Des Moines Bulk Trash Pickup Rules (2026 Rules & Calendar)
Bulk pickup is listed as available for up to 5 items per collection. Large items that do not fit inside your regular waste cart require a pink $5 Large Item sticker and must be scheduled at least 24 hours before your regular collection day by calling 515-283-4950. Major appliances require seven pink stickers ($35 total) and appointment scheduling. Properly stickered items must be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on pickup day with stickers facing the street. Des Moines residents may also bring bulky items, furniture, and yard debris to monthly community SCRUB cleanup events free of charge.
Des Moines bulk pickup rules
| Collection rule | Large items that do not fit inside your regular waste cart require a pink $5 Large Item sticker and must be scheduled at least 24 hours before your regular collection day by calling 515-283-4950. Major appliances require seven pink stickers ($35 total) and appointment scheduling. Properly stickered items must be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on pickup day with stickers facing the street. Des Moines residents may also bring bulky items, furniture, and yard debris to monthly community SCRUB cleanup events free of charge. |
|---|---|
| Limit per pickup | 5 items |
| Permitted materials | No unconditional accepted-material list is verified. Confirm eligibility before putting items out. |
| Advance notice | Required before collection. |
| Dispatch phone | 515-283-4950 |
Allowed vs. disallowed bulk materials
Furniture
Not verifiedLocal curbside rules are not verified. Ask the sanitation office whether this material is accepted and whether a separate appointment is required.
Appliances
Not verifiedLocal curbside rules are not verified. Ask the sanitation office whether this material is accepted and whether a separate appointment is required.
Construction debris
Not verifiedLocal curbside rules are not verified. Ask the sanitation office whether this material is accepted and whether a separate appointment is required.
How to throw away a mattress in Des Moines
Follow the listed bulk rule: Large items that do not fit inside your regular waste cart require a pink $5 Large Item sticker and must be scheduled at least 24 hours before your regular collection day by calling 515-283-4950. Major appliances require seven pink stickers ($35 total) and appointment scheduling. Properly stickered items must be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on pickup day with stickers facing the street. Des Moines residents may also bring bulky items, furniture, and yard debris to monthly community SCRUB cleanup events free of charge.
Special disposal mandates
Plastic mattress encasement: The listed rules do not require mattress bagging. Confirm any material-specific handling instructions before pickup. Read mattress bagging laws →
Freon sticker for refrigerant appliances: Required under the listed rules. Appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners require seven pink Large Item stickers ($35 total) and must be scheduled with Public Works at 515-283-4950 at least 24 hours in advance.
Des Moines Curbside Scavenging & Trash Picking Rules
Whether you want usable items salvaged before the compactor crushes them or you are looking for scrap metal, understand the local curbside legal boundaries in Des Moines.
Public Curb vs. City Cart Ownership
Under federal precedent, property discarded in public rights-of-way is legally abandoned. However, many municipal ordinances classify materials placed inside official city-owned recycling carts as city property. Removing materials from inside containers can trigger municipal pilfering fines.
Mark Usable Items with a "FREE" Sign
If you want scrap metal collectors or neighbors to haul away working appliances, lawnmowers, or furniture before bulk pickup day, tape a clear "FREE" sign to the item and place it directly on the curb line away from your private driveway.
Des Moines Area Landfills & Citizen Drop-Off Stations
When you have large renovation loads, dirt, concrete, or bulky waste exceeding curbside limits, self-haul directly to a verified transfer station or county landfill serving Polk County.
📍 12181 NE University Ave, Mitchellville, IA 50169
Regional sanitary landfill serving Des Moines for construction waste, residential solid waste, bulky items, tires, and appliances.
📍 1105 Prairie Dr SW, Bondurant, IA 50035
Regional household hazardous waste drop-off site accepting leftover paints, household chemicals, automotive fluids, propane tanks, and rechargeable batteries.
All open truck beds and trailers must be secured with a tarp. Unsecured loads face an immediate $20 to $50 state fee at the scale.
Most facilities have a minimum entry fee ($25 to $45) covering up to 1,000 lbs, with prorated per-ton rates for heavier commercial debris.
To receive discounted residential gate rates, bring a valid state driver license and a current local municipal water or utility bill.
If your project exceeds city bulk limits, review our dumpster rental vs. bulk pickup cost comparison or read our construction debris weight guide.
Local disposal alternatives in Polk County
For items that cannot go at the curb, check these official disposal resources. Confirm accepted materials, residency requirements, fees, and hours before visiting.
MWA Metro Park East Landfill
12181 NE University Ave, Mitchellville, IA 50169
Regional sanitary landfill serving Des Moines for construction waste, residential solid waste, bulky items, tires, and appliances.
MWA Metro Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
1105 Prairie Dr SW, Bondurant, IA 50035
Regional household hazardous waste drop-off site accepting leftover paints, household chemicals, automotive fluids, propane tanks, and rechargeable batteries.
The nearest eligible transfer station or landfill depends on your address and the material. These resources are not ranked by distance.
DPW & sanitation contact
City of Des Moines Public Works Department Solid Waste Division · municipal dpw
Phone: 515-283-4950
400 Robert D. Ray DrDes Moines, IA 50309
These collection rules cover Zone City of Des Moines Solid Waste Collection Routes.
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Des Moines, IA?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Place carts at the curb no earlier than 12 hours before collection and no later than 7 a.m. on collection day. Remove carts within 12 hours after collection.. These rules apply to Zone City of Des Moines Solid Waste Collection Routes.
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Des Moines?
As of 2026-10-10: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule. A listed holiday shifts that day and the remaining collection days in its service week by one day. Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. These rules apply to Zone City of Des Moines Solid Waste Collection Routes.
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Des Moines?
Large items that do not fit inside your regular waste cart require a pink $5 Large Item sticker and must be scheduled at least 24 hours before your regular collection day by calling 515-283-4950. Major appliances require seven pink stickers ($35 total) and appointment scheduling. Properly stickered items must be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on pickup day with stickers facing the street. Des Moines residents may also bring bulky items, furniture, and yard debris to monthly community SCRUB cleanup events free of charge. The listed limit is 5 items per pickup. Advance notice is required. Contact sanitation at 515-283-4950 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone City of Des Moines Solid Waste Collection Routes.
What items are accepted for recycling in Des Moines?
The listed accepted materials are Corrugated cardboard and paper boxes (flattened), Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, and office paper, Aluminum and tin beverage and food cans, Plastic bottles and jugs (rinsed, loose in cart). Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags of any kind (never bag recyclables), Styrofoam and polystyrene cups or packing materials, Garden hoses and cords, Household hazardous chemicals and paint, Batteries and electronic waste, Food scraps and yard waste. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone City of Des Moines Solid Waste Collection Routes.