Single-family households and multiplexes of four units or fewer receive a 65-gallon City garbage cart for weekly curbside collection ($14/month on utility bill). Additional garbage bags require a City of Iowa City blue garbage sticker per bag (view "Curbside Customer Additional Garbage Bags" tab below). Bulky items, like electronics and appliances, must be scheduled for pickup (view "Curbside Customer Bulky Item Pickup" tab below). Any items left at the curb without scheduling will be subject to additional fees with 24 hours notice. 

Iowa City is divided into five sectors for garbage pickup. View the garbage schedule.

A few areas in Iowa City are serviced by a smaller truck and will not be issued a City cart due to the garbage having to be manually-lifted. For those areas, residents may use up to two 35-gallon garbage containers for weekly pickup.

Want updates? Sign up to receive curbside notices at icgov.org/subscribe.

What materials can you place in the garbage? 

While the City of Iowa City encourages residents to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost as much as possible, some materials cannot be used again. Garbage collected via this program is transported to the Iowa City Landfill to be properly landfilled by certified, trained operators.

At the Iowa City Landfill, the following materials are not allowed to be landfilled and must be diverted through recycling or composting programs: cardboard, yard waste, lead-acid batteries, oil, appliances, tires, and TV/computer monitors. 

Place these items in the garbage: 

• Styrofoam 
• Food or product packaging that cannot be reused, recycled, or composted
• Empty motor oil, fertilizer, or chemical bottles
• Gift wrapping paper (metallic, glitter, or plastic coated)
• Pet waste
• Bulky plastic items
• Used personal protective equipment, such as disposable masks or gloves

Do not place these items in the garbage: 

• Hot ashes 
• Batteries
• Cardboard 
• Yard waste
• Oil 
• Electronics or appliances 
• Tires
• Hazardous material
• Pressurized containers, such as propane or helium tanks
• Explosives
• Medical waste, such as sharps or syringes

To schedule a bulky item pickup, please call Resource Management at 319-356-5151 or complete the Bulky Pickup Online Form.

To complete the form, you will need the 7-digit account number and 6-digit customer number from your utility bill. If you need your account information, please call 319-356-5066.

Call or sign up online at least two days in advance of your regular collection day to schedule a pickup. 

The following items are accepted via bulky item pickup: 

• Large bulky items (maximum length of 7 feet): items that cannot be broken down to fit in standard garbage cart or bag
  • Examples: chair, couch, mattress
  • Fees: $20 for the first item; $10 for each additional item per pickup
• Electronics:
  • Examples: computers, televisions, printers
  • Fees:
    • Electronics that do not have CRT screens/monitors (such as printers, CPUs, VCRs) are $20 for the first item; $10 for each additional item.
    • Televisions and computer monitors: $20 each. These are not allowed in the garbage and must be recycled.
  • Electronics can also be taken to the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center (3900 Hebl Ave. SW, Iowa City) to be properly recycled.
• Appliances:
  • Examples: refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, air conditioners, microwaves, water heaters
    • Fee: $20 each
  • Appliances are not allowed in the garbage and must be recycled. 
  • Appliances can also be taken to the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center (3900 Hebl Ave. SW, Iowa City) to be properly recycled.
• Tires:
  • Fees: $3.75 per tire not on rim; $7.50 per tire on rim
  • Tires are not allowed in the garbage and must be recycled.
  • Tires can also be taken to the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center (3900 Hebl Ave. SW, Iowa City) to be properly recycled.

Once pickup is scheduled, any of the above items will be collected on your regular collection day. Have items at curb by 7 a.m. to ensure pickup. Fees for collection will be added to your monthly utility bill. Additional fees could be charged if items are abandoned at the curb, or if items have not been scheduled for collection.

The following items are not accepted via bulky item pickup: 

• Hot ashes 
• Batteries
• Cardboard 
• Yard waste
• Oil 
• Hazardous material, including paint
• Pressurized containers, such as propane or helium tanks
• Explosives
• Medical waste, such as sharps or syringes
• Automotive parts
• Riding lawnmowers or ATVs 
• Pianos
• Items longer than 7 feet
  • Basketball hoops must be broken down into pieces that are a maximum length of 7 feet. 

Call Resource Management at 319-356-5151 with questions.

Curbside customers may purchase City of Iowa City blue garbage stickers for pickup of additional garbage bags that do not fit in your garbage cart. Additional stickered garbage bags should be placed next to your garbage cart by 7 a.m. on your collection day. 

For successful garbage collection, please make sure:

• Each additional bag has a City of Iowa City blue garbage sticker attached
• Each additional bag is no larger than 35 gallons and weighs no more than 50 pounds

Stickers ($2.50 each) can be purchased at:

• Iowa City Hy-Vee stores at customer service counter
• Iowa City Ace Hardware stores (Mall Drive and North Dodge Street locations)
• City Hall Cashier, 410 E. Washington Street

Do not overfill garbage carts. Lids must be closed in order for staff to collect the materials, per the City's Solid Waste Rules and Regulations.

Follow these guidelines to ensure successful and safe curbside collection.

• Place carts on a solid surface for pickup, such as the end of your driveway, or when snow is present, a cleared area of flat ground. Do not place carts on top of snowbanks.
• Do not overfill carts. City ordinance states the lids must be closed.
• Bag all trash.
• Place carts at curb by 7 a.m. on your curbside day.
• Keep at least 3-feet clear zone around each cart.
• Face the arrows on cart lids to street.
• Return carts to your storage area at end of curbside day.
• Do not paint/write on carts.
• Do not remove the carts from home.
• Put carts at the curb only when full.

For information on self-hauling garbage and recycling to the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center, visit the Landfill page.