Resource Management Division Services

• Municipal Curbside Collection of garbage, recycling, and organics (food and yard waste)
• Drop-off Recycling Locations for a variety of recycling materials
• Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center includes the landfill, recycling programs, Compost Facility, and the Hazardous Material Collection Facility 

The recycling and composting programs are designed to promote recycling and reuse of materials rather than landfill disposal. The City of Iowa City emphasizes reduction and reuse as first priorities. The best option is not to produce waste in the first place, and is promoted through program opportunities and events.

Curbside garbage, recycling, and organics services are available for single-family homes up to 4-unit multifamily buildings.

Monthly fees per curbside service: 

• Garbage: $12
• Recycling: $6
• Organics: $2

To find out which day your address receives curbside collection, view the map. Collections normally operate Monday through Friday, however operations may be impacted on official City holidays. For more information, see the Holidays section on this web page. 

Curbside Customer Best Practices

Follow these guidelines to ensure successful and safe curbside collection. 

• Place carts on a solid surface for pickup, such as the end of your driveway, or when snow is present, a cleared area of flat ground. Do not place carts on top of snowbanks. 
• Do not overfill carts. City ordinance states the lids must be closed.
• Bag all trash. Keep all recycling materials loose.
• Place carts at curb by 7 a.m. on your curbside day.
• Keep at least 3-feet clear zone around each cart.
• Face the arrows on cart lids to street.
• Return carts to your storage area at end of curbside day.
• Do not paint/write on carts.
• Do not remove the carts from home.
• Put carts at the curb only when full. 

To learn more about these services, watch the Curbside 101 video below.

Residents new to Iowa City must sign up for utilities, which include water and curbside collection. Billing is monthly. 

Holidays

The following section provides information on Curbside Collection and Iowa City Landfill schedules and potential closures on official City holidays. 

• New Year’s Day (January)
  • Curbside Collection: services will be provided another day; check back for details
  • Landfill: closed
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January)
  • Curbside Collection: normal operations
  • Landfill:  closed
• Memorial Day (May)
  • Curbside Collection: normal operations 
  • Landfill: closed 
• Juneteenth (June)
  • Curbside Collection: normal operations 
  • Landfill: closed
• July 4th
  • Curbside Collection: normal operations
  • Landfill: closed July 5, 2021
• Labor Day (September)
  • Curbside Collection: normal operations
  • Landfill:  closed
• Veterans Day (November)
  • Curbside Collection: normal operations
  • Landfill: closed
• Thanksgiving Day (November)
  • Curbside Collection: services will be provided another day; check back for details
  • Landfill: closed
• Christmas Eve (December)
  • Curbside Collection: normal operations
  • Landfill: open; check back for hours
• Christmas Day (December)
  • Curbside Collection: services will be provided another day; check back for details
  • Landfill: closed

Quick Navigation 

Browse the links below to learn more about the City of Iowa City Resource Management Division. 

Web Pages

• Recycling (Curbside Collection and Drop-off Locations): www.icgov.org/recycle 
  • Apartment Recycling: www.icgov.org/apartmentrecycling 
  • Electronic and Appliance Recycling: www.icgov.org/ewaste
• Organics (Curbside Collection, Composting, and Food Waste Reduction): www.icgov.org/organics
• Garbage (Curbside Collection and Bulky Item Pickup): www.icgov.org/garbage
• Hazardous Material (Facility Information and Services): www.icgov.org/hhm
  • Medicine, Sharps, Syringes Disposal: www.icgov.org/pills
  • Light Bulbs Disposal: www.icgov.org/cfl
• Landfill (Fees, Operations, and Services): www.icgov.org/landfill
• East Side Recycling Center (Fees, Operations, and Services): www.icgov.org/esrc
• Environmental Education: www.icgov.org/education
  • Reduction and Reuse (Waste Reduction Education and Resources): www.icgov.org/reduce
  • Repair (Fix It and Do-It-Yourself): www.icgov.org/repair
• Pop-Up Donation Drop: www.icgov.org/donationdrop

Guides and Handouts

• Backyard Composting Guide
• Battery Disposal Guide 
• Business Hazardous Material Guides: 
  • Cleaning Service
  • Nail and Hair Salons
  • Realty and Property Management
• Construction and Demolition Guide
• Curbside Composting Guide (text-only version)
• Curbside Recycling Guide 
• Household Hazardous Material Guide 
• Iowa City Area Rental Item Directory
• Iowa City Area Repair Directory
• Iowa City Area Resale and Consignment Directory
• Moving: Waste & Recycling Guide (text-only version) 

Contact Us

• Resource Management Customer Service: 319-356-5151
• Recycling Coordinator: 319-887-6110, jane-wilch@iowa-city.org
• Curbside Collections: 319-356-5466, patricia-fossum@iowa-city.org
• Landfill: 319-356-5185
• Email Service Notices: Sign up at www.icgov.org/subscribe 
• Facebook: Iowa City Landfill & Recycling