Skip to content
whenistrashpickup.com

Des Moines Recycling Guide & 2026 Calendar

Single-stream recycling pickup is listed for Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Item-specific answers appear below.

Des Moines recycling calendar 2026

Regular collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Check the current holiday delay notice for changes to regular pickup.

A verified 2026 recycling calendar has not been provided. Get the official calendar and confirm your route.

Accepted & prohibited recycling

Accepted items

  • 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)

Prohibited items

  • 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

Can you recycle these items in Des Moines?

DPW & sanitation contact

City of Des Moines Public Works Department Solid Waste Division · municipal dpw

Phone: 515-283-4950

400 Robert D. Ray Dr
Des Moines, IA 50309
Visit Official Des Moines Sanitation Portal Official municipality portal at dsm.city

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 2026-09-23: 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.