| Certain communities use
an automated garbage collection system in which a mechanical arm
picks up specially designed containers from each resident. This
system is used in:
- Altoona
- Bondurant
- Clive
- Carlisle
- Des Moines
- Johnston
- Norwalk
- Pleasant Hill
- Urbandale
- West Des Moines
- Windsor Heights
Procedures
The following rules apply to automated garbage collection:
- Trash should be placed in disposable bags inside the container
- The container must be placed within 18 inches of the curb
- The container must be a least six feet away from permanent structures
(including mailboxes, walls, lampposts, vehicles, and utility
poles)
- Place your Curb It! bin, additional trash items, and yard waste
bags at least three to six feet away from your container
- Avoid placing the container near low-hanging tree branches
- The metal bars should face the street
- Place your container on a level surface
Advantages
Using an automated collection system for garbage encourages
waste reduction and recycling while helping communities have a cleaner
appearance. Many people don't consider garbage as a utility,
but there are costs associated with collection and disposal. With
an automated, or volume-based system, residents pay for what they
throw out just as they pay for only how much water or electricity
they use. These systems also encourage recycling. Often, the
more you recycle, the more you can control how much you spend on
garbage collection.
Large Items (except Urbandale)
A trash sticker must be attached to each 33-gallon bag or box
that is placed outside of the container. Each bag or box placed
outside of the container cannot weight more than 35 pounds. To
find out where to purchase the trash bag stickers, call Artistic
Waste Services at (515) 262-4040.
Large items that do not fit into a 33-gallon bag or box (including
furniture) must have a Large Item sticker attached to each item.
Large Item stickers can be purchased at local Hy-Vee and Dahl's
stores.
For information on appliance pickup, please see your specific community
page.
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