Cedar Rapids Trash Pickup, CURBY Recycling & YARDY Schedule 2026
This guide is built for a Cedar Rapids resident who needs a real pickup answer today: when GARBY goes out, whether CURBY is due this week, how glass is handled separately, when YARDY resumes, how holiday delays work, what to do with bulky items, and how to avoid the easy cart-spacing mistake that causes collection trouble.
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Cedar Rapids trash pickup schedule garbage collection uses City carts: gray GARBY for garbage, blue CURBY for recycling, and green YARDY for yard waste and compostable materials when service is active. All containers must be out by 7:00 AM on collection day.
Garbage collection remains weekly. Recycling continues every other week under the updated cart program, so residents should check their week before placing CURBY out. Routine YARDY collection resumes March 2, 2026, and winter yard waste has separate seasonal rules.
Cedar Rapids Pickup Day Lookup — Confirm GARBY, CURBY and YARDY Before 7 AM
The safe Cedar Rapids routine is to check your collection day, set the right carts out after 6 PM the evening before, and have everything ready by 7 AM. Do not rely only on when the truck “usually” comes, because routes and timing can shift.
Confirm your normal collection day
Use the City’s collection page and calendar information. Your carts must be ready by 7 AM, even if trucks usually arrive later on your street.
Check whether CURBY is due this week
Recycling continues every other week. If you put CURBY out on the wrong week, that is not a missed collection.
Use YARDY only when service is active and material is accepted
Routine YARDY collection resumes March 2, 2026. Winter yard waste collection and seasonal leaf programs have separate rules.
Leave room for the truck arm
Keep three feet between GARBY, CURBY, YARDY, glass bucket, snowbanks, vehicles and other objects.
Official source: Use the City collection page before reporting a missed cart or changing your set-out routine.
Open Collection PageCedar Rapids GARBY Garbage Rules — Bagged Trash, Extra Bags and Variable Cart Options
GARBY is the City’s gray garbage cart. Cedar Rapids uses a fully automated garbage collection system, so correct cart use matters. All garbage must be bagged before going in GARBY. Loose trash, overflowing carts and material outside the cart are the situations that cause the most trouble.
- Bag all garbage before placing it in the gray GARBY cart.
- Put GARBY out by 7 AM on collection day.
- Keep the lid closed when possible.
- Use official garbage tags for extra bags when required.
- Consider the Variable Cart Program if your household repeatedly buys extra bag tags.
- Remove carts from the curb by the required evening deadline.
- Do not put loose household trash directly into the cart.
- Do not place extra untagged bags beside the cart.
- Do not put hazardous materials, batteries, paint, chemicals or electronics in GARBY.
- Do not use GARBY for glass that should be recycled separately.
- Do not place the cart too close to CURBY, YARDY, cars or snowbanks.
Real household decision: If your GARBY is full every week, do not keep fighting the cart. Compare the cost of repeated garbage tags with the City’s larger GARBY cart options, then choose the cheaper and cleaner long-term setup.
Cedar Rapids Cart Placement Rules — Three Feet for GARBY, CURBY, YARDY and Glass
Cedar Rapids uses the “Leave Room for Lucy” reminder because automated trucks need space. Lucy is a three-foot basset hound used by the City to help residents remember that carts need room between each other and other objects.
- Set carts out after 6 PM the evening before collection.
- Have carts out by 7 AM on collection day.
- Line carts parallel to the street if space allows.
- Leave at least 3 feet between GARBY, CURBY and YARDY.
- Leave at least 3 feet from parked cars, mailboxes, snowbanks and other objects.
- Place glass bucket beside CURBY but still leave spacing.
- Do not put carts on top of snowbanks.
- Clear a flat street-level collection point when possible.
- If the driveway is wide, use one side of the driveway for carts.
- Keep YARDY and GARBY accessible during winter service periods.
- Do not bury carts behind plowed snow or vehicles.
Missed-pickup trap: If a cart was too close to a car, snowbank, mailbox or another cart, the issue may be blocked access rather than a missed route. Fix the spacing before reporting.
Cedar Rapids CURBY Recycling Pickup — Every-Other-Week Blue Cart Rules
CURBY is the City’s blue recycling cart. Cedar Rapids’ recycling program is co-mingled, which means several recyclable materials can go in the same cart. But “co-mingled” does not mean every item with a recycling symbol belongs in CURBY.
- Clean paper and cardboard.
- Newspapers, office paper and mail.
- Rinsed plastic bottles and containers accepted by the program.
- Rinsed metal food and drink cans.
- Dry cardboard boxes, flattened when possible.
- Accepted containers placed loose, not bagged.
- Glass bottles and jars.
- Plastic bags, plastic wrap and films.
- Styrofoam.
- Batteries and electronics.
- Garden hoses, cords and tanglers.
- Wet, greasy or food-soiled cardboard.
- Hazardous waste containers.
Most important Cedar Rapids recycling rule: Glass is recyclable at the curb, but it does not go inside CURBY. Use the separate glass bucket rule in the next section.
Cedar Rapids Glass Recycling — Do Not Put Glass in CURBY
Glass has its own Cedar Rapids rule. Glass bottles and jars go next to CURBY, not inside the blue cart. The City says glass should be set out in a separate bucket with a handle, no larger than 5 gallons. The glass bucket should be placed near CURBY with enough spacing for safe collection.
- Use a 2 to 5 gallon bucket with a handle.
- Place the bucket next to CURBY on recycling collection day.
- Clear and colored glass can be mixed together.
- Keep the bucket manageable for crews.
- Leave three feet of space from carts and objects when possible.
- Glass inside CURBY.
- Broken loose glass mixed into recycling.
- Window glass, mirrors or ceramics unless City guidance says otherwise.
- Light bulbs.
- Dishware or drinking glasses that are not accepted as container glass.
Apartment note: Some apartments and private-hauler properties may not use the same City cart setup. If you do not have CURBY service, ask your property manager or use a verified drop-off option instead of guessing.
Cedar Rapids YARDY Yard Waste Pickup — Routine Collection Resumes March 2, 2026
YARDY is the City’s green cart for yard waste and approved compostable materials. Routine YARDY collection resumes March 2, 2026. Winter yard waste collection has a separate seasonal process, so do not assume YARDY runs the same way every week of the year.
- Grass clippings.
- Leaves.
- Garden waste.
- Small sticks and twigs when allowed by City guidance.
- Approved compostable food scraps or material listed by the City.
- Routine yard cleanup during active collection season.
- Regular household garbage.
- Plastic bags.
- Pet waste or cat litter.
- Animal bedding.
- Construction debris.
- Hazardous materials.
- Material not accepted by the compost facility.
Cedar Rapids Bulky Item Pickup — Furniture, Appliances and Large Items That Do Not Fit GARBY
When you need to dispose of larger items such as appliances or furniture, the City’s Solid Waste & Recycling Division provides bulky-item guidance and scheduling options. Do not place a couch, mattress, appliance or large item at the curb and hope it disappears on regular GARBY day.
- Furniture.
- Mattresses.
- Large appliances.
- Large household items that do not fit GARBY.
- Move-out or basement cleanout items.
- Items that may require special haul or drop-off instead of cart collection.
- Check the City bulky item page.
- Call Solid Waste & Recycling customer service if item rules are unclear.
- Ask whether fees apply.
- Keep hazardous materials, electronics and tires separate.
- Do not block sidewalks, streets or alleys.
- Use Solid Waste Agency drop-off when curbside is not the right path.
Official bulky item help: Use the City’s bulky item page before setting large items out.
Bulky Item CollectionCedar Rapids 2026 Holiday Trash Schedule — When Collection Runs One Day Late
Cedar Rapids collection holidays can affect garbage, recycling and yard waste. The City’s holiday guidance shows one-day delays for impacted weeks, with Friday collection taking place Saturday when the whole week shifts.
| 2026 Holiday | Date | Day | Resident Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1, 2026 | Thursday | No collection Thursday; Thursday and Friday routes move later. |
| Memorial Day | May 25, 2026 | Monday | No collection Monday; one-day delay all week. |
| Labor Day | September 7, 2026 | Monday | No collection Monday; one-day delay all week. |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 26, 2026 | Thursday | No collection Thursday; Thursday and Friday customers move one day later. |
| Christmas Day | December 25, 2026 | Friday | No collection Friday; Friday route may move to Saturday. |
Do not assume every federal holiday delays pickup. Cedar Rapids focuses on specific collection holidays. Check the City page before changing your cart day for holidays such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Juneteenth or Veterans Day.
Cedar Rapids Drop-Off Options — Solid Waste Agency, Compost/Yard Waste and Household Hazardous Materials
Some items do not belong in GARBY, CURBY or YARDY. The Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency operates landfill/recycling and compost/yard waste locations that help with disposal beyond normal curbside carts.
- Address: 1954 County Home Road, Marion, IA 52302.
- Phone: 319-377-5290.
- Monday-Friday hours are listed as 7 AM to 4 PM.
- Saturday service is by appointment only.
- Use for landfill, Resource Recovery and hazardous material routing.
- Address: 2250 A Street SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404.
- Phone: 319-377-5290.
- Monday-Friday hours are listed as 8 AM to 4 PM.
- Saturday hours are listed as 8 AM to noon.
- Use for compost and yard waste material that is better dropped off.
Map — Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency
Hazardous waste note: Linn County residents can drop off household hazardous materials at the Resource Recovery building at 1954 County Home Road. No appointment is needed weekdays; Saturday appointments are required.
Cedar Rapids Waste Video Guide — Leave Room for Lucy Cart Spacing
This official City of Cedar Rapids video explains why residents need to leave enough space between GARBY, CURBY and YARDY carts. It is useful because the most practical collection problem is not always the schedule — it is often cart spacing, blocked access, snowbanks or carts placed too close together.
Best for: New residents, homeowners with multiple carts, winter-week users, residents using GARBY/CURBY/YARDY together, and anyone unsure why the City keeps saying to leave three feet of room.
This video supports the practical guidance in this article. For exact pickup dates, holiday delays, variable cart fees, recycling weeks, YARDY service status, bulky item rules, Solid Waste Agency hours and service alerts, residents should still verify details through the official Cedar Rapids links above.
Missed Garbage, Recycling or Yard Waste Pickup in Cedar Rapids — What to Check Before Reporting
Before reporting missed collection, check the basics: cart out by 7 AM, right recycling week, holiday delay, cart spacing, snowbank access, glass bucket placement and whether YARDY service is active. Many “misses” are actually wrong-week, blocked-cart or early/late set-out problems.
Check the clock
Carts must be out by 7 AM. If the cart was late, collection may not be considered missed.
Check the right service
GARBY is weekly, CURBY is every other week, and YARDY depends on seasonal service status.
Check spacing and snow
Leave three feet of room and keep carts off snowbanks. Automated trucks need safe access.
Use My CR or call Solid Waste
Report non-emergency issues through My CR or call Solid Waste & Recycling customer service at 319-286-5897.
Report or ask: Use My CR for non-emergency City service requests, or call Solid Waste & Recycling directly.
Open My CRCedar Rapids Trash Pickup Phone Number, Address, Map and Official Links
| Need | Official Contact | Use This For |
|---|---|---|
| Solid Waste & Recycling | 319-286-5897 | Garbage, recycling, YARDY, bulky item, cart and collection questions. |
| Solid-Waste-Recycling@cedar-rapids.org | Solid Waste & Recycling questions and follow-up. | |
| My CR | Online Reporting Tool | Report non-emergency issues and track City service requests. |
| Solid Waste Agency | 319-377-5290 | Landfill, recycling, compost, yard waste and hazardous material drop-off questions. |
| City Hall | 101 First Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA | Main City government location. |
Official Cedar Rapids Waste Links
Related Trash Pickup Guides — Internal Links for Midwest Collection, Bulk Pickup and Holiday Rules
Use these related trash-pickup.org guides to compare cart rules, recycling weeks, bulky item pickup and holiday delays across similar city-service pages.
Cedar Rapids Trash Pickup FAQ — Real Resident Questions Answered
Source Verification and Editorial Note
Independent information guide — not affiliated with the City of Cedar Rapids or the Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency. trash-pickup.org is a public information resource. We do not operate garbage trucks, recycling pickup, YARDY collection, bulky item pickup, My CR, transfer stations, landfill services or hazardous materials drop-off.
Collection time, GARBY rules, CURBY recycling, glass bucket rules, YARDY seasonal status, cart-spacing guidance, bulky item routing, holiday-delay guidance, My CR reporting and Solid Waste Agency drop-off details were checked against official City and Solid Waste Agency resources as of May 2026. Schedules, fees, cart program pricing, holiday notices, accepted items and facility hours can change. Always verify through the official links before acting.
Official Sources — Verified May 2026
- City of Cedar Rapids — Garbage & Recycling
- City of Cedar Rapids — Collection Information
- City of Cedar Rapids — Collection Requirements
- City of Cedar Rapids — Garbage
- City of Cedar Rapids — Recycling
- City of Cedar Rapids — Glass Recycling
- City of Cedar Rapids — Yard Waste
- City of Cedar Rapids — Bulky Item Collection
- City of Cedar Rapids — Leave Room for Lucy
- City of Cedar Rapids — My CR Online Reporting Tool
- Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency — Hours & Locations
- Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency — Hazardous Materials
- City of Cedar Rapids Official YouTube — Leave Room for Lucy
Franklin TN Trash Tools
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