Recycling in Iowa
Where to recycle, donate or get rid of things in 29 cities and towns across Iowa. Pick your city, or search for your item. We also pick up anywhere in the state.
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Black Hawk County
Cerro Gordo County
Clinton County
- Clinton10
Dallas County
Des Moines County
Dubuque County
- Dubuque12
Johnson County
Linn County
Muscatine County
Polk County
Pottawattamie County
Scott County
Story County
- Ames12
Wapello County
- Ottumwa15
Warren County
Webster County
Woodbury County
Iowa rules
- Iowa households can take household hazardous materials to Regional Collection Centers (RCCs); RCC services are free to residents within each RCC's service area. Source: Iowa DNR: Household Hazardous Materials (opens in new tab)
- RCC services for eligible businesses carry a small fee. Source: Iowa DNR: Household Hazardous Materials (opens in new tab)
- DNR tells residents to find their nearest RCC and schedule an appointment before dropping off hazardous materials. Source: Iowa DNR: Household Hazardous Materials (opens in new tab)
More Iowa rules (47)
- DNR says not to dump hazardous materials in ditches, pour them down drains or sewers, or put them in the trash. Source: Iowa DNR: Household Hazardous Materials (opens in new tab)
- Iowa has 28 main RCCs and 43 satellite facilities serving 96 of the state's counties. Source: Iowa DNR: Regional Collection Centers & Grants (opens in new tab)
- Some counties are served by RCC mobile collection events run under contract with a main RCC; 29 counties have RCC mobile service. Source: Iowa DNR: Regional Collection Centers & Grants (opens in new tab)
- Many RCCs run a Swap Shop where usable products can be dropped off for others to take at no charge. Source: Iowa DNR: Regional Collection Centers & Grants (opens in new tab)
- DNR publishes a county-by-county table of the RCC main and satellite facilities that serve each county. Source: Iowa DNR: Regional Collection Centers & Grants (opens in new tab)
- Under Iowa Code chapter 455F, regional collection centers keep regular hours when the public may drop off hazardous materials. Source: Iowa Code chapter 455F: Household hazardous materials (opens in new tab)
- DNR says latex paint is not hazardous waste and most RCCs charge a small fee to take it. Source: Iowa DNR disposal guide: Latex Paint (opens in new tab)
- DNR says latex paint can be dried out at home and put in the garbage with the lid off. Source: Iowa DNR disposal guide: Latex Paint (opens in new tab)
- Latex paint can be dried by adding cat litter or sawdust to the can or pouring it into a box lined with cat litter or sawdust. Source: Iowa DNR disposal guide: Latex Paint (opens in new tab)
- Usable latex paint that has not been frozen or contaminated can be donated at many RCC swap shops. Source: Iowa DNR disposal guide: Latex Paint (opens in new tab)
- DNR says to use up oil-based paint or take it to the local Regional Collection Center. Source: Iowa DNR disposal guide: Oil-Based Paint (opens in new tab)
- Many RCCs accept usable oil-based paint at their swap shops for others to use. Source: Iowa DNR disposal guide: Oil-Based Paint (opens in new tab)
- Land disposal of lead-acid batteries has been prohibited in Iowa since July 1, 1990. Source: Iowa Code 455D.10: Land disposal of lead acid batteries prohibited; collection for recycling (opens in new tab)
- DNR: it is illegal in Iowa to put lead-acid batteries in the garbage or trash. Source: Iowa DNR disposal guide: Batteries (Lead Acid) (opens in new tab)
- DNR says lead-acid batteries may also be recycled at the local Regional Collection Center. Source: Iowa DNR disposal guide: Batteries (Lead Acid) (opens in new tab)
- DNR notes that some retailers will take a lead-acid battery even without a new battery purchase. Source: Iowa DNR fact sheet: Battery Recycling/Disposal (revised 8/2015) (opens in new tab)
- Lead-acid battery wholesalers must accept used lead-acid batteries from retailers and wholesale customers. Source: Iowa Code 455D.10: Land disposal of lead acid batteries prohibited; collection for recycling (opens in new tab)
- DNR says rechargeable batteries should not go in the trash or the recycling bin. Source: Iowa DNR: Household Hazardous Materials (opens in new tab)
- Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries can be recycled only at specified locations; DNR says to ask the local solid waste agency or RCC where. Source: Iowa DNR: Household Hazardous Materials (opens in new tab)
- A 2015 DNR fact sheet describes ordinary alkaline, carbon-zinc and zinc-air batteries as nonhazardous, while pointing to recycling options. Source: Iowa DNR fact sheet: Battery Recycling/Disposal (revised 8/2015) (opens in new tab)
- Nickel-cadmium, sealed lead-acid and mercuric-oxide household batteries may be sold in Iowa only while a required collection and recycling or disposal system is operating. Source: Iowa Code 455D.10A: Household batteries; heavy metal content and recycling requirements (opens in new tab)
- Land disposal of waste tires has been banned in Iowa since July 1, 1991, and burying or open burning tires is prohibited. Source: Iowa DNR: Tire Disposal & Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Whole waste tires may not go to a sanitary landfill unless cut into pieces of 18 inches or less; landfills must accept properly processed tires. Source: Iowa DNR: Tire Disposal & Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Storing more than 500 waste tires requires a permit. Source: Iowa DNR: Tire Disposal & Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Under the 2026 rules, nobody may stockpile more than 500 passenger tire equivalents without a waste tire stockpile permit. Source: Iowa Administrative Code 567, Chapter 102: Solid Waste Management (effective 9/23/26) (opens in new tab)
- Iowa Code 455D.11 bans land disposal of waste tires unless processed as the DNR requires, and landfills may not refuse properly processed tires. Source: Iowa Code 455D.11: Waste tires; land disposal prohibited (opens in new tab)
- Anyone who hires someone to haul more than 40 waste tires must use a DNR-registered waste tire hauler. Source: Iowa Code 455D.11: Waste tires; land disposal prohibited (opens in new tab)
- DNR advises that the easiest way to dispose of waste tires is to leave them with your tire dealer or service center and pay the nominal fee they charge for disposal. Source: Iowa DNR fact sheet: Waste Tire Disposal (opens in new tab)
- Iowa requires every discarded appliance to be demanufactured (refrigerant, mercury and PCB parts removed) by a permitted demanufacturer before disposal. Source: Iowa DNR: Appliances & Electronics (opens in new tab)
- State rules require all discarded appliances to be demanufactured before they are disposed of or recycled. Source: Iowa Administrative Code 567, Chapter 102: Solid Waste Management (effective 9/23/26) (opens in new tab)
- Iowa's rule definition of appliances names clothes washers and clothes dryers, so they must be demanufactured before disposal or recycling. Source: Iowa Administrative Code 567, Chapter 100 (definitions) (opens in new tab)
- Iowa's rule definition of appliances names microwave ovens, so they fall under the demanufacturing requirement. Source: Iowa Administrative Code 567, Chapter 100 (definitions) (opens in new tab)
- Iowa's rule definition of appliances names refrigerators and freezers. Source: Iowa Administrative Code 567, Chapter 100 (definitions) (opens in new tab)
- DNR tells residents to contact their local solid waste agency to find an appliance collection site. Source: Iowa DNR: Appliances & Electronics (opens in new tab)
- Appliance disposal cost varies: a city may collect for free or charge a fee that can depend on the appliance type. Source: Iowa DNR: Appliances & Electronics (opens in new tab)
- Some retailers haul away an old appliance when delivering a new one, sometimes for a fee. Source: Iowa DNR: Appliances & Electronics (opens in new tab)
- DNR warns that appliances left at the curb without a scheduled pickup may be taken by peddlers who vent refrigerant. Source: Iowa DNR: Appliances & Electronics (opens in new tab)
- DNR notes some utility companies offer rebates for recycling appliances. Source: Iowa DNR: Appliances & Electronics (opens in new tab)
- Demanufacturers in Iowa may not shred, crush or bale any appliance that has not been demanufactured. Source: Iowa Administrative Code 567, Chapter 102: Solid Waste Management (effective 9/23/26) (opens in new tab)
- DNR says to take unwanted computers and monitors to the local RCC or a retailer return program. Source: Iowa DNR disposal guide: Computers and Computer Monitors (opens in new tab)
- CRT computer monitors can contain 5 to 7 pounds of lead. Source: Iowa DNR disposal guide: Computers and Computer Monitors (opens in new tab)
- RCCs take non-working televisions for a disposal fee. Source: Iowa DNR disposal guide: Televisions (opens in new tab)
- RCCs do not take working televisions; DNR suggests offering them to neighbors or community groups. Source: Iowa DNR disposal guide: Televisions (opens in new tab)
- DNR says flat-screen TVs (LCD, LED, plasma) have no cathode ray tube and are not considered hazardous. Source: Iowa DNR disposal guide: Televisions (opens in new tab)
- DNR treats e-waste as computers, TVs, phones, stereos, cameras, DVD players and game devices, but not household appliances. Source: Iowa DNR: Appliances & Electronics (opens in new tab)
- Discarded CRTs collected for recycling, including household ones, must be handled under the state CRT recycling rules once a collector takes them. Source: Iowa Administrative Code 567, Chapter 102: Solid Waste Management (effective 9/23/26) (opens in new tab)
- The state CRT recycling rules do not apply to CRTs collected for disposal. Source: Iowa Administrative Code 567, Chapter 102: Solid Waste Management (effective 9/23/26) (opens in new tab)