How to Deal with Ice Storm Yard Debris - Metro Area Residents have Multiple Options Posted: 1/22/2010
The recent ice storm caused varying degrees of tree damage throughout the metro area, resulting in various responses by local communities.

Altoona, Des Moines, Pleasant Hill and Waukee will be providing curbside pickup.(see detailed list below) Residents should bring the limbs to the curb for pick-up. Please do not place limbs so they hang out into the street creating a hazard for motorists. The cities of Des Moines and Waukee are treating this as yard waste pickup so residents must adhere to yard waste bundling and weight requirements (see below). Des Moines residents need to attach a Compost It! sticker to all brush bundles. If you live in any of the above communities, please contact your city hall to learn more.

Other metro communities are still making determinations or have decided that damage is isolated and does not constitute citywide tree and branch pickup. Residents who were affected by the damage can work with a private contractor or bring the debris to the Metro Park East Landfill for $25 per ton with a $16 minimum. All loads should be secured with straps and bungee cords or tarped.

Alternatively, residents that were nominally affected can pile the branches somewhere in their yard and store them until your city clean up day or until Compost It! season begins on March 29th. For collection under the Compost It! program this Spring, branch bundles must be no more than 18 inches in diameter and no more than four feet long, and must not weigh more than 40 pounds. Bundles must also have a Compost It! sticker attached. 

Altoona - collecting the weeks of January 25 and February 1 (collection behind the Waste Water Treatment Plant  after February 5)
Des Moines  - year round Compost It! collection
Pleasant Hill - collecting the week of January 25
Waukee - collecting on Tuesday, January 26 and Wednesday, January 27

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