Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Melissa
Texas residential services run Monday through Friday. Please refer to your neighborhood's specific zoning map for your exact day.
State Mandate
Bag all trash to prevent pests.
Typically Green or Grey (95-gallon) Bin (Trash)
Trash must be placed securely in the cart with the lid fully closed. Overloaded carts with propped-open lids will not be serviced. Place at the curb by 7:00 AM with wheels facing the residence.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Styrofoam and plastic film
Blue (95-gallon) Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely inside the cart. Do NOT bag your recyclables. Keep the bin at least 3 feet away from your trash cart and any physical obstacles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic containers #1-5 and #7
- ✓Aluminum, steel, and tin containers
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Wax-coated paper drink containers
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and mixed paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags (of any kind)
- ✕Styrofoam / #6 Plastics
- ✕Food or wet waste
- ✕Leaves, grass clippings, and branches
- ✕Lightbulbs and window panes
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Paper towels and tissues
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste is collected during the monthly bulk pickup, not on standard weekly routes. Brush must be tied in bundles no larger than 4' x 2' and weighing no more than 40 lbs. Loose brush is strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged leaves
- ✓Bundled brush and tree trimmings
- ✓Real Christmas trees
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Monthly (Once a month on Fridays during the first full week)
Placement
Place items curbside by 7:00 AM. Ensure toys and yard tools meant for disposal are explicitly tagged as 'Bulk Items' so crews do not mistakenly throw away your personal property.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and bundled carpet (4-foot lengths)
- ✓ Washing machines, dryers, and water heaters
- ✓ Refrigerators (must be tagged certifying freon removal)
- ✓ Fence panels (no larger than 4'x6')
- ✓ Bagged leaves and bundled brush
Not Accepted
- ✕ Single items weighing over 150 lbs
- ✕ Commercial remodeling or construction debris
- ✕ Household Hazardous Waste
- ✕ Tires, batteries, and propane tanks
- ✕ Household trash in bags
- ✕ Loose brush
Bulk collection is included in residential utility rates. If you have an exceptionally large load exceeding acceptable limits, contact CWD at (972) 392-9300 (Option 2) for a price quote.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of that week are delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
If a holiday delay pushes your normal trash pickup forward, your scheduled Friday bulk/yard waste pickup will also be delayed to Saturday.
Holidays not listed (e.g., MLK Jr. Day, Presidents' Day) do not affect the CWD trash or bulk schedules.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Exclude the Number 6
While Melissa's recycling program accepts a wide range of plastics (#1 through #5, and #7), they strictly exclude #6 plastics (Polystyrene/Styrofoam). Check the triangle on the bottom of food takeout containers and toss any #6 items in the trash.
Keep It Loose
Never bag your recyclables in plastic grocery bags or standard garbage bags. Bagged items are viewed as contamination because they snarl the mechanical gears at CWD's sorting facilities. Drop everything loosely into the blue cart.
No Shredded Paper
Although mixed paper and cardboard are highly desirable, shredded paper is not accepted in Melissa's blue carts. The tiny paper strips fall through sorting screens and contaminate other material streams. Bag shredded paper and put it in your trash.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryReal and artificial Christmas trees are accepted as part of CWD's bulk collection. Ensure all lights, ornaments, and tinsel are fully removed, and place the tree at the curb on your assigned bulk Friday during the first full week of the month.
Spring
March - MayAs spring landscaping increases, remember that loose debris will only be accepted if it is placed in a small box or container no larger than 2'x2'x4' and weighing under 50 pounds. Otherwise, all brush must be properly bundled.
Summer
June - AugustSummer heat accelerates waste decomposition. Make sure all household garbage is tightly bagged before being placed in the trash cart, and keep the lid completely closed to deter pests and control neighborhood odors.
About Melissa Waste Management
Automated Cart Logistics with CWD
The City of Melissa partners exclusively with Community Waste Disposal (CWD) to provide weekly, concurrent residential trash and recycling pickup. Residents receive a standard 95-gallon trash cart and a blue 95-gallon recycling cart. Because CWD uses automated trucks equipped with mechanical lifting arms, placement is critical: carts must face the street with their wheels toward the residence, maintaining at least a three-foot gap from each other, mailboxes, and vehicles. Crucially, CWD requires a 16-foot vertical clearance to lift the carts without snagging tree branches or utility lines.
The Formula for Melissa's Monthly Bulk Day
Unlike cities that schedule bulk pickups based on a geographic zone, Melissa's schedule is directly tied to your normal trash day. Bulk collection always happens on a Friday during the first full week of the month. If your standard collection is on Monday or Tuesday, your bulk day is the 1st Friday. Wednesday collections get the 2nd Friday, Thursday collections get the 3rd Friday, and Friday collections get the 4th Friday. The best part? No phone call is required to initiate this service; simply have your compliant items at the curb by 7:00 AM.
Included Door-Side Hazardous Waste Removal
Properly disposing of hazardous materials like old paint, motor oil, and broken flat-screen TVs can be difficult, but Melissa residents enjoy a premium convenience. CWD offers a Door-Side Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Electronics collection program that is already factored into your monthly utility bill. Residents can request this service up to once a month by calling CWD (Option 2). CWD mails a collection kit directly to your home, and you simply place the filled kit on your porch or near your garage by 7:00 AM on your assigned collection date.
Specialized Yard Waste Preparation Rules
Yard waste requires careful preparation in Melissa to qualify for the monthly bulk sweep. CWD strictly prohibits loose brush from being placed on the curb. All tree limbs and shrub trimmings must be tied into manageable bundles that do not exceed four feet in length by two feet in width, and each bundle must weigh 40 pounds or less. If you have bagged leaves from autumn clearing, they can also be placed out during your assigned bulk collection Friday, but loose leaves will be rejected.
Navigating the 121 Regional Landfill in Town
If residents have demolition debris, construction materials, or an oversized load that exceeds CWD's bulk limits and cannot wait for the monthly Friday sweep, they can utilize the NTMWD 121 Regional Disposal Facility. Conveniently located right within Melissa city limits off Sam Rayburn Highway (SH 121), this facility accepts large loads of municipal solid waste for a fee. It serves as an excellent backup for massive home renovations or immediate disposal needs.
Drop-off Facilities
CWD Door-Side HHW & Electronics Collection
At your doorstep (City of Melissa)
Materials Accepted
NTMWD 121 Regional Disposal Facility
3820 Sam Rayburn Highway (SH 121), Melissa, TX 75454
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I safely dispose of old paint and electronics in Melissa?
Melissa residents have access to a Door-Side Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics collection program through CWD. You simply call CWD to request a collection kit, pack your acceptable materials (like paint, oil, batteries, and flat screens), and place it by your front door or garage for pickup.
When is my bulk trash pickup day?
Bulk items are collected once a month on a Friday during the first full week of the month, based on your regular trash day. For example, Monday/Tuesday trash customers receive bulk pickup on the 1st Friday, Wednesday customers on the 2nd Friday, and so on.
Can I leave loose tree branches on the curb for bulk pickup?
No. CWD strictly prohibits loose brush on the curb. All tree limbs and brush must be securely tied into bundles that are no larger than 4 feet by 2 feet, and each bundle must weigh 40 pounds or less.
What should I do if my garbage doesn't fit in the cart?
All regular household trash must fit inside your 95-gallon cart with the lid completely closed. Overloaded carts will not be serviced by the automated trucks. If you frequently exceed this capacity, you can contact the Melissa Utility Billing Department to order a second cart for a small monthly fee.