Garbage & Recycling

 

2026 Recycling Calendar (front) (back)

(October 1, 2025)

Garbage for residential and most light commercial customers is collected each week. Collection day for customers on the west side of the Turkey River is Tuesday. Collection day for customers on the east side of the Turkey River is Wednesday. Recycling is picked up on garbage days per the 2026 Recycling calendar. Refuse for Downtown light commercial customers is picked up M-F.

Residential and Light Commercial Refuse/Recycling Customers:

In 2024 Hawkeye Sanitation provided each property two totes per address: the green tote is for garbage/refuse and the blue tote is for recycling. The top of the tote has labels that indicates the use of the tote.

If you have questions please don’t hesitate to call City Hall at (563) 245-2098 or email celkader@alpinecom.net or elkaderadmin@alpinecom.net.

REFUSE – Green tote

• All refuse for dwelling units must be placed at the curbside (or in the alley where applicable) in the approved 65-gallon tote provided by Hawkeye Sanitation.
• Each tote has a number that assigns it to an address. The totes stay at the property if you move.
• All refuse inside the tote must be in some type of refuse bag.
• Totes are considered full when garbage is to the top with the lid shut.
• Extra garbage on top of or around totes will not be picked up unless it is in a customer purchased Hawkeye Sanitation collection bag. These are available at City Hall (hours are M-F from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) for $5.
• If an extra tote is needed, the resident will pay for a second service. The resident will be required to keep the extra tote for a minimum of six months.
• Totes for the storage of refuse awaiting collection shall be placed curbside, with the front of the tote, where the lid of the tote opens, facing towards the street/collection point.
• Totes must be placed at least three (3) feet away from any other object including other totes.
• Six (6) foot spacing is preferred when possible.
• Preferred placement of totes, where possible, is no more than one tote on each side of a driveway.

• Totes shall not be placed at the collection point more than twelve (12) hours in advance of the regularly scheduled collection day and shall be promptly removed from the collection point following collection.
• Hawkeye Sanitation will not be considered to be in breach of this agreement for failure to collect refuse from any customer who has not followed the instructions.
• Hawkeye Sanitation is not responsible for the collection of any yard waste.

 RECYCLING – Blue tote

•  All residential recycling shall be comingled and shall not be separated using paper sacks or plastic bags or other means.
• All food containers must be cleaned.
• The following are accepted: plastic #1 and #2 only; cardboard; paper; tin and aluminum.
• Tips to determine the reason your recycling was not picked up.

CURBSIDE RATES FOR BULKY WASTE (2024 rates): sofa - $20; hide-a-bed - $35; recliner - $10; small chair - $5; mattress - $10; box spring - $10; toilet - $7.50; storm door - $30.

Call either Hawkeye Sanitation (563-547-3828) to let them know you have a bulky waste item. Customers need to prepay for the pick-up. Extra garbage is assessed by the driver: household-$38.50/cubic yard; construction-$48.50/cubic yard; shingles-$8.50/cubic yard.

Items not picked up with garbage include cardboard, sharps, tires, TVs, appliances, yard waste, batteries, paint, oil, Freon containers, toxic or poisonous materials, computers, wire, fence posts, bricks, iron, cement chunks, animal carcasses, and fertilizer.

Large items may also be dropped off behind the County Secondary Roads facility at 519 High Street NE.  Charges apply.

Heavy Commercial Refuse/Recycling Customer:

• Through December 31, 2029, heavy commercial customers (those needing dumpsters) may contract with Hawkeye Sanitation but are not required to contract with them.
• All fees shall be directly negotiated by and between Hawkeye Sanitation and the customer.
• Hawkeye Sanitation can be reached at (563) 547-3828.