Des Moines, IA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Cart type
- Blue wheeled cart, unsorted
- Collection
- Bi-weekly curbside pickup
- Enrollment
- Voluntary, opt-in for residents
- Non-residential fee
- $90 one-time cart fee
- Non-residential fee
- $40 per year collection
Summary
Des Moines runs a voluntary single-stream curbside recycling program: blue wheeled carts get picked up every other week, and mixing trash into the recycling cart is a municipal infraction under Municipal Code § 98-117.
The city has established a voluntary single stream curbside recycling program, pursuant to which recyclable materials are collected at curbside in blue wheeled carts provided by the city for that purpose. Persons owning or residing in residential premises who elect to participate in the curbside recycling program shall place recyclable materials unsorted in the blue recyclable materials wheeled cart for bi-weekly collection.(b)Consistent with the Metro Waste Authority's business recycling program, the city will allow owners of premises other than residential premises as defined in section 98-26 to elect to participate in the city's curbside recycling program if the solid waste collection provider for such premises does not offer recycling service and the premises is located on an established residential route. The property owner must verify that their current solid waste collection provider does not provide recycling services in order to participate. The city will charge a one-time $90.00 fee for the purchase of each recyclable materials cart. There will be a $40.00 annual fee (per cart) for the collection service. Such customers may purchase up to five recyclable materials carts. (C91, § 16-119.05; O.11,900, 13,254, 13,405, 14,228, 14,919)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 38 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
The city's curbside program is opt-in: residents who sign up get a blue wheeled cart for unsorted recyclables, collected every other week. Non-residential properties on an established residential route can join too if their hauler doesn't already offer recycling, a $90 one-time cart fee plus $40 a year. Multifamily properties must run their own recycling setup under § 98-116, tied to their rental inspection certificate. Dumping other trash into a recycling cart, or vice versa, is a municipal infraction under § 98-117 and § 98-79, punishable by fine or civil penalty.
Violations & Fines
Mixing trash into a recycling cart, or recyclables into trash, is a municipal infraction under § 98-117: fines follow the schedule in § 1-15, or a civil penalty via municipal infraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is curbside recycling mandatory in Des Moines?
Can businesses use the city's recycling cart?
What happens if I put trash in the recycling cart?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Des Moines
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