Solid Waste Collection

The function of Solid Waste Collections is the collection and disposal of solid waste through weekly curbside pickup.

Contact Information and Hours of Operation

For your convenience our phone center is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week.  Our field workers shift runs from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM Monday through Friday.  Please see the holiday schedule for garbage, recycling, and yard waste pickup, which differs from holiday closing for Public Works Administration and other City offices. 

Sanitation Division
Garbage, Recycling, & Yard Waste
Public Works Complex
216 SE 5th Street
Accessible Ramp - North Entrance
Des Moines, IA 50309
(T) (515) 283-4950
(F) (515) 237-1655
Email

Garbage Collection

Please place City of Des Moines toter at your designated collection point no later than 6:30 a.m. on the scheduled collection day and no earlier than 5:00 p. m. on the day before your scheduled collection. Please remove the toter from your designated collection point after pickup.  For more information about garbage collection view the Garbage Guidelines.

Items Outside the Collection Cart

A PINK, one dollar ($1.00) “extra trash” sticker has to be attached to each bag or box placed outside the toter.  The PINK “extra trash” sticker is for a 33 gallon bag or box no larger than 24X24X36 inches.  The weight of the bag or box cannot exceed 40 pounds.

Large items that do not fit in a 33-gallon bag or box must have a PINK, five dollar ($5.00) “large item” sticker attached to each item.  Examples of large items are furniture, mattresses, couches, tables, carpet (rolled and tied, in 4 foot lengths, and 18 inches in diameter), etc.

PINK “Extra” and “large item” stickers can be purchased at any Des Moines Hy-Vee or Dahls stores or at City Hall, 400 Robert D Ray Dr Des Moines, Iowa.  Stickers must be purchased at stores located inside the City of Des Moines.  Stores located in surrounding suburbs do not sell PINK City of Des Moines “extra trash” or “large item” stickers.
 

What day is my garbage and yard waste pickup?

Where can I buy Compost It Stickers?

Pointers for Using Collection Carts

 Yard Waste

Yard waste consists of grass clippings, leaves, hedge trimmings, flower and garden plantings, brush, branches and twigs.  See our Yard Waste (Compost it!) Guidelines for additional information.  See the complete listing of stores selling "Compost it!" stickers within the City of Des Moines.  "Compost it!" stickers are available for $1.15 each.

Premium Yard Waste

The City of Des Moines offers a convenient program to collect your yard waste in a 96 or 64 gallon cart similar to the cart used for garbage and recycling.  The cart can be easily rolled around with you as you do yard work.  Yard waste is collected year-round in the City on your regular collection day.  The monthly cost for a 96 gallon cart is only $10.42 or a 64 gallon cart is only $8.34 and this service is conveniently billed monthly on your Water Works bill.   

TO ENROLL in the Premium Yard Waste Program or if you have additional questions please contact the Public Works 24-Hour Customer Service Center at 283-4950. 

Premium Yard Waste Guidelines provide detailed information about this service.  Thank you for your interest in the Premium Yard Waste Service Program.