Cedar Rapids Trash Pickup & Garbage Schedule 2026

The City of Cedar Rapids provides residential garbage, recycling, and compost or yard-waste service through its Solid Waste & Recycling division. Households use city-issued carts, regular service starts by 7:00 a.m., and some 2026 holidays change the normal route while others do not.

How to Check Your Cedar Rapids Collection Schedule

Cedar Rapids does not need a long complicated process. The city’s collection page, utility pages, and customer-service team are the best way to confirm your normal route and any 2026 holiday changes.

1. Open the city’s collection page. Start with Collection Information.
2. Confirm your normal collection day. Cedar Rapids uses regular route collection for garbage, recycling, and most-of-the-year yard waste.
3. Check seasonal changes. Winter YARDY service changes to request-only in mid-December through early March.
4. Review holiday delays. Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day are the main holidays that can shift routes.
5. Call or report online if needed. Use 319-286-5897 or My CR if you are unsure or your cart was missed.

Cedar Rapids Garbage, Recycling, and Yard-Waste Schedule

Cedar Rapids uses three main city-issued carts: GARBY for bagged garbage, CURBY for recyclables, and YARDY for compostable yard waste and food scraps. Garbage and recycling follow regular curbside routes, while YARDY runs on your normal garbage day for most of the year and becomes request-only in winter.

Routine YARDY collection resumes on Monday, March 2, 2026. During the winter season from mid-December to early March, Cedar Rapids switches YARDY to request-only service rather than full regular collection.

Cedar Rapids GARBY, CURBY, and YARDY System

Cedar Rapids uses a named cart system that makes each stream easier to follow. It is straightforward once you know which container handles which material.

Cedar Rapids says each residential customer is allotted one city-issued GARBY cart for household garbage and one city-issued CURBY cart for recyclables. If your household needs more garbage capacity in 2026, the city’s new variable-cart program lets you choose a larger garbage-cart size.

Cedar Rapids Set-Out Rules

Most missed pickups happen because items were not out on time or were placed too close together. Cedar Rapids provides a simple timing and spacing rule that works for all regular service days.

• Set all containers out by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.
• Do not set containers out before 6:00 p.m. the evening before collection.
• Retrieve containers by 7:00 p.m. on collection day.
• Keep carts lined up parallel to the street if you have the space.
• Bag garbage before putting it in GARBY. The city says all garbage must be bagged.

Cedar Rapids Bulky-Item and Extra-Garbage Options

If something will not fit in GARBY, Cedar Rapids gives residents two main options: extra-garbage stickers for smaller approved items, or scheduled bulky-item collection for larger pieces.

Use extra-garbage stickers for:

• Extra bags that meet the city’s regular size and weight rules
• Smaller loose items that do not exceed about 2 feet by 3 feet
• Occasional overflow that does not need a special haul appointment

Use bulky-item collection for:

• Mattresses
• Furniture
• Larger items over the sticker size limits
• Items that need scheduled curbside hauling

1. Check the size first. If the item is larger than about 2 feet by 3 feet, Cedar Rapids says to call for bulky-item collection.
2. Call ahead. The city says bulky-item collection should be scheduled at least one business day before your garbage day.
3. Expect a fee. Search results from the city show a hauling fee plus item charges for bulky collection.
4. Use extra-garbage stickers for smaller approved overflow.
5. Call customer service for edge cases. Use 319-286-5897 if you are unsure which option fits.

Cedar Rapids 2026 Holiday Collection Delays

Cedar Rapids only delays a short list of holidays each year. The city’s general holiday rules and 2025–26 notices make the 2026 pattern clear.

Cedar Rapids city notices also remind residents that there is no early collection on typical holiday weeks. If the holiday causes a delay, the safest choice is to leave carts out until the delayed route arrives.

What to Do If Cedar Rapids Missed Your Pickup

If your GARBY, CURBY, or YARDY cart was missed, Cedar Rapids asks that the cart must have been out by the 7:00 a.m. deadline to qualify for missed-collection pickup.

1. Check the clock first. Your carts must have been in the collection area by 7:00 a.m.
2. Review the holiday schedule. Some 2026 routes will be delayed by one day.
3. Leave the cart out. Cedar Rapids specifically says to leave it out if you believe the route missed you.
4. Report the miss. Use My CR, email the division, or call 319-286-5897.
5. Keep using the 7:00 a.m. rule. Even if your street is usually served later, the city uses the 7:00 a.m. deadline to decide eligibility for missed-pickup return service.

Cedar Rapids Drop-Off and Cleanup Options

When curbside service is not enough, Cedar Rapids also points residents to city-run reporting tools, city cleanup resources, and regional disposal options referenced on the city’s own pages.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cedar Rapids Trash Pickup

Official Cedar Rapids Trash Collection Resources

Reminder: Cedar Rapids uses regular city routes, exact set-out deadlines, and a small holiday-delay list. Checking the city collection page before big holidays is the safest way to stay accurate.