Yard Debris, Food Scrap and Food Soiled Paper Collection
City of Des Moines Single-Family Yard Debris, Food Scrap and Food Soiled Paper Collection Service
The City of Des Moines contracts with Allied Waste for the
curbside collection of single-family residential yard debris, food scrap and food soiled paper .
Service rates are determined by the can
size chosen. The more you recycle, the less garbage you produce.
Start, Stop, Change Service
- Yard Debris, Food Scrap and Food Soiled Paper Collection service is available to garbage customers for an
additional fee.
- To stop or change service, call 206-682-9735.
Find Your Collection Day
- Yard Debris, Food Scrap and Food Soiled Paper are collected every other week on the same day as
garbage.
Prepare Your Yard Debris, Food Scrap and Food Soiled Paper
- Use the standard 96-gallon Yard & Food Debris Cart for all your yard debris.
Put food waste and food-soiled paper in the green yard waste cart only.
- Review the list of What Goes
in the Yard Debris & Food Cart.
- Place your Yard Debris Cart out by 7 AM on your scheduled
collection day. Put cart within 5' of the curb with lid opening toward
the street. Please do not block driveways, sidewalks or mailboxes.
- Excess yard debris can be bundled or placed in paper
yard debris bags or compostable bags or customer-owned 32-gallon containers
marked "Yard Debris." Regular plastic garbage bags will not
be collected! No food waste or food-soiled paper in private cans,
paper bags, or boxes.
- Up to 10 units of yard debris will be collected every
other week. A unit is described as a 32-gallon can (60 lbs max), a Kraft paper
bag (60 lbs max) or a cardboard box (size limit 2' x 2' x 2', 50 lbs max).
An Allied Waste-provided yard debris cart is equivalent to 3 units. For
example: 6 units is equivalent to two Allied Waste-provided
yard debris carts.
- Additional Yard Debris Carts can be rented from Allied Waste for
a monthly fee. To rent an additional
Yard Debris Cart, please call 206-682-9735.
- Remove carts from the curb within 24 hours after collection.
Please do not put yard debris in your garbage! It is unlawful to
put yard debris in the garbage. Garbage with yard debris mixed in will not be
collected.
Approved Yard Debris Bags
Residents can use paper yard debris bags (60 lbs limit) for yard debris
collection in addition to yard debris containers.
Following is a list of stores that carry paper yard debris bags in your area:
Tips for Collecting Kitchen Scraps
For convenience, keep a container in or near your kitchen to collect kitchen scraps. Empty this container into your yard cart as needed. Possible containers:
- Green compostable kitchen bags are widely available. Visit www.recyclefood.com for retail locations in your community
- Used paper bags (Fill and put in cart.)
- Reusable plastic or metal container with a tight fitting lid (Empty into yard waste cart and reuse. Do not put plastic of any kind in your cart.)
To avoid odor and fruit flies, you can:
- Empty food scraps into the yard waste cart daily.
- Wrap food scraps in newspaper or collect them in green compostable kitchen bags.
- Rinse kitchen container and yard waste cart frequently.
- Line kitchen container with a used paper bag or towel.
- Sprinkle baking soda in kitchen container.
- Layer shredded paper, food scraps and yard waste in your cart.
Additional Yard Debris Information
- For removal of trees or branches larger than 4" diameter,
call a tree service.
- Remember - burning yard debris violates Puget Sound
air quality standards.
-
Christmas Tree Collection
- Yard Debris customers can set Christmas trees out on their
regularly scheduled collection day.
- Trees must be free of flocking, tinsel, ornaments and metal
hangers, cut to 4' lengths and tied into bundles less than
2' x 3' wide. Use biodegradable string or twine - no nylon,
plastic or other synthetic materials.
- Flocked trees are not recyclable and will not be accepted.
Put flocked trees cut into 4' lengths in the garbage.
-
Haul Yard Debris to the Transfer Station (the Dump)
- Yard Debris can be hauled for recycling to one of the two
local transfer stations operated by King County Solid Waste Division:
- Call 206-296-6542 for
operating hours and
directions
- Home Organic Debris Recycling, Grasscycling, Composting
- Information on home organic debris recycling, grasscycling
and composting is available through the
King County composting web site. Call 206-296-4466 for
more information.
