City guide · Iowa
Des Moines Trash Pickup Schedule
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Two things make the Des Moines trash pickup schedule easier to live with than its Iowa neighbors. Yard waste is collected year-round, where nearby cities stop for winter or switch to request-only. And the holiday rules are selective - Thanksgiving and Christmas affect only certain routes, not the whole city. Here's how it works.
How often is trash picked up in Des Moines?
Residential garbage is collected weekly on a day assigned by address, with recycling and yard waste also part of residential service.
| Stream | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Garbage | Weekly | Assigned day by address |
| Recycling | Residential service | Same set-out window |
| Yard waste | Year-round | No winter suspension |
Yard waste runs year-round
This is Des Moines's genuine advantage over its neighbors. Yard waste collection runs all year, where Cedar Rapids switches to request-only in winter and Davenport runs April to November only.
In practice that means you can clear storm debris, late leaf fall or winter prunings without waiting for a season to reopen or booking a special collection. For a city with real Iowa winters, that's a meaningful difference rather than a technicality.
Find your exact pickup day
Des Moines uses an address lookup with a memorable name:
Use Show Me My House on dsm.city →
Public Works can confirm your day or answer service questions on 515-283-4950.
The set-out window
Des Moines defines a window rather than just a deadline, with both an earliest and a latest time.
| Rule | Time |
|---|---|
| Earliest you may set out | 5:00 p.m. the day before |
| Latest you may set out | 7:00 a.m. on collection day |
- Keep lids closed - Iowa wind and snow both matter
- Leave clearance around each cart for the collection arm
- Keep carts clear of plowed snow banks in winter
- Bring carts back in once emptied
The 5 p.m. earliest rule is the half people forget. Putting carts out the morning before isn't just discouraged here - it's outside the permitted window.
Des Moines Trash Holiday Schedule
Des Moines treats holidays selectively rather than applying one blanket rule. Labor Day delays everyone; Thanksgiving and Christmas touch only some routes; and several federal holidays cause no delay at all.
| Holiday | 2026 date | Affects pickup? |
|---|---|---|
| Juneteenth | Friday, Jun 19 | No - no delay |
| Independence Day | Saturday, Jul 4 | No - no delay |
| Labor Day | Monday, Sep 7 | Yes - all customers delayed one day; no collection Sep 7 |
| Veterans Day | Wednesday, Nov 11 | No - no delay |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, Nov 26 | Yes - certain routes only |
| Christmas Day | Friday, Dec 25 | Yes - certain routes only |
That "certain routes only" distinction matters. For Thanksgiving and Christmas you need to check your own route rather than assuming a citywide shift - your neighbor two streets over may be on a different arrangement that week.
What goes in each cart
Garbage
WeeklyGoes in
- Bagged household waste
- Food-soiled paper & napkins
- Plastic bags & film wrap
- Pet waste, diapers
Keep out
- Batteries & electronics
- Paint, chemicals, motor oil
Recycling
Residential serviceGoes in
- Cardboard, flattened
- Paper, mail, magazines
- Metal cans, empty & rinsed
- Plastic bottles & jugs
Keep out
- Plastic bags - they jam sorters
- Styrofoam, food waste
Yard waste
Year-roundGoes in
- Grass clippings & leaves
- Trimmings and branches
- Storm debris
Keep out
- Dirt, rocks, sod
- Household trash
Apartments & multifamily buildings
The cart service above covers residential addresses on city collection. Apartment complexes in Des Moines are typically served by shared containers arranged through the property, so collection frequency sits with the building rather than the Show Me My House lookup. Renters should check with their property manager.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Des Moines trash pickup schedule?
Is yard waste collected year-round?
When can I put my bins out?
Which holidays affect trash pickup?
Is there a delay for Veterans Day?
How do I find my collection day?
Do Thanksgiving and Christmas delay everyone?
Who do I contact about trash?
More Iowa guides
Cedar Rapids, IA
GARBY, CURBY and YARDY carts
Davenport, IA
North and South calendars, no Wednesday routes
Sioux City, IA
5 a.m. starts & a per-day holiday table
City contact & resources
City of Des Moines Public Works
Need more than curbside pickup? Compare local bulk & junk removal quotes. Browse all Iowa cities or the full state directory.