Cardboard, paper, glass, plastic, metal, oil, and wine cork recycling are located in the parking lot and Oil Recycling Shed, and these services are available 24/7 at no cost.

Electronic, small appliance, and light bulb recycling are available through Restore Donations around the back of the main building, and these services are available during their open hours only.

Recycle these items at the East Side Recycling Center: 

• Antifreeze and oil
  • Examples: motor oil, vegetable oil, oil filters, antifreeze
    • Bring liquid in sealed, labeled plastic bottles (must be less than 5-gallon size) with secure lids, and leave on the shelf in the Oil Recycling Shed. Customers are not permitted to pour oil. Oil must be left in a container with a secure lid.
• Cardboard
  • Examples: corrugated cardboard
  • Flatten and size each piece to a maximum of two by two feet. 
• Electronics and small appliances
  • Recycle at ReStore Donations during open hours (Wednesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
  • Computers: $20 each (fee includes components)
  • Televisions: $20 each (fee includes components)
  • Other electronic items: $3 each
    • Examples: printers, central processing units (CPU), VCR devices without a CRT screen/monitor, ink or toner cartridges, cell phones, DVD players, cameras, stereos, toys, radios, electric bike batteries, electric scooters
  • Holiday light strands and electronic cords: no cost
  • Small appliances: $3 each
    • Examples: vacuum cleaners, alarm clocks, toasters, blenders, coffee makers, lamps, irons, ceiling fans, humidifiers
• Glass
  • Examples: all colors of glass bottles and jars (such as clear, blue, green, and brown) including food and beverages containers, candle jars, clear drinking vessels
• LED and CFL light bulbs
  • Recycle at ReStore Donations during open hours (Wednesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
• Metal cans and foil
  • Examples: metal drink and food cans, aluminum pie pans, aluminum foil (aluminum foil in 2-inch ball minimum)
  • Items should be empty and rinsed.
• Paper
  • Examples: newspapers, magazines, office paper, junk mail, paperboard, telephone books, paperback books, waxy cartons and aseptic packaging
• Plastic bottles, jugs, jars, and round tubs
  • Examples: drink bottles, detergent bottles, medicine bottles, yogurt cups, food jars (such as for mayonnaise and peanut butter), round food tubs (such as for sour cream and butter).
  • Items should be empty and rinsed.
  • Leave caps on!
• Wine corks
  • Place corks in cork recycling bin in the Oil Recycling Shed.

Other Drop-off Locations

• Sturgis Ferry Park Recycling Center, 1700 South Riverside Drive
  • Visit the Recycling web page for a complete list of accepted items at this location. 
• Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center, 3900 Hebl Avenue SW
  • Visit the Landfill web page for a complete list of accepted items at this location. 
• Paint and hazardous material
  • Visit the Hazardous Material web page for information about the Hazardous Material Collection Facility at the Iowa City Landfill.
  • Paint and hazardous materials are not accepted for disposal at the East Side Recycling Center. 
• Light bulbs
  • Visit the Hazardous Material web page for a complete list of locations.
• Batteries
  • Visit the Batteries web page for a complete list of locations.
• Glass
  • Visit the Recycling web page for a complete list of locations.

The Iowa City Landfill and East Side Recycling Center are out of compost until further notice. 

Compost (50 cents per 5 gallons) and wood chips (50 cents per 5 gallons) are available at East Side Recycling Center in small batch during spring, summer, and fall while supplies last. This service is not available in winter. 

Both compost and wood chips are in high demand in the spring/summer seasons, but staff are checking containers frequently and refilling supplies as needed. Please bring your own container and shovel to load materials. While supplies last, larger quantities of compost and wood chips are available for purchase at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center. 

How to pay: 

Please pay by using the ParkMobile program in one of three ways once at East Side Recycling Center (note: the following directions are also posted on site): 

• Download the ParkMobile phone application
• Scan the QR code to pay on the website
• Text “Park” to 77223

Customers can pay cash for these products at ReStore's check-out counter during their open hours, Wed. to Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How to use compost:

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

"You can add compost to your flower and vegetable beds, window boxes, and container gardens; incorporate it into tree beds; mix it with potting soil for indoor plants; or spread it on top of the soil in your yard.

Compost can be used as a soil amendment or as a mulch. As a soil amendment, mix in two to four inches of compost to the top six to nine inches of your soil. As a mulch, loosen the top two to three inches of soil and add a three-inch layer of compost on the surface, a few inches away from plant stems and tree trunks. 

Adding finished compost to your soil:

• Improves the structure and health of your soil by adding organic matter.
• Helps the soil retain moisture and nutrients.
• Attracts beneficial organisms to the soil and reduces the need for pesticides and fertilizers.
• Reduces the potential for soil erosion.
• Sequesters carbon in the soil.
• Builds resiliency to the impacts of natural disasters."

For more information, visit the EPA web pages: 

• Composting At Home
• Benefits of Using Compost

The Environmental Education Center is an all-season event venue. The center is the perfect size for a meeting, company gathering, family reunion, or other function.

To reserve the space, view the rental agreement, and call 319-356-5151 or email esrc@iowa-city.org.

Facility rental information:

• The capacity is 50 people.
• Parking is limited, especially on Saturdays when our site partners experience high customer traffic.
• The facility is not available to rent on City holidays.
• If audio-visual equipment (AV) use is expected at your event and you have not utilized the facility before, please plan ahead. Individuals or groups that rent the facility can access the facility prior to their event date to test AV equipment, as immediate AV support during events is not available. 

Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore 

Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore sells used building materials and furniture. Visit ReStore's website or call 319-338-5687 for more information.

Salvage Barn 

Salvage Barn, a program of the Iowa City Friends of Historic Preservation, sells used, historically-significant building materials. Visit the Salvage Barn's website or call 319-351-1875 for more information.

In need of a speaker to talk about waste reduction or recycling? Staff are available to offer site tours and presentations.

Contact the Recycling Coordinator for more information at recycling@iowa-city.org or at 319-887-6110. 

Tank trucks can be filled at three bulk water stations in Iowa City. This water is not to be used for drinking or cooking, only for contractors.

To use this service, tokens must be purchased during office hours at Iowa City Transit, 1200 S. Riverside Dr., or from the Revenue Counter at City Hall, 410 E. Washington St. Tokens are 50 cents per 100 gallons of water.

It is illegal to connect to a fire hydrant in Iowa City without proper application for and approval of a Hydrant Meter Permit (found in the building permits on the CSS Portal).

Station Locations

Iowa City Transit
1200 S. Riverside Dr.
Available 24/7, except for winter months

East Side Recycling Center
2401 Scott Blvd. SE
Available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Iowa City Landfill & Recycling Center
3900 Hebl Ave. SW
Available Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon