When you visit the landfill, separate garbage from appliances, electronics, composting and recycling. Be sure to secure loads so that items do not blow out. Vehicles with unsecured loads will receive one warning without charge. Each subsequent violation is a $50 fee.
Use lane 2 at the landfill, pull up to the scalehouse window (in the silver silo), and let the scale master know what materials you have.
The landfill accepts cash, checks, and credit cards (Mastercard, Visa and Discover).
Garbage
Disposal fees:
- Regular garbage:
- Iowa City residents: $14 for any garbage load less than 600 pounds; approximately 50 cents for each additional 20 pounds over 600 pounds. Charge per ton is $47.50.
- Non-Iowa City residents (Johnson County, Kalona, and Riverside only): $15 for any garbage load less than 600 pounds; approximately 50 cents for each additional 20 pounds over 600 pounds. Charge per ton is $52.50.
- Special wastes: Iowa City - $95/ton (minimum charge); non-Iowa City - $105/ton (minimum charge). This includes but is not limited to loads of railroad ties, telephone poles, and tree root balls. Other items may be charged as special waste if special handling is required.
- Asbestos: friable - $105/cubic yard; non-friable - $105/ton (Note: 24-hour notice is required. Call 319-356-5151.)
- Contaminated soil: $50/ton (3-ton minimum)
Do not place these items in the garbage:
Recycling
Visit the Recycling page for other recycling locations.
Recycle these items at no cost:
- Cardboard: flatten before recycling
- Paper: newspapers, magazines, office paper, junk mail, paperboard, telephone books, paperback books, waxy cartons and aseptic packaging
- Glass: clear, brown, green
- Plastics: bottles and jugs
- Metal: metal cans, aluminum pie pans, aluminum foil (in 2-inch ball)
- Scrap metal: iron, steel, aluminum, brass, copper
- Hardcover books: accepted in container located in electronic recycling garage bay
- Holiday light strands: accepted in electronic recycling (other recycling locations)
- Bicycles
- CFL and LED light bulbs (other recycling locations)
- Oil: motor and vegetable (also available at the East Side Recycling Center)
- Bring liquid in sealed, labeled plastic bottles (must be less than 5-gallon size) with secure lids, and leave in the Oil Recycling Shed.
- Motor oil filters: leave in the Oil Recycling Shed
Recycle these items for a fee:
- Appliances: $12.50 per appliance; $1 per cubic foot for large commercial appliances; appliances are banned from the landfill.
- Examples of accepted items: microwaves, dishwashers, refrigerators, ovens, washing machines, dryers, dehumidifiers and lawn mowers
- Propane or helium tanks: $1 per tank (residential-sized tanks only) via appliance recycling
- Electronics: Pay at the Scalehouse and you will be directed to the self-service electronic recycling area; television and computer monitors are banned from the landfill.
- $20 per computer system or TV (fee includes components)
- $3 per miscellaneous electronic item, such as printers, CPUs, VCRs, electronic items that do not have a CRT screen/monitor
- $3 per small appliance, such as grills, vacuum cleaners, alarm clocks, toasters, blenders, coffee pots
- $1 per helium or propane tank
- Roofing shingles: $30/ton; must be clean loads; no other debris allowed
- In conjunction with LL Pelling, the landfill recycles shingles for use in asphalt paving. Loads of shingles for recycling must be clean; no trash can be mixed in with the shingles. Any loads containing trash will be charged the regular trash fee. Ask your roofer or contractor to recycle shingles at the landfill.
- Tires: $0.15/pound ($3 minimum); tires are banned from the landfill
Composting
Visit the Composting page for other composting options. Follow these guidelines on accepted items to prevent composting contamination.
Compost these items at no cost:
- Food waste (such as coffee grounds, eggshells, bread and grain products, meat and bones, seafood and shells, non-liquid dairy products, fruits and vegetables)
- Natural wood that has not been painted, treated, or stained (such as natural pallets)
- Grass clippings
- Leaves
- Garden residue
- Woody yard waste
- Invasive species (such as garlic mustard)
- Coffee filters
- Compostable items, such as plates and cups, that are certified ASTM D6400 or labeled “certified compostable”
- Hair (natural only)
- Uncoated paper products (such as paper plates or cups)
- Paper towels and napkins
- Pizza boxes and paper clamshell containers
- Shredded paper and newspaper
- Holiday trees (natural, unflocked trees only; remove all decorations)
- Pumpkins and gourds (remove any candles or lights from inside your pumpkins)
Do not compost these items:
- Sod
- Dirt
- Rocks
- Sand
- Particle board
- Tree root balls
- Large stumps
- Infected plant material (such as black knot fungus)
- Plant pots (such as terra cotta or plastic)
- Garden netting and liners
- Painted, treated, or stained wood
- Dead animals or carcasses
- Animal waste
- Liquids
- Cigarette butts and ashes
- Plastic bags, film, or wrappers (such as soil or mulch bags)
- Foil- or plastic-coated paper plates, bowls, or cups
- Glass, metal, Styrofoam
- Hazardous material
Visit the Hazardous Material page for more information.
No cost to residents. The Hazardous Material Collection Facility is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bring these items:
- Cleaning products: abrasive cleaner, aerosols, carpet cleaner, disinfectant, drain cleaner, dry cleaning solution, fabric softener, floor care product, furniture polish, glass cleaner, grout/tile cleaner, metal polish, mildew remover, oven cleaner, multi-purpose cleaner, soap scum remover, stain remover, toilet bowl cleaner
- Garage/workshop products: adhesive/glue, antifreeze, battery acid, brake fluid, engine degreaser, gasoline/oil, kerosene, lighter fluid, oil-based paint (20-gal limit), paint thinner, resin, solvent, stain, stripper, transmission fluid, varnish
- Lawn/outdoor products: bug spray, fertilizer, fogger, fungicide, insecticide, insect repellent, pesticides, pool chemicals, rodent killer, weed killer
- Batteries: alkaline, auto, cell phone, computer, hearing aid, lithium, lithium-ion, nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd), rechargeable, sealed lead-acid
- Sharps and syringes: not accepted unless contained in a rigid plastic or metal container with a lid
- Other: hair remover, medications (non-controlled substances only), mercury thermostat, moth balls, nail polish/remover, photo chemicals, shoe polish, thermometer, fire extinguishers
Do not bring these items:
- Smoke detectors: place in regular garbage
- Electronic thermostats: recycle via electronic recycling
- Ammunition and explosives
- Radioactive materials
- Infectious medical waste
- Propane:
- Helium tanks: recycle for $1 per tank (residential-sized tanks only) via appliance recycling at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center
- Controlled substance medications:
- Several drop-off locations are available around Johnson County to properly dispose of controlled substances and other types of medication. For an updated list of locations, use the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) search tool.
- DEA collection events are held in Iowa City twice per year (usually spring and fall) for residents to safely dispose of unused or expired medications.
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