WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR CITY
Printed on Recycled Paper
The Cedar Rapids Solid Waste & Recycling Division is your partner when it comes to keeping the City of Cedar Rapids clean and healthy. We work hard to provide a service that is easy to use and addresses your waste removal needs. This guide will provide you with the basic information you need to take advantage of our services.
Contact Us PHONE:
319-286-5897 EMAIL:
SolidWaste&Recycling@Cedar-Rapids.org Our phones are answered 24/7. Afterhours calls are received by an answering service and are addressed the following business day. If your items were missed, please call the office by the end of that business day and leave your items out for collection.
ADDRESS:
City Services Center 500 15th Avenue SW Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 OFFICE HOURS:
Monday - Friday Phone 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Walk-In 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
STAYING CONNECTED
Are you interested in receiving updates about our services? There are a number of ways you can stay in touch with what is happening in the Solid Waste & Recycling Division: City of Cedar Rapids Iowa Government @CityofCRiowa
Get the Message! www.CRNewsNow.com
SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE
Chapter 24 of the Cedar Rapids Municipal Code describes how solid waste and recycling collection works in the City of Cedar Rapids. If you would like to view a copy of the ordinance, go to www.CityofCR.com/Garbage. Information in this booklet can also be found on the City’s website.
www.CityofCR.com/Garbage
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WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN
Overview of Our Services GARBAGE COLLECTION
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RECYCLING COLLECTION
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YARD WASTE COLLECTION
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BULKY ITEM COLLECTION
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LITTER AND ILLEGAL DUMPING:
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Garbage materials are collected in the GARBY cart. Recyclable materials are collected in the CURBY cart. Glass is recyclable at the curb, but it must be placed in a separate 5-gallon bucket to prevent injuries. Compostable materials are collected in the YARDY cart. Do you have a large item, but don’t know how to get it to the landfill? For a fee, we can collect the item at the curb. Providing residents and organizations with the resources to keep Cedar Rapids a clean, healthy place to live. NUISANCE ABATEMENT
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If you notice a mess in your neighborhood, let us know about the problem. TALL GRASS, NOXIOUS WEEDS AND NON-PURPOSELY PLANTED TREES
Overgrown properties can be an eyesore and present safety challenges. Report the problem to us from May 1 to Oct. 8.
STARTING SERVICE
Call the Cedar Rapids Water Division at 319-286-5900 to start your garbage and recycling collection service. If your residence does not have a GARBY, CURBY or YARDY cart, call the Solid Waste & Recycling Division at 319-286-5897 to schedule cart delivery.
GARBY
CURBY
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YARDY
BILLING QUESTIONS
Solid waste and recycling charges are included in your municipal utility bill. If you have questions about your bill, please call Utility Billing Customer Service at 319-286-5900.
SOLID WASTE & RECYCLING DIVISION • 319-286-5897
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Setting Out Items for Collection PLACE ITEMS WITHIN 5 FEET OF THE CURB BY 7 a.m.
Bringing the items to the curb is your way of telling the crew members that your items are ready for collection. CLOSE YOUR LIDS AND WATCH THE WEIGHT
For your safety and that of our crew, all carts should have lids fully closed for collection and meet weight limits. WINTER COLLECTION
Please place your containers at curb height during the winter. Placing containers in the driveway or shoveling a section of the snow bank will help your collection crews collect material safely. MISSED COLLECTION
If you set out your garbage by 7 a.m. and it has not been collected by 5 p.m., please call our office at 319-286-5897 by the end of that business day and leave your items out. If you did not have your items out for collection by 7 a.m., wait until your next collection day and place a $1.50 extra garbage sticker on each bag that does not fit in your GARBY cart. LEAVE ROOM FOR LUCY
Meet Lucy, our 3-foot basset hound. Lucy is here to help you remember to leave three feet around your garbage, recycling and yard waste containers when you place them at the curb on trash day. Remember to Leave Room for Lucy between each of your carts and other objects like your mailbox, trees or telephone poles.
Cart collection is fully automated. An arm on the truck grabs and lifts your carts to empty them. Leaving three feet between objects and the carts reduces the possibility that property will be damaged during the collection process. Let Lucy be your 36-inch reminder to help make solid waste collection a bit greener, safer and more efficient.
3 ft.
5-gallon bucket for glass
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3 ft.
3 feet between carts and other objects
WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN
3 ft.
$1.50 sticker for extra garbage
Collection Schedule Garbage, recycling and yard waste crews reach 41,400 homes in Cedar Rapids each week. In order to provide service to everyone, the City is divided into five sections. To find out which day your garbage is picked up, please call our office at 319-286-5897.
Garbage & Recycling Collection Reminders If a holiday is NOT included in this list, there is NO INTERRUPTION in the collection schedule. NEW YEAR’S DAY – NO COLLECTION One-day delay in collection for the remainder of the week. No delay in collection if the holiday falls on the weekend. SPRING LEAF VACUUM COLLECTION During the month of April, vacuum trucks will collect leaves weekly. NEED EXACT DATES? www.CityofCR.com/leaf or 319-286-5897
FALL LEAF VACUUM COLLECTION During the months of October and November, vacuum trucks will collect leaves bi-weekly. NEED EXACT DATES? www.CityofCR.com/leaf or 319-286-5897 THANKSGIVING DAY – NO COLLECTION One-day delay in collection for the remainder of the week. CHRISTMAS DAY – NO COLLECTION One-day delay in collection for the remainder of the week. No delay in collection if the holiday falls on the weekend. Get collection reminders sent directly to you before every service interruption. Sign up for CR News Now Garbage & Recycling News.
Get the message. CRNewsNow.com SOLID WASTE & RECYCLING DIVISION • 319-286-5897
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Garbage Collection YOUR GARBY CART
Every customer pays for the collection of one GARBY cart each week through their municipal utility bill. The cart must stay at the original address. The City of Cedar Rapids Solid Waste & Recycling Division uses a pay-as-you-throw program to make sure the cost of waste disposal is fairly distributed across households. WHAT GOES IN GARBY?
Garbage items, such as styrofoam, meat and animal products, and items that cannot be recycled or composted, should be bagged and then put in your GARBY cart for collection. No needles, medication, electronics or household hazardous materials. SETTING OUT GARBY FOR COLLECTION
• Leave 3 feet between GARBY and other objects • Bag all garbage before putting it in GARBY • 100-pound limit • Lid must be closed EXTRA GARBAGE
• Only bags allowed (35-gallon, 40-pound maximum) • $1.50 extra garbage stickers required. Stickers can be purchased at most grocery and convenience stores. To see a complete list, visit www.CityofCR.com/Garbage • Place extra bags on top of closed GARBY lid or beside cart • Additional GARBY carts are available for a monthly service fee
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WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN
Recycling Collection
65-gallon
YOUR CURBY CART
Each residential customer is allotted one city-issued, 65-gallon or 35-gallon, blue CURBY cart for weekly curbside recycling collection. You may select the size that best fits your needs. If you currently do not have a cart, call 319-286-5897 to schedule a delivery. The cart must stay at the original address.
35-gallon
OR
WHAT GOES IN CURBY?
Your CURBY cart offers co-mingled curbside collection, meaning that several different materials, such as paper, cardboard, recyclable plastics and metal, can be mixed together in the CURBY cart. See diagram on page 8. SETTING OUT CURBY FOR COLLECTION
• Leave 3 feet between CURBY and other objects • Make sure arrows are pointing toward the street • Weight limit is 220 pounds for 65-gallon cart, 120 pounds for 35-gallon cart. • Lid must be closed
EXTRA CURBSIDE RECYCLING
If you have excess recyclables or a lot of cardboard boxes, you can break them down and place them in a box set next to CURBY for collection. The box should be 2-by-3-by-2 feet (or smaller) to fit into the recycling truck. If you have more recycling than will fit in one CURBY cart each week, you can purchase an extra cart. GLASS
Glass can be set out for recycling at your curb, but it cannot be placed in CURBY. Please place your glass into a 5-gallon bucket next to your CURBY cart for collection. Clear and colored glass can be mixed together. No light bulbs, window glass or mirrors.
WHAT DO I DO WITH...?
Although Cedar Rapids collects a large number of items at your curb, some items are recyclable but cannot be collected curbside. There are three recycling drop-off locations in the Cedar Rapids area: Republic Services • 901 Ingleside Dr. SW Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency • 2250 A St. SW, Cedar Rapids • 1954 County Home Road, Marion
SOLID WASTE & RECYCLING DIVISION • 319-286-5897
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DOES NOT GO IN CURBY CART
DO NOT GO IN CURBY CART
YARD WASTE DISPOSAL WHAT GOES IN YOUR YARDY:
GRASS CLIPPINGS
PAPER PLATES, TOWELS & NAPKINS
FRUIT & VEGGIE PEELINGS
STICKS & TWIGS
BAKED GOODS
TEA BAGS & COFFEE GROUNDS
The City of Cedar Rapids offers year-round collection for YARDY carts.
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LEAVES
WARM OR HOT ASHES
MEAT OR ANIMAL PRODUCTS
ROCKS
WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN
PLASTIC BAGS OR LITTER
Yard Debris – Organic Collection
65-gallon 95-gallon
YOUR YARDY CART
Each residential customer is allotted one city-issued YARDY cart for the collection of compostable materials. You can choose a 65-gallon cart or a 95-gallon cart, depending on your needs. To get a cart delivered to your home, please call 319-286-5897. Once delivered, the cart must stay at the original address.
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WHAT GOES IN YARDY?
Compostable materials such as grass, twigs, leaves, and fruit and vegetable peelings can be placed in your YARDY cart for collection each week. Visit www.CityofCR.com/Yardy for more information. SETTING OUT YARDY FOR COLLECTION
• Leave 3 feet between YARDY and other objects • Place the cart with arrows facing the collection point • For collection, the 95-gallon cart must weigh less than 300 pounds, 65-gallon cart must weigh less than 220 pounds • Lid must be closed for collection.
EXTRA YARD WASTE
If you have more brush than your YARDY cart can accommodate, create a bundle with biodegradable twine and set it beside your YARDY for collection. The brush should be cut into 3-foot lengths, and the bundles should not exceed 2 feet in diameter and 40 pounds in weight. If you regularly have more compostable material than will fit in your YARDY cart, you can purchase a second YARDY cart. During leaf vacuum collection periods, paper leaf bags can be used for any leaves that do not fit in your YARDY cart. Leaf bags will ONLY be picked up if they are placed at the curb with a filled YARDY cart. Each bag must weigh less than 40 pounds.
LEAF VACUUM COLLECTION
During the spring and fall, the Solid Waste & Recycling Division offers an additional loose leaf collection service. The collection schedule can be found at www.CityofCR.com/leaf, or by calling 319-286-5897. To participate, please follow these simple guidelines: • Rake leaves to the edge of your • Leave space between your leaves and yard or parking area, but keep them other objects, especially mailboxes out of the street. Leaves will not be and signs collected from alleys. • Place brush and twigs in your YARDY cart for collection • Do not park vehicles in front of the leaf piles SOLID WASTE & RECYCLING DIVISION • 319-286-5897
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Bulky Item Collection The Solid Waste & Recycling Division can help you remove large or bulky items from your property. This service is provided at an additional charge that is applied to your municipal utility bill. To participate in this program, please call 319-286-5897 for more pricing information or to schedule a pickup. All prices are subject to change FURNITURE (UP TO 200 LBS.)
$5 / ITEM
APPLIANCES
$9 / ITEM + $16 HAULING FEE
TVs AND MONITORS
$5 / ITEM + $16 HAULING FEE
ELECTRONICS LARGE ITEMS (OVER 200 LBS.)
$16 HAULING FEE COST DEPENDS ON SIZE / WEIGHT
Illegal Dumping The Cedar Rapids Solid Waste & Recycling Division is committed to stopping illegal dumping in our City. If you see it happening: • Call 911 to report the crime in progress. • Try to get a license plate number and description of the vehicle and people involved. DO NOT approach the scene or try to stop the crime in progress. IF ITEMS ARE ILLEGALLY DUMPED ON YOUR PROPERTY:
• Call the Cedar Rapids Police Department at 319-286-5491 to get a case number. • Call the Solid Waste & Recycling Division with the case number. We will investigate and get the mess cleaned up.
Nuisance Abatement IS THERE A MESS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?
The Solid Waste & Recycling Division is committed to working with all parties to see that problems are addressed. If you notice a problem on a property, please call 319-286-5897 to let us know about your concern. TALL GRASS, NOXIOUS WEEDS & NON-PURPOSELY PLANTED TREES & SHRUBS
If you’ve seen a property that is overgrown with noxious weeds or tall grass, call 319-286-5897 with the address. 10
WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN
Needle & Syringe Disposal Never put needles at the curb! Needles and syringes can be disposed of in any of the following approved containers: • Liquid detergent, fabric softener, or bleach bottles with original lid
• Sharps containers
Needles can be taken to the Solid Waste & Recycling office or either of the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency locations. Commercial medical waste or sharps containers are not accepted.
Medication Disposal Ditch your doses the right way. Dispose of your unwanted and expired medicines in the disposal box located in the vestibule of the Cedar Rapids Police Station at 505 1st Street SW. Many pharmacies also participate in the TakeAway program. Learn more and find participating locations at www.CityofCR.com/TakeAway.
Other Disposal Options The Cedar Rapids Solid Waste & Recycling Division’s program is designed to provide a high level of service to the entire City of Cedar Rapids, but there are some items that do not readily fit in our collection service. The Cedar Rapids/ Linn County Solid Waste Agency provides disposal services for those hard to recycle or dispose of items, such as: HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS MATERIALS:
A number of materials you may use regularly are actually considered hazardous and should be disposed of properly, such as: • Automotive fluids • Stains and paint thinner • Pesticides and herbicides
• Aerosol cans • Household cleaning products
Hazardous materials are accepted at the Solid Waste Agency’s Marion location at 1954 County Home Road. ELECTRONICS:
Electronic waste contains dangerous heavy metals that can cause environmental damage when not disposed of properly. Both Cedar Rapids/ Linn County Solid Waste Agency facilities offer electronics recycling. Examples of electronics include, but are not limited to: • TVs, computer monitors and • Video gaming systems hard drives • VCRs and DVD players • iPods/MP3 players For more information about the services provided by the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency, please call 319-377-5290 or visit www.SolidWasteAgency.org. SOLID WASTE & RECYCLING DIVISION • 319-286-5897
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Clean Up CR and Litter Collection The City of Cedar Rapids is dedicated to providing residents and businesses with the resources to help us keep Cedar Rapids a clean, healthy place to live. The City of Cedar Rapids’ litter collection events and large item disposal events provide citizens with the opportunity to get out in their community and make a difference by cleaning up their neighborhoods. More information and updates are available at www.CleanUpCR.com. Make a difference in your community and take the City Manager’s 1 Bag Challenge! The Cedar Rapids City Manager has challenged every citizen to collect at least one bag of litter each year. Pick up a litter collection kit and gather litter in your neighborhood, around your work place or wherever you see the need. DOES ONE BAG MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
One bag on its own may not seem like a big deal, but if all 126,000 citizens took the time to collect one bag, it would make a huge difference in our community. HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?
You can pick up a litter collection kit at select Cedar Rapids Hy-Vee Food or Drug Store customer service counters and most City buildings. The kit includes a bag and a pair of gloves. Once you have filled the bag, set it out next to your GARBY cart on your normal garbage collection day. The special City Manager’s Challenge bags do not require an extra $1.50 sticker. Watch for announcements about special events that will be held to pick up litter along I-380. Please do not enter the Interstate to collect litter. ADOPT A ROAD PROGRAM:
The Adopt a Road Program is designed for organizations committed to cleaning up Cedar Rapids. The organization chooses a city street to adopt by keeping that section of our City clean throughout the year. The Solid Waste & Recycling Division provides bags, vests, work gloves, trash removal and a sign advertising the commitment of the organization. Call 319-286-5897 for more information.
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WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN