Des Moines Chapter 98 (Solid Waste) regulates residential garbage container specifications and placement. City-issued wheeled carts must be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day, no earlier than 5 p.m. the previous evening, and within 18 inches of the street.
Under Des Moines Municipal Code Chapter 98, Article II, Division 2, Section 98-54 (Collection) and related sections, residents must use city-assigned 96-gallon or 64-gallon wheeled carts for curbside collection. Carts must be placed at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day and no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the day before. Carts must be positioned on a level surface no more than 18 inches from the street and at least 3 feet from permanent structures, mailboxes, fences, utility poles, and other carts. Containers must be returned to storage off the public right-of-way after collection.
Violations of container placement or use rules may result in a warning or civil fine under Chapter 98 enforcement. Repeated violations can lead to escalating penalties assessed by the Public Works Department.
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