Curbside Pickup
This 3 minute video gives an overview of Melrose's trash and recycling program including: how and when to put your trash and recycling out on the the curb, what does and does not go in your recycling bin and information about how to recycle styrofoam and plastic bags.
If you are interested in questions about plastics and what's recyclable/not recyclable, here's an article that contributes positively to the discussion, What do I do with Non-Recyclable Plastic? (And How Do I Identify It). There are good guidelines and tips here, if not definitive, final answers, which are very hard to come by (we're working on it!).
More information from The City Of Melrose Department of Public Works:
Single Stream Recycling in Melrose
This 1 minute video is a short summary of Melrose's recycling program includes weekly single stream curbside pickup. For more information visit: Melrose Recycles Blog >
What is Single Stream Recycling?
Single stream recycling means that you can mix all items together in one container (you can continue to separate and use your existing recycling bins, if you’d like; placement in a single container is not mandatory).
Items that go in single stream recycling:
Paper and cardboard
Cardboard, brown paper bags, poster board, cereal boxes
Office paper, manila folders, newspapers, magazines, phone books, catalogs, junk mail
Clean side of pizza boxes. To prepare: flatten all cardboard, remove the dirty part of pizza and place in trash and put clean side in recycling
Cartons for both refrigerated and non-refrigerated foods, including: coconut water, almond milk, juice boxes, egg whites and orange juice
Plastic containers
Plastic containers, jugs, and tubs with #1 or #2 on them – no Styrofoam(#6) or rigid plastics
Remove spray bottle pumps and place in trash (better still…buy the liquid in bulk and just refill spray bottles instead of throwing them away each time)
NO PLASTIC BAGS/FILM (these can be returned to Whole Foods or Shaw’s Market)
Glass
Glass jars and bottles
No broken glass, drinking glasses or any kitchen glassware
Aluminum
Aluminum and metal cans
All containers should be rinsed out, no need to take label off and don’t flatten. Remove spray bottle pumps and place in trash.
Items that do not go in single stream recycling:
Plastic bags/film
Styrofoam and Styrofoam coffee cups
Bubble wrap
Napkins, paper towels
Hard cover books
3 ring binders
Plastic straws
Electronics
“Tanglers”
(hoses, electric cords, etc.)