Junk Removal in Methuen, MA

Unlike many MA cities, Methuen operates its own municipal Transfer Station at 50 Huntington Avenue where sticker-holding residents can self-haul bulky items. As of the City's Bulky Waste Collection page (https://www.cityofmethuen.net/439/Bulky-Waste-Collection, checked 2026-09-21) there are exactly two routes for residents under 62: (1) schedule curbside pickup through E.L. Harvey at www.elharvey.com or (508) 836-3000 — the weekly schedule of pickups occurs on FRIDAYS, and the fee schedule is set at Harvey's rates, not the City's; or (2) drop off at the Transfer Station with an annual vehicle sticker ($20 for cars, $50 for pickups, $125 for commercial vehicles; waived for seniors). SCHEDULING BULK PICKUP THROUGH THE METHUEN DPW IS FOR SENIORS ONLY: senior citizens 62 and over are allowed four bulk items free of charge per calendar year and call the DPW at (978) 983-8545 to book them. Published Transfer Station figures: residential trash $12.00 minimum then by weight; mattress $50 and box spring piece $10. The City states that additional fees apply for white goods, construction and demolition material, tires, e-waste and propane tanks but does not publish those amounts — call (978) 983-8892 before you load. Mattresses and box springs CANNOT go in the curbside cart per MA state law (310 CMR 19.017, effective November 1, 2022) — residents schedule and pay UTEC curbside mattress recycling (every-other-Wednesday route; $40 per mattress, $20 per box spring) at utecinc.org/mattress-recycling by selecting Methuen, or drop off at the Transfer Station ($50 mattress, $10 box spring); mattresses must be kept dry, reasonably unsoiled, and bedbug-free. Refrigerators, freezers, and AC units contain refrigerant and are handled as white goods (Transfer Station drop-off $50, or paid bulk pickup). For routine overflow, Methuen uses blue overflow bags (trash only). As of the City's Overflow Bags Information page (https://www.cityofmethuen.net/544/Overflow-Bags-Information, checked 2026-09-21), only material placed in the carts is collected, except for trash in blue overflow bags, and the bags are available at Methuen City Hall (41 Pleasant Street), Nevins Memorial Library (305 Broadway), the Methuen Senior Activity Center (77 Lowell Street), the Methuen Transfer Station (50 Huntington Avenue), both Market Basket stores (186 Haverhill Street and 70 Pleasant Valley Street), Howe Street Superette (163 Howe Street), Galloway's Convenience Store (176 Pelham Street), Caribbean Supermarket (4 Broadway), White Eagle Pantry (319 Merrimack Street) and CVS (233 Broadway). The City does not publish the bag price online — ask at any of those counters or call the DPW at (978) 983-8545. Households needing more capacity can apply to lease an additional trash cart; as of https://www.cityofmethuen.net/544/Overflow-Bags-Information (checked 2026-09-21) the annual cost for an additional trash cart is $100, applications are accepted for hardship cases such as large households, and residents who want a smaller 35-gallon cart instead can request one from the DPW.

Methuen holds one Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection day a year, at the Methuen Transfer Station, 50 Huntington Avenue. The 2026 event was held on Saturday, July 18, 2026 and has passed; as of 2026-09-21 the City has taken its HHW event page down and has not published a 2027 date. Watch cityofmethuen.net or call the DPW at (978) 983-8545 for the next one. Open to Methuen residents; generally free, except a $20 fee for 20 lb propane tanks (credit/debit card only). Accepted: automotive products (antifreeze, motor oil — limited to 12 quarts per carload), car batteries, mercury-containing products, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, kerosene, oil-based paints, cleaning products, paint strippers, photographic chemicals, and swimming-pool chemicals. NOT accepted: ammunition, biohazardous/pathological waste, commercial or industrial wastes, explosives, fireworks, fire extinguishers, gas cylinders, latex paint, radioactive waste, sealed lead-acid batteries, smoke detectors, and tires; construction/demolition material, trash, and yard waste are also excluded. Latex paint is NOT a banned material in MA — dry it out (add kitty litter, leave the lid off until solid) and place it in regular trash. Methuen also participates in the MassDEP Northeast Region 3 communities' reciprocal HHW agreement, so residents may use participating neighboring communities' collection events when they cannot make Methuen's date (confirm eligibility with the host community).