Trash & Recycling in Cedar Rapids, IA (2026)
6 verified trash & recycling rules for Cedar Rapids, Iowa, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Cedar Rapids Trash Cart Set-Out Times
Some RestrictionsCedar Rapids Municipal Code § 24.14(d)
(d)Collection Container Nuisance Abatements. The City of Cedar Rapids considers solid waste, yard waste and recycling collection containers to be nuisances if they are set out too early for collection or removed too late following collection. Collection containers shall be set out in accordance with the following:1.Generators of residential solid waste shall not place solid waste, yard waste or...
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.
Cedar Rapids Bulky Item Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsCedar Rapids Municipal Code § 24.15
No person shall place bulky items, items that are longer than 3 feet, larger than 2 feet in diameter and/or weigh over 40 pounds, out for collection except in accordance with the following provisions of this chapter. (a)Weekly Curbside Collection. Households serviced by the Solid Waste Recycling Department are eligible to set out bulky items for weekly collection provided the household contacts...
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.
Cedar Rapids Mandatory Curbside Recycling Rules
Some RestrictionsCedar Rapids Municipal Code § 24.09(a)-(b)
(a)It shall be mandatory for each single dwelling unit and each dwelling unit in all multiple resident buildings of 4 dwelling units or less to separate all designated recyclable materials from all other solid waste in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. ... Corrugated Cardboard. Shall be flattened, bundled and tied with recyclable twine or bundled and contained in bundles that meas...
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.
Cedar Rapids Illegal Dumping Prohibition
Heavy RestrictionsCedar Rapids Municipal Code § 24.16
No person shall leave, place, deposit, throw, discard or dump any solid waste, as defined in Section 24.01, or yard waste, as defined in Section 24.01 or recycling materials, as defined in Section 24.01 of this chapter on the public right-of-way or on private property. Persons observed leaving, placing, depositing, throwing, discarding or dumping unwanted solid waste on the public right-of-way ...
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.
Cedar Rapids Yard Waste Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsCedar Rapids Municipal Code § 24.06(f)-(g)
(f)Yard waste containers shall be grouped and placed within 3 feet of the curb or alley line and separated by a minimum of 6 feet from all other collection containers or materials to allow for automated collection.(g)Bundled yard waste such as branches, brush, and small limbs of no more than 3 feet in length and 2 feet in diameter and no more than 40 pounds in weight shall be placed with yard w...
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.
Cedar Rapids Weekly Trash Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsCedar Rapids Municipal Code §§ 24.03, 24.13
Accumulated domestic solid waste shall be collected from all households and business establishments within the city at least once weekly in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this chapter. All collections shall be made between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Such weekly collection is mandatory. ... The rate for solid waste and yard waste collection and disposal for each dwell...
Looking for Linn County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Cedar Rapids city rules.
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