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Recycling

Recycle Request Form 

Gold Lid - Recycle Des Moines
Recycling Links
What day is my recycling picked up?
Recycle Calendar - Yellow/Orange Routes
Recycle Ordinance

Recycling turns materials that would end up in the landfill into reusable items. Currently 40% of everything going into the landfill can be recycled. Recycling such things as bottles, cans and paper, instead of throwing them in the trash, is critical in generating a host of financial, environmental and social returns for our country.

Recycling protects and expands manufacturing jobs and increases competitiveness; prevents pollution caused by manufacturing products from unused raw materials; saves energy; conserves natural resources and helps sustain the environment for future generations.

One of the tips to make recycling easy it to keep a paper grocery bag in the kitchen to catch all the recyclables generated in that room of the house. When it is full, simply dump the contents of the paper bag directly into the recycling collection cart and drop the bag on top. Recyclables left in a bag can't be sorted by the machinery and will instead go to the landfill as garbage. The main thing to remember is that all items should be loose in your cart, not in any kind of bag, paper or plastic. 

The City of Des Moines Public Works Department offers a drop-off site for the purpose of recycling cardboard only. We ask that you please break down boxes before placing them in the available bins. The site is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is located at 108 SE 5th Street. For more information, call the Call Center at (515) 283-4950.

Recycling Schedule

When is my recycling day?
What time should I place my recycling cart at the curb?

All collection carts should be at the curb no later than 7 a.m. on collection day.

Municipal code states collection carts are allowed at your curbside 12 hours before your collection date, and must be removed within 12 hours after your collection date.

Holiday Collection
Please see the holiday schedule for garbage, recycling, and yard waste pickup, which may differ from holiday office closures for the City of Des Moines.
 
Holiday recycling reminders:
  • Wrapping paper: If it's paper and tears, it is recyclable
  • Cardboard boxes are recyclable
  • Ribbons, foil wrap and bows are NOT recyclable
  • Hard plastic 'shells' and styrofoam are NOT recyclable 

How to Recycle

How do I prepare my recycling for collection day?
  • Put your recyclables inside the cart
  • Close the cart lid.  This prevents the scattering of debris by wind and animals
  • At curb no later than 7 a.m. on garbage day, no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before
  • Place at curb on a level surface (no more than 18” from the street, or arms length)
  • Cart should be at least 3 feet from all permanent structures. (other collection carts, yard bags or bundles, mailboxes, fences, wall, utility poles and other stationary items on the curb)
  • Metal bar must face the street
  • The lid must be closed.  Do not over fill the cart
  • DO NOT place cart under low hanging tree branches
What CAN I recycle?
Paper products

Paper

Newspaper, magazines, junk mail, shredded paper (in a paper bag), cardboard (flattened), paper and hard back books & phone books.
Food cartons

Food Cartons

Paper milk cartons, juice cartons, protein drink cartons, wine cartons, egg substitute cartons, soup & broth cartons.
Plastics

Plastics

Plastic containers with twist-off lids, water bottles, soap bottles (rinsed), yogurt & margarine tubs (no lids).
Aluminum Cans

Cans

Aluminum cans, tin cans, steel cans, bi-metal cans, jar lids, aerosol cans (empty).
Glass

Glass

All colors of glass food containers, beverage containers, non-food containers.

 

Please rinse all containers before recycling. Labels are okay!
Visit WhereItShouldGo.com for a full list of what's accepted in your recycling cart.

What CAN'T I recycle?

The following should be thrown away, not placed in your recycling cart

Plastics:
  • Plastic bags of any kind
  • Styrofoam
  • Hoses
  • Polystyrene
  • Food storage containers
    • Sour cream, cottage cheese and cool whip containers
    • Berry containers
    • Tupperware
    • Convenience store cups
  • Toys/Electronics
Metals:
  • Aluminum foil
  • Pots, pans or utensils
  • Metallic, foil, mylar or glittery gift wrap
  • Wiring
Waste:
  • Garbage
  • Yard and garden waste
  • Hazardous waste
  • Electronic waste (e-waste)
  • Containers that once held motor oil or antifreeze
Papers:
  • Paper contaminated with food:
    • Pizza boxes
    • Fast food containers
    • Coated paper coffee cups
  • Tissues
  • Toilet paper
  • Paper towels/napkins
  • Photo paper
  • Photos
Miscellaneous:
  • Clothing of any type
  • Appliances/furniture
  • Pipes (PVC or metal)
  • Light bulbs

Visit WhereItShouldGo.com for a full list of what's not accepted in your recycling cart.

How do I get a gold lid for my recycling cart?
Gold Lid Recycling Des MoinesThrough the Gold Level Recycling Program for super recyclers! It only takes one cart of non-recyclable materials to ruin a whole truck load, causing your neighbors recycling efforts to be rejected at the recycling facility. One of the ways residents can help is to be a leader in their neighborhood by earning a gold lid for their recycling cart through the Gold Level Recycling Program. 
 
How to Qualify for the Gold Level Recycling Program
  • To qualify, residents must recycle the correct items in blue recycle carts.
  • To learn more about what can and cannot be recycled, check out the list of accepted and unaccepted items for your blue recycling cart.
  • If you or someone you know believes you are recycling correctly and want to achieve Gold Level Super Recycler status, please complete this FORM to request a recycling audit.
  • Once your request is received, a City of Des Moines recycling crew will check the contents of your cart on your next recycling day and determine if it qualifies to be part of the program.
Audit Process
  • A City of Des Moines recycling crew inspects the contents of blue recycle carts to determine if the contents are on the recyclables list and free from unacceptable items.
  • An inspection showing zero contaminations qualifies you for the Gold Level Recycling Program and your blue lid will be replaced with the gold lid on your next recycle day. 

Service Requests

How do I start Des Moines recycling service?
What do I do if my recycling collection was missed?
  • Contact us at 515-283-4950 to report missed garbage collection (or) Recycle Request Form
  • What you should know before you report a missed collection:
    • Collection carts must be curbside at 7 a.m. on collection day
    • Please assure this is the correct week for recycle collection
    • Missed collections must be reported before 5 p.m. the day after collection
    • Missed collections reported later than 5 p.m. the following day will be subject to a $25 collection fee (added to your monthly Des Moines Water Works bill)
    • Recycle carts put out after 7 a.m. on collection day will be subject to a $25 collection fee
What do I do if I'm moving?
Leave the cart behind. The cart is the property of the City of Des Moines and is assigned to customers by physical address.
How do I replace a lost or stolen recycling cart?
What do I do if my recycling cart or lid is broken?
What do I do if my cart is always too full?

If you find that your recycling cart is often full, did you know that you can request an additional cart? All you have to do is complete the RECYCLE REQUEST FORM at the top of this page and select ADDITIONAL CART or call our 24-hour Customer Service Center at (515) 283-4950. There is no fee for this additional cart.

There’s also a cardboard only drop-off site located at 108 SE 5th Street if you have just cardboard that needs to be recycled.