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Estate cleanout in Melrose, MA

The open front door of an older Massachusetts house with packed boxes in the hallway ready for an estate cleanout

What the city will and will not take

Regular trash is limited to what fits in the closed 64-gallon barrel, and Casella bulky pickup is booked and paid per item. A house with decades of belongings does not fit either. The city's solid waste page states that cleanouts from a sale or a death are not collected.

The City Yard at 72 Tremont St can take textiles, books, rechargeable batteries and yard waste free, and charges for electronics, tires and mattresses. The sticker is free but needs proof of Melrose residency and a vehicle registration, so the yard is for residents only.

Dumpster or full-service pickup

If you rent a dumpster, a Board of Health permit is required for a dumpster at an address in Melrose: $100 for the first dumpster and $50 for each extra, valid January 1 to December 31. The Board of Health approves the location first and its office is at 562 Main St, 781-979-4130. A dumpster on the street or sidewalk also needs a street or sidewalk occupancy permit from the Department of Public Works.

The alternative is a flat price by the load, with the crew doing the carrying: quarter trailer $209, half $319, three-quarter $409, full $519. No permit is needed, since the trailer is not left behind.

Sort for donation before the haul

Habitat for Humanity ReStore takes working furniture, cabinets, doors and appliances under eight years old at its West Roxbury store, but not mattresses or paint. Mission of Deeds in Reading accepts gently used furniture, kitchen items and household goods, with Saturday drop-off on the second and third Saturday of each month.

Paint thinner and oil-based paint from a garage need a hazardous waste day, and the city's list also names pesticides and fuels. Melrose's 2026 day was October 17 and no later date is posted, so call the Board of Health at 781-979-4130.

Clearing a Melrose house after a death or sale

  1. Find papers and valuables first

    Go through desks, closets and the attic before anything leaves the house.

  2. Set aside donations

    Working furniture, cabinets and kitchen goods can go to ReStore or Mission of Deeds.

  3. Separate hazardous items

    Oil-based paint, solvents, pesticides and fuels cannot go in the load. Call the Board of Health about the next collection day.

  4. Decide dumpster or pickup

    A dumpster needs a Board of Health permit, plus a DPW occupancy permit on a street. A flat-price pickup needs neither.

  5. Book the clear-out day

    Send photos of each floor for a price by the load, and tell us about stairs and parking.

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.

Quick answers

Will Melrose pick up the contents of a house after someone dies?

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No. The city's solid waste page says large cleanouts from ownership changes or deaths are not collected, and points owners to a private hauler or dumpster.

How much is a dumpster permit in Melrose?

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The Board of Health charges $100 for the first dumpster at an address and $50 for each additional one, valid for the calendar year. A dumpster on a street or sidewalk also needs a DPW occupancy permit.

What does JUNKRUN charge for a house cleanout?

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Prices are by the load: $209 for a quarter trailer, $319 for a half, $409 for three-quarters and $519 for a full trailer. Mattresses, appliances and TVs are priced separately by item.

Sources

Rules, fees and hours change, so confirm with Melrose before you go.

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