Trash & Recycling in Cedar Rapids, IA

If you live in Cedar Rapids or are thinking about moving there, trash & recycling are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Cedar Rapids has 6 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of trash & recycling, and some of them might surprise you.

Collection Schedule

Cedar Rapids collects solid waste and yard waste from every household and business at least once a week, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., under Section 24.03. Weekly collection is mandatory citywide under Section 24.13, and each household is billed a flat per-dwelling-unit rate of $18.12 a month for solid waste plus $5.20 a month for recycling, effective July 1, 2025.

Key details: Collection frequency: At least once weekly, § 24.03. Collection hours: 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.. Solid waste rate (2025): $18.12/month per dwelling unit. Recycling rate (2025): $5.20/month per dwelling unit. Senior/disabled discount: 50% off, §§ 12.37, 12.39.

Missed set-out windows or containers left at the curb past 7:00 p.m. on collection day are treated as nuisances under Section 24.14 and Section 24.06; the Solid Waste Recycling Department can remove them and bill the property owner for the cleanup. Unpaid solid waste and recycling charges become delinquent 20 days after the invoice date, follow the same suspension-of-service rules as unpaid water bills, and can become a property lien collected like taxes if still unpaid 30 days after delinquency, per Section 24.17.

Bulk Item Disposal

Cedar Rapids requires households to schedule bulky item pickup in advance with the Solid Waste Recycling Department; items over 3 feet long, 2 feet in diameter, or 40 pounds need a collection work order and per-item charge.

Key details: Size trigger: Over 3 ft, 2 ft diameter, or 40 lbs. Requires: Advance work order plus fee. Uncollected items: Owner's responsibility to remove. Program: Annual Citywide Bulky Item Collection.

Bulky items set out without a work order, or left uncollected past the scheduled pickup, trigger a nuisance abatement notice and can be billed as a lien on the property.

Bin Placement Rules

Cedar Rapids bars curbside solid waste, yard waste, and recycling carts from the curb or alley earlier than 6 p.m. the night before pickup, and requires empty containers removed by 7 p.m. on collection day.

Key details: Earliest set-out: 6:00 p.m. day before. Must remove by: 7:00 p.m. collection day. Applies to: Trash, yard waste, recycling carts. Enforcement: Nuisance abatement, billed to owner.

Improperly set-out containers are removed at the owner's expense and billed to the property; unpaid charges over 30 days can be assessed against the property under Section 24.14(d).

Recycling Requirements

Cedar Rapids requires every single-family home and every unit in a building of four dwellings or fewer to separate designated recyclables from other solid waste under Section 24.09(a). Accepted materials include high-grade paper, corrugated cardboard, glass bottles and jars, aluminum, metal and plastic containers numbered 1 through 7, each with its own container and placement rules.

Key details: Who must separate: Single units, buildings of 4 or fewer. Accepted materials: Paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum, metal, plastic #1-7. Cardboard bundle limit: 3 ft x 2 ft diameter. Glass containers: Separate clear/colored, 5-gal max. Scavenging: Prohibited, materials belong to city, § 24.09(c).

Failing to separate recyclables as required by Section 24.09(a) is enforced like other Chapter 24 solid waste violations, with the standard Section 1.06 penalty of $65 to $625 and up to 30 days in jail for a citation, plus nuisance-abatement cleanup costs under Section 24.14 if materials are set out incorrectly. Taking recyclables left at the curb without authorization is a separate violation of Section 24.09(c), since the materials are legally the property of the city or its collection agent once placed for pickup.

Yard Waste Collection

Cedar Rapids requires yard waste in green YARDY carts placed within 3 feet of the curb, spaced 6 feet from other containers; bundled brush must be under 3 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 40 pounds, tied with biodegradable twine.

Key details: Placement: Within 3 feet of curb/alley. Spacing: 6 feet from other containers. Bundle limit: 3 ft long, 2 ft diameter, 40 lbs. Container: City-issued green YARDY cart.

Improperly set-out yard waste is treated as a nuisance under Section 24.14: the city can remove it and bill the property owner, with unpaid charges assessed against the property after 30 days.

Illegal Dumping

Cedar Rapids bans leaving, placing, throwing or dumping solid waste, yard waste or recycling materials on any public right-of-way or private property under Section 24.16. Anyone caught dumping can be charged under the Iowa Code chapters the ordinance cross-references, covering motor vehicle, environmental, waste, conservation-land, criminal mischief and public-offense law.

Key details: Prohibited locations: Public right-of-way and private property. State law cross-reference: 9 Iowa Code chapters, incl. 321, 455B, 716, 727. Municipal fine: $65-$625, up to 30 days jail. Cleanup billing: Nuisance abatement, § 24.14. Lien trigger: Unpaid 30 days after invoice.

Illegal dumping is prosecutable under whichever of the nine cross-referenced Iowa Code chapters fits the conduct and location, in addition to the general Section 1.06 municipal penalty of $65 to $625 and up to 30 days in jail for the underlying Chapter 24 violation. Dumped material found on city property or a right-of-way also triggers Section 24.14 nuisance abatement: the Solid Waste Recycling Department removes it and bills the property owner, and an unpaid cleanup charge becomes a lien on the property after 30 days.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Cedar Rapids actively enforces its illegal dumping requirements.

The Bottom Line

Cedar Rapids's trash & recycling rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Cedar Rapids is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Cedar Rapids's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.