electronics, furniture, sporting goods, musical instruments and more.  All donations benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of New England. Please see website for accepted materials and how to donate.

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

Christmas Tree Lights
Christmas tree lights can be recycled at:

Holiday LEDS
If you are in the market for new Christmas lights send Holiday LEDS your old set of Christmas lights and they will give you a coupon off your next purchase.  This program runs seasonally so check to make sure the program is running.

Christmas Light Source
The Christmas Light Source sells your old incandescent lights to a local recycling facility and donates the proceeds to the Marine Toys for Tots foundation. Lowes and Home Depot also hold seasonal recycling/trade-in events during the month of November.

Clothing/Textiles
Clothing and textiles can be dropped in the Bay State Textiles box at Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for the location and hours) or dropped off at donation boxes located at Melrose Public Schools. Textiles include: clothes, shoes, stuffed animals, blankets, purses, bags and more. Click here for a full list of acceptable items.

Coat Hangers
Metal coat hangers cannot be placed in your single stream recycling container or in the containers at the City Yard; instead they can be brought to your local dry cleaners for reuse.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLS)
Residential CFLs and fluorescent tubes 4′ or shorter can be brought to the Resident Services office at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for the location and hours). Other light bulbs (incandescent, LEDs, high pressure sodium/HPS) can be dropped off at Batteries Plus Bulbs on Rt. 1 in Saugus. NO light bulbs of any kind go in the curbside recycling bin or the containers at the City Yard.

Computers ($)
Computers can be disposed of in a few ways. You can schedule a curbside pickup by purchasing a sticker at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for the location and hours) and placing the computer curbside with the sticker on it. You can also drop off your computer during the week at the Tremont St. Recycling Center or at a Saturday recycling event (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events). There is a fee for computer monitors and laptops but not for CPUs.

There are many retail stores that accept consumer electronics for recycling and donation centers accept them for reuse. You can find more listings online at: MA Department of Environmental Protection’s electronics recycling page or EPA’s eCycling page

Donations are accepted at:

Tecschange – Technology for Social Change
83 Highland Street, Roxbury, MA 02119
Phone: (617) 963-0262
Email: donations@tecschange.org
Please call or email first. Accepts donations from individuals, local companies, and other institutions. Computers should be less than 5 years old, complete, but not necessarily in working order. Donated equipment is refurbished by skilled volunteers and provided, along with technical support, to grassroots community organizations in the Cambridge-Boston area. Equipment is also donated to grassroots NGO’s abroad. Laptops (less than 7 years old) are especially useful for groups that do human rights advocacy. Donated equipment is also needed for their computer repair classes. These classes are taught by high-tech volunteers and graduating students can take home a computer that they have refurbished themselves.

Goodwill
1010 Harrison Ave, Boston MA 02119
Phone: (617) 445-1010
Accepts working computers only.

Epilepsy Foundation
Phone: (888)322-8209
The Epilepsy Foundation provides drop-off locations and also does curbside pick-ups.  They accept clothing, media, houseware, bedding, electronics, furniture, sporting goods, musical instruments and more.  All donations benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of New England. Please see website for accepted materials and how to donate.

YouthBuild Boston 

504 Dudley St., Boston, MA 02119
Phone: (617) 445-8887
YouthBuild Boston (YBB) provides opportunities for young people to build career and life skills via innovative, hands-on training programs in the building trades, including green building and sustainable landscape design. YBB also operates The Designery, an after school architecture workshop for high school students. Donations of working computers and peripherals are used by students for computer literacy/training and by administrative staff. To ensure compatibility with our network and software, we ask that computers meet or exceed the following specifications: 1.6 GHz processor, 512MB RAM, 40GB hard drive. (updated 9/30/2010)

Best Buy Recycles both desktop and notebook computers and monitors($).  They also accept smaller electronics like VCRs, DVD players, printers, MP3 players, stereos, alarm clocks, PDAs, cell phones and digital cameras, toner and ink cartridges, and rechargeable batteries for FREE.

Staples Many products are FREE to recycle, including desktops, laptops, monitors, printers, shredders, UPS devices, cell phones, digital cameras, and GPS devices.

Check with other retailers and manufacturers, such as Office Depot, Sony & LG

Construction & Demolition Materials
The City of Melrose does not accept construction and demolition materials. That includes 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.

Places that do accept construction and demolition materials are:

1-800-GOT-JUNK?
http://www.1800gotjunk.com/

Wood Waste of Boston
85 Boston Street, Everett, MA 02149
617-387-3700
http://woodwasteofboston.com/

Pricing is based on materials and priced per ton

Waste Management
204 Merrimac Street, Woburn, MA 01801
800-545-4560
https://www.wm.com/business/bagster-bag.jsp

Boston Building Resources (for reusable items)
100 Terrace Street, Boston, MA 02120
617-442-2262
http://www.bostonbuildingresources.com/index.php/reuse_center

Accepts reusable building supplies

Aggregate Industries
1715 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906
781-941-7200
http://www.aggregate-us.com/_aius/ps/ps.cfm

Accepts: crushed stone, sand & gravel, concrete, asphalt, liquid asphalt, paving & contracting supplies, soil, landscaping & construction supplies, building materials & green building products

Northgate Recycling Company
320 Charger Street, Revere, MA 02151
Phone: 781-284-4260

Accepts: concrete, dirt

Cooking Oil
Small Quantities: Pour into a can or jar with lid, store until full and place in trash. Or bring the oil to Save That Stuff, Inc. in Charlestown, MA.

Large Quantities: Free collection from restaurants through the MA Alternative Fuel Foundation.

Corks
Corks can be brought to selected Whole Foods locations, but not the one on Main Street in Melrose.

Cosmetics
Bring your empty cosmetic tubes, bottles and jars, etc. – regardless of brand – to your nearest Origins retail store or department store counter nationwide (excluding Nordstrom’s). All returned packaging will be sent back to a central location where products will be recycled or used for energy recovery. Zero Waste Melrose has also begun collecting some of these items at special events, working with the company TerraCycle. Check into the Zero Waste Melrose website for updates on these events.

D

Dehumidifiers ($)
Dehumidifiers are considered metal items. They can be disposed of in two ways. You can schedule a curbside pickup by purchasing a sticker at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for the location and hours) and placing the dehumidifier curbside with the sticker on it. You can also drop off it off at a Saturday recycling event (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events). If your unit is still functional contact DPW to find out if there is an upcoming free collection with opportunity for a mail-in rebate on the recycling event schedule.

Doors ($)
Wooden doors can be put in your curbside trash. Metal doors are considered metal items. They can be disposed of in two ways. You can schedule a curbside pickup by purchasing a sticker at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for the location and hours) and placing the door curbside with the sticker on it. You can also drop off it off at a Saturday recycling event (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events). For both curbside pick-up and Saturday recycling events, glass must be taken out of all doors and put in a trash barrel – not in a black trash bag.

E

Electronics ($) or E-Waste 
The following “home office and entertainment” electronics or E-Waste can be recycled at the DPW Recycling Center (click here for location and hours) for free:  cables and wires, cell phones, desktop copiers, CPU’s, DVD players, fax machines, key boards, mice, networking gear, PDAs, desktop printers, radios (communication equip), routers, scanners, servers, stereo equipment, telecom equipment (phones), VCR players and video game consoles. TVs, computers and laptops can be recycled at DPW for a fee in a few ways. You can schedule a curbside pickup by purchasing a sticker at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for the location and hours) and placing the item curbside with the sticker on it. You can also drop off it off for a fee during the week at the Tremont St. Recycling Center or at a Saturday recycling event (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events).

Best Buy Recycles both desktop and notebook computers and monitors($).  They also accept smaller electronics like VCRs, DVD players, printers, MP3 players, stereos, alarm clocks, PDAs, cell phones and digital cameras, toner and ink cartridges, and rechargeable batteries for FREE.

Staples Many products are FREE to recycle, including desktops, laptops, monitors, printers, shredders, UPS devices, cell phones, digital cameras, and GPS devices.

Some major original equipment manufacturers and retailers have created recycling programs which can be found in the searchable database of EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge. You can also check directly with retailers and manufacturers such as Office Depot, Sony & LG.

Exercise Equipment ($)
Exercise equipment such as treadmills and ellipticals are considered metal items. They can be disposed of by scheduling a curbside pickup. To do so, purchase a sticker at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for location and hours) and place the exercise equipment curbside with the sticker on it.

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
See “Styrofoam”

Eye Glasses
Eye glasses can be recycled at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for location and hours) for the Lions Club. The Lions Club collects used eyeglasses for donation to Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers that are located throughout the world. The used eyeglasses are cleaned, repaired and classified by prescription. The eyeglasses are then distributed to those in need by Lions Club volunteers and other organizations hosting optical missions in developing countries.

Goodwill Industries stores

LensCrafters Eyewear stores

F

Fire Extinguishers ($)
The two most common types of fire extinguisher include dry chemical (sodium bicarbonate or monoammonium phosphate) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), both of which are not hazardous. These types of fire extinguisher are accepted at DPW’s Recycling Center during weekday hours or Saturday recycling events for a fee (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events.)

Very old fire extinguishers may contain carbon tetrachloride, which is considered to be hazardous waste. Click here for information about local household hazardous waste disposal events.

OR bring your fire extinguisher to:

Fire Equipment Incorporated
88 Hicks Avenue, Medford, MA
Phone: (781) 391-8050
Small charge unless purchasing a new fire extinguisher

New England Fire and Safety
Located in Medford
Phone: (781) 396-3203
Will accept for a fee.

Food Scraps
Food scraps can be composted in a compost bin which you can buy at the Public Works Operations Facility in the spring. Contact DPW to be added to the waitlist (click here for the location, hours & contact info).

OR

Perfect for apartment dwellers, worm composting uses “red wigglers” (Eisenia fetida) to recycle food scraps and other organic material into a valuable soil amendment called vermicompost. Worms eat food scraps which become compost once they pass through the worm’s body. Vermicompost is a great soil amendment for vegetable gardens, houseplants, lawns and perennial beds. Eisenia fetida can be procured from a friend or neighbor with a worm bin, picked up for a small fee from Groundwork Somerville, ordered through the mail from various sources online, or are often sold as “red wigglers” (NOT nightcrawlers) at bait shops.

OR

Several local companies offer curbside food scrap pickup to residents and businesses for a fee. These include BootStrap Compost, Black Earth Compost, and City Compost.

Furniture ($)
Furniture (metal and non-metal) can be donated to a number of local organizations listed on Melrose Recycles’ Reuse Resources page. You can schedule curbside pickup from several of these organizations.

Metal furniture includes: metal desks, metal bed frames, sleep sofas, metal filing cabinets, recliners, and metal chairs. Metal furniture can be disposed of in two ways in Melrose. You can schedule a curbside pickup by purchasing a sticker at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for the location and hours) and placing the item curbside with the sticker on it. You can also drop off it off at a Saturday recycling event (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events).

Non-metal furniture can be placed in the trash. One bulky item is accepted per week. This includes wooden chairs, wooden desks and wooden tables.

G

Glass
Empty glass bottles and jars can be recycled at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for the location and hours) or can be put in your single stream curbside recycling container. Glass bottles can also be brought to a local grocery store. Glassware, drinking glasses, ceramics and mirrors can be donated through any of the organizatiosn listed on the Reuse Resources page. Broken glass or large pieces of glass (e.g. from a storm door or glass table) should be carefully put in the trash in clear bag or wrapped in tape and clearly labeled  for the safety of workers. Glass with printing, such as drinking glasses should be placed in the trash and not the recycling bin.

Grills ($)
Grills are considered metal items and can be disposed of in two ways. You can schedule a curbside pickup by purchasing a sticker at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for the location and hours) and placing the grill curbside with the sticker on it. You can also drop off it off at a Saturday recycling event (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events).

H

Hazardous Waste ($)
Once a year Melrose has a Saturday Household Hazardous Waste Event where residents can dispose of hazardous waste at the Public Works Operations Facility at 72 Tremont Street. Click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events. Proof of residency is required and commercial hazardous waste will not be accepted.

Items accepted include: paint products (oil based paint, stains and varnishes, wood preservatives, paint strippers/thinners), fuels/auto products (gasoline, kerosene, antifreeze, motor oil, engine degreaser, brake fluid, carburetor cleaner, transmission fluid, car wax, polishes), gardening fluids (poisons, insecticides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers, weed killer), household items (rubber cement, airplane glue, fiberglass resins, photo chemicals, chemistry set, furniture polish, floor and metal polish, oven cleaner, drain and toilet cleaner, spot remover, rug and upholstery cleaner, hobby supplies, artist supplies, mothballs, flea control products) and other miscellaneous items (driveway sealer, roofing tar, swimming pool chemicals).

NOTE: Latex paint will NOT be accepted. Dried-up latex paint can be disposed in your trash or it can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. -3 p.m., at the Public Works Operations Facility.

To safely transport these items, leave the materials in their original containers. Make sure to tighten caps and lids. Oil paint, pesticides and household cleaners should be sorted and packed separately. It’s also a good idea to pack containers in sturdy upright boxes and pad with newspaper. Drive directly to the collection site as soon as the car is packed.

Never mix chemicals or smoke while handling hazardous material.

Items not accepted include: commercial or industrial waste, radioactive waste, infectious and biological wastes, pressurized cylinders, ammunition, fireworks, explosives and asbestos.

If you would like to dispose of your hazardous waste at another time, click here to see details on the other regional events open to Melrose residents.

Melrose works with Clean Harbors to help recycle hazardous waste.

Hearing Aids
Send used hearing aids to the following:
Lions Clubs
Massachusetts Lions District 33-S Hearing Foundation
Morton Hospital Speech, Hearing, and Language Center
2007 Bay Street, Suite B-100
Taunton, MA 02780

I

Insecticides ($)
Gardening fluids such as poisons, insecticides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers, and weed killer are considered to be hazardous waste materials. Once a year Melrose has a Saturday Household Hazardous Waste Event where residents can recycle hazardous waste at the Public Works Operations Facility at 72 Tremont Street. (Click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events.)

If you would like to dispose of your hazardous waste at another time, click here to see details on the other regional events open to Melrose residents.

J

Jewelry
Jewelry can be dropped in the Bay State Textiles box at Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for the location and hours) or dropped off at donation boxes located at Melrose Public Schools.

Juice cartons with multiple layers of materials

The typical children’s juice cartons can not be recycled due to the complexity of separating the various materials of construction (plastic, paper and often foil).

K

Keys
You can bring your keys to Keys for Hope in Avon. They donate money from the metal to food banks. Keys may be accepted at a Saturday recycling event as well (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events).

L

Lawn Mowers ($)
Lawn mowers are metal items. They can be disposed of in two ways. You can schedule a curbside pickup by purchasing a sticker at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for the location and hours) and placing the lawn mower curbside with the sticker on it. You can also drop off it off at a Saturday recycling event (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events). Please empty the gas from the lawn mower prior to putting it curbside or dropping it off. (Gas can then be brought to a household hazardous waste day or a motor oil/gasoline/antifreeze collection day for proper disposal; click here for details.)

Light Bulbs
Residential CFLs and fluorescent tubes 4 feet long or shorter can be brought to the Resident Services office at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for the location and hours). Other light bulbs (incandescent, LEDs, high pressure sodium/HPS) can be dropped off at Batteries Plus Bulbs on Rt. 1 in Saugus. NO light bulbs of any kind go in the curbside recycling bin or the containers at the City Yard.

M

Mattresses

Mattresses in good condition can also be donated to Coalition for the Homeless in Lynn.

Mattresses and boxsprings in any condition can be brought to the United Teen Equality Center in Lawrence, MA. You must call (978) 856-3997 in advance, or schedule a drop-off online, pay a fee, and bring it between the hours of 7:30 and 2:30 from Monday through Thursday.

Medical Items
Liquids must be dried and secured in an unlabeled bottle and then placed in the trash.

You can drop off expired/unused prescriptions or over the counter medication  to the medication drop box at the Melrose Police Department (56 West Foster Street). The drop box is accessible year-round, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Police Business: 781-665-1212

All used and unused syringes in rigid containers can be dropped off during regular City Hall Hours. Monday -Thursday, 8:30am-4:00pm and Friday 8:30am-12:30pm.  The kiosk is located outside the Health Department on the ground floor of City Hall (576 Main Street). Phone: (781) 979-4130

Mercury Items
Mercury items such as old thermometers and old thermostats can be dropped off at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for the location and hours). Please prepare in a bag or box and bring to the Resident Services office.

Metal ($)
Metal items can be disposed of in two ways. You can schedule a curbside pickup by purchasing a sticker at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for the location and hours) and placing the item curbside with the sticker on it. You can also drop off it off at a Saturday recycling event (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events).

Accepted metal items include the following: refrigerators, stoves, exercise equipment (treadmills, elliptical), washing machines, dryers, iron sinks, pipes, storm doors/windows, hot water heaters, radiators, bicycles, chairs, metal desks, scrap metal, metal file cabinet, dehumidifier, metal barrels, recliner, sleep sofa, lawn mower, air conditioner, snow blower, water heater, paper shredder, grill, microwave, metal locker, metal bed frame.

Metal Cans
Metal cans can be recycled in the commingles container at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for the location and hours) or put in your single-stream curbside recycling container. Metal cans must be rinsed but do not need to be flattened.

Milk Cartons
Milk cartons with the waxy coating must be put in the trash. Milk in bottles or plastic containers may be placed in the curbside bin for single-stream recycling.

Musical Instruments
Click here for the Reuse Resources list for a variety of options.

Musical instruments can be donated to:
Epilepsy Foundation
Phone: (888)322-8209
The Epilepsy Foundation provides drop-off locations and also does curbside pick-ups.  They accept clothing, media, houseware, bedding, electronics, furniture, sporting goods, musical instruments and more.  All donations benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of New England. Please see website for accepted materials and how to donate.

N

O

P

Paint Products ($)
Most paint products–in particular, oil-based paints, as well as turpentines and thinners–are considered to be hazardous waste materials. Once a year Melrose has a Saturday Household Hazardous Waste Event where residents can dispose of hazardous waste at the Public Works Operations Facility at 72 Tremont Street. (Click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events.)

Empty paint cans go in trash.

If you would like to dispose of your hazardous waste at another time you can click here to see the other regional events open to Melrose residents.

NOTE: Latex paint is NOT accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Day. Dried-up latex paint can be disposed of Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. -3 p.m., at the Tremont St. Recycling Center.

Paper
Paper can be recycled at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for the location and hours) or put in your single-stream curbside recycling container. Paper includes the following: cardboard, brown paper bags, poster board, white and colored paper, manila folders, index cards, invoices, business cards, newspapers, magazines, phone books, catalogs, junk mail and the clean parts of pizza boxes. Spiral notebooks should be put in the trash unless you remove the metal spiral or tear out the paper.

If you are curious about tissue paper and its impact on the environment, you can learn more at this website.

Paper Shredders
Paper shredders are considered electronics or e-waste and can be recycled at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for location and hours).

Pet Toys and Supplies
Many pet shelters in the area are always looking for donations. Call a pet shelter close to you and inquire if they are looking for any used pet goods.

Pizza Boxes
The clean part of pizza boxes can be recycled at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for the location and hours) or put in your single-stream curbside recycling container. Please rip off dirty oily parts and place in the trash. If the entire pizza box is clean turn it inside out or rip in half before placing in your bin to ensure that the hauler will take it.

Phones
Phones are considered electronics or e-waste and can be recycled at the Tremont st. Recycling Center (click here for location and hours). For more options check out Cell Phones.

Photographs
Generally, modern digital prints may be recycled due to lack of heavy chemicals from dark room processing. Older photographs may not be as easily recycled. Learn more by clicking this link. The website advises that if your photograph tears in layers rather than cleanly ripping apart like pages in a magazine, you have an old-school photograph. If you see a clean tear, your photo was simply printed and isn’t contaminated with photographic chemicals.

Plastics

Plastics recycling is ever-changing, confusing, complex, and varies by jurisdiction. The ability to recycle certain plastic items is very dependent on market dynamics.

Generally, we are at the present time advising that plastic containers marked with #1 and #2 can be recycled at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for the location and hours) or put in your single-stream curbside recycling bin. Please take spray bottle pumps out of plastic bottles.

Rigid plastics and plastic bags can NOT be recycled in the curbside bin or in the commingled containers at the Tremont St. Recycling Center. They CAN be recycled at some Saturday recycling events (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events). Also, plastic bags can be dropped off at local supermarkets (Whole Foods, Shaws) and chain stores (Lowes, Target).

Play Sets (dismantled) ($)
Metal play sets must be dismantled and can be disposed of in two ways. You can schedule a curbside pickup by purchasing a sticker at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for the location and hours) and placing the set curbside with the sticker on it. You can also drop off it off at a Saturday recycling event (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events).

Rigid plastic play sets must be dismantled and can be recycled at the Tremont St. Recycling Center at an annual Rigid Plastics Saturday Recycling Events (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events) or placed in the trash.

Wood play sets must be dismantled and can be out in the trash.

Printers
Desktop printers are considered electronics or e-waste and can be recycled for free at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for location and hours) on week days. Printers can also be brought to Saturday recycling events (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events). Also check to see if your local Best Buy or Staples accepts printers.

Printer Cartridges
Printer/toner Cartridges can be brought to your local Staples.

Propane Tanks ($)
Empty propane tanks can be recycled at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for location and hours). The 20# tanks (typically used for gas grills) that are in good condition are free of charge. The 1# tanks (typically used for camp stoves) cost $1 each (they cannot be refilled). Empty propane tanks can also be brought back to certain Blue Rhino locations to be refurbished or recycled. Click here to find the closest location.

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School Supplies
Call schools in the local area to see if they are in need of any school supplies.  Gently used supplies are often accepted.

Cradles to Crayons Boston
155 North Beacon St, Brighton, MA 02135
Phone: 617.779.4700
Support kids in need with essential items for growth. Accepts new arts and craft supplies, school supplies and gently used kids clothing and toys.  Check their website for a full list of items they accept.  You can drop off donations at numerous local locations (click here for a map and list).

Scrap Metal ($)
Scrap metal can be disposed of in two ways. You can schedule a curbside pickup by purchasing a sticker at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for the location and hours) and placing the metal curbside with the sticker on it. You can also drop off it off at a Saturday recycling event (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events).

Scrubs
Scrubs can be dropped in the Bay State Textiles box at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for location and hours) or in the boxes at the Melrose Public Schools.

Also, Global Links, a non-profit humanitarian organization, collects gently used scrubs that they donate to medical workers in low-income communities overseas.

Shoes
Shoes can be dropped in the Bay State Textiles box at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for location and hours) or in the boxes at the Melrose Public Schools.

Also,  you can donate shoes to Nike Reuse a Shoe. Visit their website for drop off locations.

Sleep Sofas ($)
Sleep sofas are considered metal items and can be disposed of in two ways. You can schedule a curbside pickup by purchasing a sticker at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for the location and hours) and placing the sleep sofa curbside with the sticker on it.

Smoke Detectors
The most common type of smoke detector contains a small amount of Americium 241, a radioactive material. For this reason all detectors must, by law, be labeled as to radioactive content. It is legal to disposal of old smoke detectors in landfills or incinerators, or you may return them to the manufacturer for disposal. Detector companies accept returned radioactive detectors for disposal as hazardous waste. Detectors have a limited life span, usually specified at ten years. Testing your detector with actual smoke is the only way to be sure it will work when needed.

First Alert Radioactive Waste Disposal
3920 Enterprise Court, Aurora, IL 60504-8133
Phone: (800)323.9005
Any manufactured in Aurora, IL may be sent back to First Alert, including BRK and Family Guard.

Sears will only accept brands that are called back by manufacturer. Please call first.
Phone: (617) 252-3500 or (781) 356-6103

Walter Kidde
1394 South Third Street, Mebane, NC 27302
Phone: (800) 880-6788

Snow Blowers ($)
Snow blowers are considered metal items and can be disposed of in two ways. You can schedule a curbside pickup by purchasing a sticker at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for the location and hours) and placing the snow blower curbside with the sticker on it. You can also drop off it off at a Saturday recycling event (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events).

Soap
Clean the World
Phone:(407)576-8353
Donate your used soaps and shampoos to Clean the World.  Clean the World hopes to prevent the millions of deaths every year from acute respiratory infections and diarrhea disease in developing countries. Donated soaps are disinfected, reformed, and sent to people in need. Send your soaps to the their headquarters in Orlando, Florida
info@cleantheworld.org

Sports Equipment
You can save your sports equipment for Melrose’s Annual Swap Day, where you can drop of gently used items for free or just come by and find something you’d like to take home. Click here for more information about Swap Day. Also, sporting goods in good condition can be brought to Play it Again Sports on Montvale Ave. in Stoneham.

Epilepsy Foundation 
Phone: (888) 322-8209
The Epilepsy Foundation provides drop-off locations and also does curbside pick-ups.  They accept clothing, media, houseware, bedding, electronics, furniture, sporting goods, musical instruments and more.  All donations benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of New England. Please see website for accepted materials and how to donate.

Other organizations that may take sports equipment include: Savers, Goodwill  and Salvation Army .

Styrofoam (Expanded Polystyrene EPS)

Melrose has Saturday “Styrofoam” (EPS) recycling events where residents can recycle clean, white EPS foam for free at the Tremont St. Recycling Center. The first of these events of the year is typically the first Saturday in January. Click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events.

In between these events, Melrose residents can bring any clean, white EPS foam to Save That Stuff in Charlestown. For details call (617) 241-9998 or see:http://www.savethatstuff.com/services/what-we-collect/.

Please note: colored or printed EPS foam, packing peanuts and EPS foam with food residue, tape or stickers can NOT be accepted at the city events or Save That Stuff.

Packing peanuts can be dropped off for reuse at selected local UPS stores. Call your nearest UPS store in advance to be sure that they accept packing peanuts.

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Textbooks
See Books

Textiles
See Clothing

Thermometers/Thermostats
See Mercury Items

Tires ($)
Tires can be recycled for a fee at Saturday recycling events (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events) at the Tremont St. Recycling Center.

Toilets
Toilets can be placed in your curbside trash as a bulky item. There are some drop off location options as well:

Boston Building Resources
Visit their website or call for open hours. Will accept sinks and faucets, all bathroom fixtures, and low flow toilets. Please call to find out whether your surplus materials are acceptable.

Tools
Epilepsy Foundation 
Phone: (888) 322-8209
The Epilepsy Foundation provides drop-off locations and also does curbside pick-ups.  They accept clothing, media, houseware, bedding, electronics, furniture, sporting goods, musical instruments and more.  All donations benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of New England. Please see website for accepted materials and how to donate. Tools in good condition may also be dropped off at Melrose’s Swap Day.

Trophies
Lamb Awards & Engraving
Email: internet@lambawards.com

You can send your old and unwanted trophies to Lamb Award & Engraving where they are reused to make new trophies. You must email them a head of time if you are planning on sending them trophies.  Please include recycling in your subject line.

Medals 4 Mettle
Accepts earned marathon, half-marathon, and triathlon medals from athletes (adults and children) to encourage patients with debilitating illnesses. Medals4Mettle (M4M) is a non-profit organization that facilitates the gifting of marathon, half marathon, and triathlon finishers’ medals. Runners from around the world give their hard-earned medals to Medals4Mettle. Their worldwide network of physicians and volunteers then awards the medals attached to a Medals4Mettle ribbon to children and adults fighting debilitating illnesses who might not be able to run a race, but are in a race of their own just to continue to live their life. It is in honor of this medal and courage in bravely facing these challenges that they are awarded a medal.

TVs ($)
TVs can be disposed of in a few ways. You can schedule a curbside pickup by purchasing a sticker at the Public Works Operations Facility (click here for the location and hours) and placing the item curbside with the sticker on it. You can also drop off it off during the week at the Tremont St. Recycling Center or at a Saturday recycling event (click here for the full calendar of Saturday recycling events).

Best Buy recycles all TVs 32″ or less, plus desktop and notebook computers and monitors. They also accept smaller electronics like VCRs, DVD players, printers, MP3 players, stereos, alarm clocks, PDAs, cell phones and digital cameras, toner and ink cartridges, and rechargeable batteries for FREE.

LG Electronics, Panasonic, Sharp, Toshiba, Samsung, and Sony all have their own recycling programs, to find a drop off center near you click here.

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Wood
No more than a trash barrel of wood should go in the trash.  If you have a large amount of wood contact:

Wood Waste of Boston
85 Boston Street, Everett, MA 02149
617-387-3700

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X-Rays
To recycle used/retired x-rays go to this website: www.xrayfilmsrecycling.com/pick-up-rates/massachusetts.htm

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Yard/Garden Waste 
Yard waste is picked up curbside or can be dropped off at the Tremont St. Recycling Center (click here for the location and hours).

Yard waste includes: leafs, grass and small brush under 1 in diameter. No dirt allowed. All barrels and bags must be under 45 gallons and 45 pounds and clearly labeled (free stickers available at Public Works Operations Facility) or in brown paper bag. There is a 10 barrel/bag maximum. Any yard waste in plastic bags will not be collected. Click here for the Curbside Yard Waste Pick Up Schedule.

Yard waste cannot be placed in the trash due to the MassDEP Waste Bans. Click here for more information on the bans.

In order to drop off yard waste at the Recycling Center, you must have a Recycling Center sticker. To obtain a sticker, bring your car registration to the Resident Service Office at the Public Works Operations Facility. This sticker is free of charge.

Yoga Mats
Yoga mats should be put in the trash unless you can find a reuse option. Earth911 offers several reuse options.

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