Dubuque, IA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 13-6A-5
- Branch length limit
- Under 5 feet, bundled
- Paper bag limit
- 35 gallons, two-ply weatherized
- Bag weight cap
- 40 pounds
- Sticker fee
- $1.75 per single-use sticker
- Annual decal fee
- $43.50 for 35-gallon container
- Leaf rake-out minimum
- $21.60 for up to 40 bags
Summary
In the City of Dubuque, yard waste moves through the organic waste collection service in City Code Section 13-6A-5, which takes bundled branches under 5 feet, leaves, grass clippings, weeds, brush and natural Christmas trees at curbside alongside food scraps. Paper yard-waste bags need a single-use sticker, cannot exceed 35 gallons of two-ply weatherized material, and are capped at 40 pounds.
D. The following materials may be collected curbside: branches and tree limbs - less than 5 feet long (must be bundled), flowers and potted plants (no pots), food scraps - fruit and vegetables, peels, pits, coffee grounds, eggshells, bread and grain products, grass clippings, leaves, plants, weeds, brush, natural Christmas trees, bones, dairy products, meat, poultry, fish, and non-wax coated paper products. ... ... F. Organic waste set-out in a biodegradable paper bag requires single use stickers. The bags shall be no more than 35-gallon capacity, minimum two-ply weatherized material, and designed for yard waste collection capacity. G. Disposable organic waste bags shall not exceed 40 pounds without tearing or falling apart. Cardboard boxes or plastic bags shall not be used for organic waste collection.
Full Breakdown
Dubuque folds yard waste into the same 'organic waste collection service' ordinance that handles food scraps, so Section 13-6A-5(D) lists what residents may set out curbside: branches and tree limbs under 5 feet long that are bundled, flowers and potted plants with the pots removed, grass clippings, leaves, plants, weeds, brush, and natural Christmas trees, alongside food-related organics like fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds and bread products. Preparation rules differ by container type under Section 13-6A-5(E) and (F): residents can use biodegradable paper bags of no more than 35 gallons, bundled branches, privately owned 35-gallon containers, or a subscribed City-issued 64-gallon or 13-gallon organic waste cart.
A biodegradable paper bag used for set-out needs a single-use sticker, and the bag itself has to be no larger than 35 gallons, made of at least two-ply weatherized material, and designed for yard waste collection capacity, per Section 13-6A-5(F). Section 13-6A-5(G) caps the weight of a disposable organic waste bag at 40 pounds so it does not tear or fall apart in handling, and bars using cardboard boxes or plastic bags in place of the approved paper bags or carts. Fees follow the same per-unit model as other City services: Section 13-6A-10(C) sets single-use brush-tie and organic waste stickers at $1.75 each, a 35-gallon privately owned container's annual yard debris decal at $43.50, and a scheduled leaf rake-out at a $21.60 minimum for up to forty standard leaf bags of leaves piled in the parking lane.
Violations & Fines
An organic waste bag over the 40-pound limit, a cardboard box used instead of the approved paper bag or cart, or a bundle over 5 feet long violates the preparation rules in Section 13-6A-5 and can be left uncollected. Because organic waste is collected on the schedule the City Manager sets under Section 13-6A-5(C), a customer who wants a container removed from the curb also owes the $21.60 removal fee set in Section 13-6A-10(C)(6).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set out yard waste for pickup in Dubuque?
Can I use a plastic bag or cardboard box for Dubuque yard waste?
What does a Dubuque leaf rake-out cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dubuque
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