Christmas tree pickup in Melrose, MA
Pickup at your Melrose home, Dec 26 to mid January, seven days a week. Flat price texted before we come.
- $40 at the curb
- $55 from inside
- $75 large or artificial
- $15 off a second tree
The city's tree rules
The city's solid waste page says trees are collected curbside, or may be dropped off at the Recycling Center (the City Yard, 72 Tremont St), during the first two weeks of January. It does not post exact weekdays on that page, so check the city's curbside calendar or call the DPW at 781-665-0142.
Remove the stand, tinsel, twine, lights and ornaments first. Trees in plastic bags will not be collected or accepted at the DPW. A City Yard sticker is required to drop one off.
Snow and cold in January
At Boston Logan, the January average is 29.9 degrees and the snowfall normal is 14.3 inches, so a tree set out early can be buried by the pickup day. Put it where the plow will not push a bank over it, away from the barrel, and stay clear of the storm-drain grate.
Regular collection is delayed one day in holiday weeks, and storm delays happen. If your street is not cleared, the tree may sit, so check the city's notices.
When to use JUNKRUN
JUNKRUN charges $40 for a tree at the curb or by the door, $55 if we carry it out from inside up to 8 feet, and $75 for a tree over 8 feet, flocked, artificial or carried from a second floor. Each added tree at the same stop is $15 off. The season runs December 26 to mid-January.
That helps with a tree that cannot wait for January, an artificial tree (the city list covers trees only), or a house where the tree is on the second floor of a narrow-stair home.
Before your Melrose tree goes out
- Take off the stand, tinsel, twine, lights and ornaments.
- Do not bag the tree: the DPW will not take bagged trees.
- Put it at the curb for the first two weeks of January, not before you check the calendar.
- Keep it clear of the barrel, the snowbank line and storm drains.
- For a City Yard drop-off, bring your windshield sticker and arrive Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or an open Saturday.
- Artificial tree? Skip the city collection and book a pickup.
Local resources in Melrose
Donation, reuse and recycling options near the pickup. We are not affiliated with these; confirm hours and what they accept before you go.
- Town
Melrose City Yard (DPW Operations Facility)
Accepts: Mattresses and box springs with a $40 weekday pre-payment
The cheapest legal route for a Melrose resident with a car and a sticker. Open Mon, Tue and Thu 7:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m., and Saturdays 8 a.m.-3 p.m. April to December. In Melrose itself.
72 Tremont St, Melrose, MA 02176 - Reuse
Zero Waste Melrose
Accepts: Information on reuse, swap events, textiles, mattresses, plastic film and hard-to-recycle items
Volunteer group that lists reuse resources and local swap and recycling events. Contact: zerowastemelrose@gmail.com. In Melrose itself.
Volunteer group; events at the DPW Recycling Center, 72 Tremont St, Melrose, MA 02176
Sources
Rules, fees and hours change, so confirm with Melrose before you go.
- City of Melrose: Solid Waste and Recycling: “Christmas trees are collected curbside or may be dropped off” · accessed October 31, 2026
- City of Melrose: Yard Waste and Christmas Trees: “Remove stand and all plastic bags, tinsel, twine, lights, ornaments” · accessed November 1, 2026
Melrose trash and bulky item rules · Christmas tree disposal by town
$40 at the curb, $55 from inside, $75 large or artificial; second tree $15 off. What is included and how it works.
Get a flat price by text.
Fill this in and we text back a price and open days. Or text a photo to (617) 545-0382. Want just the form? Open the request page.
Christmas tree pickup in Melrose, answered.
When does Melrose collect Christmas trees?
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During the first two weeks of January, curbside or at the Recycling Center. The city page gives no exact weekdays, so check the curbside calendar or call 781-665-0142.
Can I put my tree in a plastic bag?
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No. Trees in plastic bags will not be collected or accepted at DPW. Remove the stand, lights, tinsel and ornaments.
How much is JUNKRUN's tree pickup in Melrose?
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$40 for a tree at the curb or door, $55 carried from inside up to 8 feet, and $75 for a large, flocked or artificial tree. Each added tree at the same stop is $15 off.