Garbage, Recycling and Yard Waste Advisory

Garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection is suspended on Wednesday, August 12 so operators can continue to assist in debris removal from city streets.

We plan to resume collection of GARBAGE ONLY starting Thursday, August 13 according to the following schedule. Find critical information beneath the schedule regarding how to dispose of spoiled food and where to place carts for collection.

Thursday, 8/13
Collection of gray GARBY (garbage) carts ONLY for neighborhoods with regular collection on Tuesday & Wednesday. We will do our best to navigate to your street, but if we cannot get there on Thursday, our next collection attempt will be next week.

Friday, 8/14
Gray GARBY (garbage) cart ONLY collection for neighborhoods with regular collection on Thursday & Friday. We will do our best to navigate to your street, but if we cannot get there on Friday, our next collection attempt will be next week.

Week of 8/16
Garbage collection will be prioritized on your regular collection day. We will do our best to navigate to your street and assess the need to re-run routes later in the week if necessary. When resources allow, recycling collection will resume. Sign up for text and email collection updates at www.CRNewsNow.com

“We recognize that many residents have extensive tree debris in their front yards,” said Steve Hershner, Utilities Director. “Every effort is being made by crews to get to properties and to pick up collection bins that are accessible, whether they are located in the driveway or in the street near a property.”

Spoiled Food & Extra Garbage Items

• Fill your gray GARBY cart with bags of spoiled food first, up to 120 pounds.
• Any extra bags of spoiled food or regular garbage can be set beside your GARBY cart.
• Bags of spoiled food MUST be double- or triple-bagged.
• Extra garbage bags must weigh less than 40 pounds.
• Extra garbage stickers are not required for bags filled with spoiled food.

• Debris and materials damaged in the storm do not need to go into your GARBY cart. Place these items near the curb. Keep debris out of the street and sidewalk. Keep garbage debris in separate piles from tree debris. 

Placement of Garbage Carts for Collection

• Carts will be collected from the street in front of your house and NOT the alley way. If you usually place your cart in the alley for collection, place the cart at the street in front of your house.
• If there is room, place garbage carts behind the curb. If there is not room on the curb, set garbage carts in front of the curb.
• If there is not room for your cart in front of your home, work with neighbors to establish a cart collection zone where several carts can be placed next to each other behind the curb.
• Avoid parking in front of garbage carts. If necessary, place carts between parked cars, in line with the driver’s side door. ALWAYS leave at least 3 feet of space between carts and other objects.

Lost or Damaged Carts

• If an extra cart blew into your yard, place the cart in your usual collection area so your neighbors can retrieve it.
• Work with your neighbors to ensure everybody on your block has collection carts.
• For damaged carts or lids, contact solid-waste-recycling@cedar-rapids.org with your home address.

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