City guide · Iowa
Cedar Rapids Trash Pickup Schedule
On this page
Cedar Rapids gives its carts names, which makes the Cedar Rapids trash pickup schedule unusually easy to talk about: GARBY for garbage, CURBY for recycling, YARDY for yard waste. The catch is YARDY - it goes quiet for roughly three months each winter and switches to collection by request only. Here's the full year.
How often is trash picked up in Cedar Rapids?
Garbage is collected weekly and recycling every other week, both from city-provided carts. Yard waste rides on your normal garbage day during the active season.
| Cart | Stream | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| GARBY (gray) | Garbage | Weekly |
| CURBY (blue) | Recycling | Every other week |
| YARDY (green) | Yard waste & compostables | Weekly, early March to mid December |
GARBY, CURBY and YARDY
The named carts aren't just branding - they make it far easier to remember which container does what, and the city uses the names consistently in its own notices and alerts.
Because CURBY runs every other week while GARBY runs weekly, there is a recycling week to track here, unlike cities where everything shares one cadence. YARDY adds a seasonal layer on top of that.
Winter yard waste is by request
YARDY carts are collected on your normal garbage day from early March to mid December. Outside that window - mid December to early March - yard waste is picked up upon request only. Routine YARDY collection resumed on March 2, 2026.
| Period | YARDY status | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Early March - mid December | Routine weekly collection | Set out on your garbage day |
| Mid December - early March | By request only | Call 319-286-5897 or submit a My CR request |
This is the detail that catches people out after a winter storm. Setting YARDY at the curb in January without booking won't get it emptied - the request has to come first.
Find your exact pickup day
Collection days and recycling weeks are published per address:
Check collection information on cedar-rapids.org →
Solid Waste and Recycling Customer Service can confirm your day, your CURBY week or book a winter yard waste collection on 319-286-5897.
Cart placement rules
- All containers out by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day
- Set out the night before if your route runs early
- Keep lids closed
- Leave clearance between carts for the automated arm
- Keep carts clear of plowed snow banks in winter
Cedar Rapids Trash Holiday Schedule
Four holidays suspend collection, each delaying the rest of that week by one day. A holiday falling on a weekend causes no delay at all.
| Holiday | 2026 date | Affects pickup? |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday, Jan 1 | Check the city calendar for your route |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25 | Yes - no collection, one-day delay all week |
| Independence Day | Saturday, Jul 4 | No - weekend holiday, no delay |
| Labor Day | Monday, Sep 7 | Yes - no collection, one-day delay all week |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, Nov 26 | Yes - no collection, one-day delay for the rest of the week |
| Christmas Day | Friday, Dec 25 | Yes - no collection, one-day delay |
Two things compound in late December: Christmas shifts collection, and YARDY has already moved to request-only for the winter. If you're clearing a tree or storm debris that week, book it rather than relying on the cart.
What goes in each cart
GARBY - gray
WeeklyGoes in
- Bagged household waste
- Food-soiled paper & napkins
- Plastic bags & film wrap
- Pet waste, diapers
Keep out
- Yard waste - use YARDY
- Batteries, paint, chemicals
CURBY - blue
Every other weekGoes in
- Cardboard, flattened
- Paper, mail, magazines
- Metal cans, empty & rinsed
- Plastic bottles & jugs
Keep out
- Plastic bags - they jam sorters
- Styrofoam, food waste
YARDY - green
SeasonalGoes in
- Grass clippings & leaves
- Trimmings and branches
- Compostable materials
Keep out
- Anything in winter without a request
- Household trash
Apartments & multifamily buildings
The three-cart service covers residential addresses on city collection. Apartment complexes in Cedar Rapids are generally served by shared containers arranged through the property, so collection frequency and any yard waste provision sit with the building rather than a GARBY and CURBY schedule. Renters should check with their property manager.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Cedar Rapids trash pickup schedule?
What are GARBY, CURBY and YARDY?
When is YARDY collected?
How do I schedule winter yard waste?
How often is recycling collected?
What time do carts need to be out?
Which holidays affect trash pickup?
Who do I contact about trash?
More Iowa guides
Des Moines, IA
Year-round yard waste & a set-out window
Davenport, IA
North and South calendars, no Wednesday routes
Sioux City, IA
5 a.m. starts & a per-day holiday table
City contact & resources
Cedar Rapids Solid Waste & Recycling
Need more than curbside pickup? Compare local bulk & junk removal quotes. Browse all Iowa cities or the full state directory.