The City of Melrose - City Government, State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian, and organizations local to the City and across the Commonwealth, are bringing the 3rd annual Recycling & Sustainability Day to Melrosians. This unique hub allows you to consciously practice spring cleaning while making a difference and learning how to further your sustainability initiatives.

At the Melrose Recycling & Sustainability Day event, you can:

• Recycle your old dehumidifier and receive a rebate from National Grid;

• Sign up for a free home energy assessment with HomeWorks Energy;

• Explore household composting with Black Earth Compost; 

• Upcycle bikes and participate in a bike swap with the Melrose Pedestrian & Bicyclist Committee;

• Get bike tune-ups with The Ride Cafe;

• Dispose of hard-to-recycle plastics through Zero Waste Melrose's TerraCycle program (see more info below);

• Visit with Friends of the Fells;

• Explore volunteer opportunities with local organizations such as the Melrose Energy Commission;

• and more! 

Participants can:

• Upcycle gently used furniture, appliances, housewares, and building materials with Habitat for Humanity; and

• Recycle outdated electronics with peace of mind for proper data erasing with Green Team Junk Removal

With no fee per car, upcycle up to 2 pieces of gently used furniture, electronics, clothing, housewares, etc.

Fees apply for: TVs ($20), computer monitors ($20), window ACs ($10), printers/fax machines ($8), mattresses ($45), box springs ($45), and tires ($12). Many more items accepted!

Also, Green Team Junk Removal will collect Styrofoam - $10 for a full large bag; $5 for a half-bag.

Stop by Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian’s table to donate non-perishable food, new and gently used clothing, and toiletries to Bread of Life.

But wait - there’s more!

Save these items to drop for recycling at this special Recycling & Sustainability Day.

• Personal care packaging: All brands of deodorant containers & caps, toothpaste tubes & caps, floss containers, and toothbrushes (remove excess product). And, product packaging from brands Acure, Bliss, Beekman 1802, Burt’s Bees, Kate Somerville, Josie Maran, Tula, and Weleda

• Razors & packaging: All brands of blades & razors (including disposable units and replaceable-blade cartridge units) and rigid plastic and flexible plastic packaging

• Contact lens packaging: All brands of single-use blister packs, contact lens cases, and contact lens solution caps (no bottles)

• Drink pouches (not juice boxes): All brands, the straw can remain in

• Squeeze pouches with screw tops on: All brands of fruit, veggie, and yogurt squeeze pouches. Please include the screw top to keep our collection clean.

• Brita brand filters, pitchers, dispensers, bottles, and faucet systems

• Late July brand chip bags

ZWM ships these items to TerraCycle, which offers recycling programs funded by manufacturers, retailers, and other companies. The items we collect are not accepted in curbside recycling.

• This event is brought to the community by Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian and the City of Melrose.

Lend and Mend is hosting a Repair Cafe at the Milano Center

Sunday, April 21 from 10:00am - 1:00pm
Milano Center - 201 W Foster St Melrose, MA 02176

All are welcome, you do not have to be a Melrose resident to attend.

1. New Location: The Milano Center is graciously providing the venue. Their staff will even be assisting with the event, and they will be offering tours and answering questions about the wonderful programming they offer for seniors. Special thanks to Erica at the Milano Center for all the support and coordination!

2. New Flow: We will be trying out a different check-in system with the hope of encouraging a fairer, clearer queueing process for participants.

If you would like to volunteer, either as a repair expert or as a general volunteer, please feel free to fill out this survey - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NBMHTCW

If you are bringing a broken item, feel free to tell us about it here (so we can better prepare our supplies and volunteers for the event) - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B89H2WF

Saturday drop-off recycling events for special items are held at the DPW Recycling Center at 72 Tremont Street from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. tel: (781) 665-0142

 City of Melrose Calendar + Special Events Calendar

Join us for (mini) Swap Day focused on women’s jewelry and accessories!!

More about this event:

• Swap Day is a community reuse event where everything is free. People can drop off items and/or take items. You don't have to bring something to take something, and vice versa. Think of it as a free tag sale, or in-person version of Buy Nothing / Everything is Free Melrose.

• This Galentines Day version will focus on specific items ONLY. See list on the event flyer picture. Due to space limitations and the theme, swappable items will be limited both in type and volume.

• Our goal is a zero-waste event. At the end of the event, volunteers take extra items to various non-profits or Savers to prevent as much as possible from going into the trash.

• This edition of Swap Day is 100% volunteer-organized and managed by Zero Waste Melrose and The Worklery.

  
  

Lend and Mend is hosting a Repair Cafe this weekend!

Sunday, January 21 from 10:00am - 1:00pm
VFW Post 1506, 248 Main Street, Melrose

All are welcome, you do not have to be a Melrose resident to attend.

What is a Repair Cafe?

A repair cafe is a free community event focused on repairing things (together). Folks can bring broken household items like lamps, small kitchen appliances, small furniture, stuffed animals, and more! Volunteers are on hand to assess broken items and either perform a fix on the spot, or help make a plan for how and where to get them fixed.

How can I get involved?

- To volunteer, either as a repair expert or as a general event helper, please fill out this Volunteer Registration Form.

- If you have a broken item, let us know about it! We'd love to get a sense of what folks are bringing to make sure we have the right volunteer coverage.  Please fill out the broken item survey here.

- Spread the word and share with your friends!

Let's make Melrose clean, green, and litter-free!

Saturday, November 4, join volunteers from Keep Melrose Beautiful to pick up litter across Melrose as part of the Great Massachusetts Cleanup.

Starting at 9 am, Keep Melrose Beautiful volunteers will be at the following locations to distribute supplies (garbage bags, reusable gloves, trash grabbers) and check-in volunteers.

• City Hall Lawn

• Ell Pond (behind the Knoll)

• Flagg Acres 

• Franklin Street Municipal Lot (near La Qchara)

• Lincoln School

• Melrose Common (across from Common Market)

Please separate trash into black garbage bags and recyclables into clear bags or paper bags. Recyclable beverage containers should be relatively clean and free of liquid. When in doubt, put dirty or questionable items in the trash.

By 12 noon, leave trash bags and recyclables at the locations listed above. Melrose DPW will collect the trash and volunteers will collect the recyclables. If you choose not to bring the collected trash back to the location where you checked in, please add the items to your personal weekly trash and recycling pick-up. Please under no circumstances bring any trash to the DPW.

Pumpkin Composting
Saturday, November 4, 2023

Annual Pumpkin Composting Event in partnership with Black Earth Compost

Join Melrose DPW to create healthy soil from pumpkins and save them from the waste stream! NO paint, glitter, hairspray, bleach, or petroleum jelly on the pumpkins. And remember to remove any candles and wax.

Saturday events for special items are held at the DPW Recycling Center at 72 Tremont Street from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. tel: (781) 665-0142

City of Melrose Calendar + Special Events Calendar

July 9: Repair Cafe | VFW Post 1506 248 Main Street | 10am - 1pm

Save the date for Melrose's first Repair Cafe!

Sunday, July 9, 2023, 10am-1pm at VFW Post 1506, 248 Main Street, Melrose

All are welcome, you do not have to be a Melrose resident to attend. 

What is a Repair Cafe?

A repair cafe is a free community event focused on repairing things (together). Folks can bring broken household items like lamps, small kitchen appliances, small furniture, stuffed animals, and more! Volunteers are on hand to assess broken items and either perform a fix on the spot, or help make a plan for how and where to get them fixed. See lend-mend.com/events for more event details. Hope to see you there!

How can I get involved?

- To volunteer, either as a repair expert or as a general event helper, please fill out this Volunteer Registration Form.

- If you have a broken item, let us know about it! We'd love to get a sense of what folks are bringing to make sure we have the right volunteer coverage.  Fill out the broken item survey here.

- RSVP to the Facebook Event, and share with your friends!

Feel free to reach out to LendAndMend@gmail.com with any questions.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on July 9th!

Cheers,

Elaina Rivais

Founder and Owner,

Lend and Mend LLC

June 29: Zero Waste Melrose at Melrose Farmers’ Market | 1pm - 6pm

Zero Waste Melrose will be at the Melrose Farmers’ Market on Thursday, June 29. We will be collecting hard-to-recycle plastics for recycling through TerraCycle’s program. Bring your Brita filters, old toothbrushes, empty contact lense packs, and more. Check the link above for more information.

Swing by for a chat!

Saturday drop off recycling events for special items are held at the DPW Recycling Center at 72 Tremont Street from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. tel: (781) 665-0142

City of Melrose Calendar + Special Events Calendar

Metal items include: washers, dryers, refrigerators, exercise equipment, air conditioners, grills, snow blowers, hot water heaters, microwaves, as well as sectionals, sleeper sofas, recliners, and other furniture that has a metal base.

The fee to drop off is $25 per piece (ex., 1 washer is $25 and 1 dryer is $25 for a total of $50).

Options to pay are:

• online with a credit/debit card by visiting https://epay.cityhallsystems.com/ and be sure to bring proof of payment with you on the drop-off day,

• in person at the DPW Public Works Operations Facility (checks or cash only) during office hours M-F 8 am - 3:30 pm - bring proof of payment with you on the drop-off day, or

• on the drop-off day with cash or check.

Paper Shredding Event
Saturday, May 20, 2023

Saturday drop off recycling events for special items are held at the DPW Recycling Center at 72 Tremont Street from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. tel: (781) 665-0142

City of Melrose Calendar + Special Events Calendar

Saturday drop off recycling events for special items are held at the DPW Recycling Center at 72 Tremont Street from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. tel: (781) 665-0142

City of Melrose Calendar + Special Events Calendar

Location: Melrose High School Parking Lot - 360 Lynn Fells Pkwy, Melrose, MA 02176, Enter on Melrose Street

Partnering with the City of Melrose Department of Public Works and organizations local to the City and across the Commonwealth, this unique hub allows you to consciously practice spring cleaning while making a difference and learning how to further your sustainability initiatives.

At the Melrose Recycling & Sustainability Day, you can:

• Recycle your old dehumidifier and receive a rebate from National Grid;

• Sign up for a free home energy assessment with HomeWorks Energy;

• Explore household organic waste solutions with Black Earth Compost; 

• Upcycle bikes and participate in a bike swap with the Melrose Pedestrian & Bicyclist Committee and Bike to the Sea;

• Dispose of hard-to-recycle plastics through Zero Waste Melrose's TerraCycle program (see more info below);

• Decorate nature journals with Friends of the Fells;

• Explore volunteer opportunities with local organizations such as the Melrose Energy Commission and Keep Melrose Beautiful;

• and more! 

For a competitive fee-for-services-rendered (approximately one-third market cost*), participants can:

• Upcycle gently used furniture, appliances, housewares, and building materials with Habitat for Humanity; and

• Recycle outdated electronics with peace of mind for proper data erasing with Green Team Junk Removal

*$15/car for furniture, electronics, clothing, housewares, etc. Additional fees for TVs ($20), monitors ($20), window ACs ($5), printers/fax machines ($5), mattresses ($35), box springs ($35), and tires ($10).

Stop by Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian’s table to donate non-perishable food, new and gently used clothing, and toiletries to Bread of Life.

But wait - there’s more!

Save up these items to drop for recycling at this special Recycling & Sustainability Day.

• Personal care packaging: All brands of deodorant containers & caps, toothpaste tubes & caps, floss containers, and toothbrushes (remove excess product). And, product packaging from brands Acure, Bliss, Beekman 1802, Burt’s Bees, Kate Somerville, Josie Maran, Tula, and Weleda

• Razors & packaging: All brands of blades & razors (including disposable units and replaceable-blade cartridge units) and rigid plastic and flexible plastic packaging

• Contact lens packaging: All brands of single-use blister packs, contact lens cases, and contact lens solution caps (no bottles)

• Drink pouches (not juice boxes): All brands, the straw can remain in

• Squeeze pouches with screw tops on: All brands of fruit, veggie, and yogurt squeeze pouches. Please include the screw top to keep our collection clean.

• Brita brand filters, pitchers, dispensers, bottles, and faucet systems

• Late July brand chip bags

• Writing instruments & packaging: All brands of markers, pens, mechanical pencils, highlighters & glue sticks, plus packaging

  ZWM ships these items to TerraCycle, which offers recycling programs funded by manufacturers, retailers, and other companies. The items we collect are not accepted in curbside recycling. ZWM’s TerraCycle program earns points that benefit the Roosevelt Elementary School.
  

• This event is brought to the community by Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian and the City of Melrose.

Sustainable Saturdays is designed to provide practical guidance to help Melrosians reduce their environmental impact in day-to-day living. From May – September 2022, these monthly events will be held at the YMCA’s corner park, adding yet another reason to visit Melrose’s vibrant Main Street. 

Learn about Zero Waste Products at our next event on Saturday, September 17 from 10am-12pm 

Join Zero Waste Melrose for the final installment of Sustainable Saturdays for information on Zero Waste Products. Cut back on the single-use plastic in your home! Learn why we need to reduce plastic packaging, and check out the pop-up shop from Unpacked Living, a zero waste store located in Beverly MA.

Sustainable Saturdays is designed to provide practical guidance to help Melrosians reduce their environmental impact in day-to-day living. From May – September 2022, these monthly events will be held at the YMCA’s corner park, adding yet another reason to visit Melrose’s vibrant Main Street. 

Learn about Repair & Reuse at our next event on Saturday, August 20 from 10am-12pm 

Join Zero Waste Melrose for the fourth installment of Sustainable Saturdays for information on Repair & Reuse. Join us this week to learn about resources in your own home and out in the community to give old products new life! The Melrose Ped/Bike Committee will be on hand to offer 15-minute bike tune-ups.

Sustainable Saturdays is designed to provide practical guidance to help Melrosians reduce their environmental impact in day-to-day living. From May – September 2022, these monthly events will be held at the YMCA’s corner park, adding yet another reason to visit Melrose’s vibrant Main Street. 

Learn about Sharing & Lending at our next event on Saturday, July 23 from 10am-12pm 

Join Zero Waste Melrose for the third installment of Sustainable Saturdays for information on Sharing and Lending. Discover lending and sharing resources in our community, everything from tools, toys, to baby products and the Buy Nothing initiative. Melrose’s own local business The Toyary will host a toy swap and and an all-ages recycled art challenge. Keep reading for all the details!

Activities will include:

Build a giant recycled art castle

• Ready for a challenge? In the spirit of learning through play while demonstrating the power of collective action, swing by to be part of the ultimate recycled art challenge: can we build the biggest largest recycled castle structure north of Boston?

• We're calling on contributors of all ages to partake in the castle-building fun! (All recycled supplies will be provided.)

Toy swap

• New to the concept of lending? Start with a swap!

• All families of toy-playing stage are invited to bring a toy and take a toy.

• After the swap, The Toyary will collect remaining toys and games to support its mission and non-profit partners.

• Not sure what to bring? Here are some guidelines:

  • New and pre-loved (indoor/outdoor) toys and games for children 0-8+ years that are not damaged or recalled.

  • Books focused on children’s activities, multicultural narratives, advocacy and inclusivity.

  • Toys and games that may be missing parts (note: The Toyary is constantly seeking replacement parts and will happily accept these types of items even if they are not eligible for the swap itself)

Sustainable Saturdays is designed to provide practical guidance to help Melrosians reduce their environmental impact in day-to-day living. From May – September 2022, these monthly events will be held at the YMCA’s corner park, adding yet another reason to visit Melrose’s vibrant Main Street. 

Learn about Gardening & Native Planting with local experts at our next event on Saturday, June 18 from 10am-12pm 

Get answers to your gardening questions from our expert grow-native gardeners and learn how to combat invasive species in your yard.

Join Zero Waste Melrose for the second installment of Sustainable Saturdays for information on native planting and invasive species. The event will cover how to create a more sustainable local ecosystem at home that requires less water, less amendments and less time for you.

Local native gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and help you identify and mediate invasive species in your yard. Bring your youngest family members to learn about pollination and the importance of the many creatures they find in their nearby environment.

Did you know…

1. We waste about 40% of our food supply?

2. Composting has multiple benefits to both you as the consumer and to the health of planet?

3. There are resources in your community to help assist you in rescuing food and in participating in composting?

Join Zero Waste Melrose and partnering organization The Food Drive on Saturday, May 21st from 10am-12pm outside of the Melrose YMCA.

• Come learn the ins and outs of different types of composting through fun games and activities for all ages.

• Become a climate advocate by taking a pledge to begin your composting journey. Anyone who takes a pledge will be entered in a contest to win your choosing of a home compost bin (donated by City of Melrose) or a six-month subscription to Black Earth Compost.

• Already composting? Visit us to share your experience or ask a question. And learn about how composting is one part of the Melrose Climate Action initiative.

• Concerned about food waste? Take an active approach to help reduce the food waste in our community by learning how to get involved in the hyperlocal food rescue organization, The Food Drive. Founder and Zero Waste Member Jana Gimenez will join us. 

This event is the first in a new event series, Sustainable Saturdays, designed to provide practical guidance to help Melrosians reduce their environmental impact in day-to-day living. From May – September 2022, these monthly events will be held at the YMCA’s corner park, adding yet another reason to visit Melrose’s vibrant Main Street.  

Location: Fred Green Field - 360 Lynn Fells Pkwy, Melrose, MA 02176

For more information visit Healthy Melrose Wellness & Fitness Fair on Facebook

Stop by the Zero Waste Table for lots of helpful information about sustainable practices you can implement at home.

On April 23, 2022 from 9am - 12noon, we will sponsor a Community-wide Cleanup as part of the Great Massachusetts Cleanup. Individuals, couples, and small family units are encouraged to sign up for a location at Signup Genius. This will help prevent groups from converging as we are still observing social distancing precautions. 

Sign up now to reserve your cleanup location for our Community-wide Cleanup.

Follow us on Facebook!

Get Involved With Keep Melrose Beautiful

We are currently seeking donations from Melrose's generous business community.  Specifically, we are seeking supplies and cash donations to help offset the cost of cleanup supplies and other expenses.  

In addition to financial support, we are actively seeking committee members and volunteers to help organize ongoing projects. If you are interested in getting involved, please email us at keepmelrosebeautiful@gmail.com to join our committee, sign up as a volunteer, or donate.

Thank you!