Cedar Rapids, IA Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- 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
Summary
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.
(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 recycling collection containers at the curb or alley line earlier than 6:00 p.m. ... and no later than 7:00 a.m. ... on which it is to be collected.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 24).
Full Breakdown
Under the Solid Waste Recycling Department's nuisance abatement program, residential collection containers set out too early or left out too late are treated as a nuisance. Generators may not place solid waste, yard waste, or recycling carts at the curb or alley line before 6:00 p.m. the afternoon before collection, and must remove empty containers by 7:00 p.m. on collection day. Containers left out improperly can be removed by the city at the property owner's expense.
Violations & Fines
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).
Frequently Asked Questions
How early can I put my trash cart at the curb?
What happens if I leave my empty cart out too long?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cedar Rapids
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