West Des Moines, IA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

The recycling program sits in Title 4, Chapter 6 of the West Des Moines City Code, adopted by Ordinance 1128 and amended most recently by Ordinance 2669 in September 2025. Section 4-6-3 requires every multi-family dwelling not presently served by an existing residential recycling collection program to provide the facilities needed for source separation of designated recyclable materials generated on the premises, and to arrange for those materials to reach a recycling facility. Collection has to occur at least twice a month, or more often if needed, at a frequency set by the Director of Public Works or another City Manager designee, and storage of the recyclables cannot create a public nuisance.

Section 4-6-2 defines designated recyclable material to include newspapers, corrugated containers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, kraft bags, bi-metal and ferrous cans, aluminum cans, clear glass containers, high density polyethylene excluding motor oil bottles, and PETE. Program development, implementation, and operation are the responsibility of whichever entity holds the private solid waste collection contract for the premises under section 4-6-3(D). Commercial haulers collecting either solid waste or recyclables in the City must file an annual recycling report with the Director of Public Works by January 31 under section 4-6-4, and any hauler serving multi-family properties must first be authorized through a license issued by the Department of Public Works under section 4-6-5. The Community Development Department administers and enforces the chapter, folding recycling compliance into its biannual multi-family housing inspections under section 4-6-12.