Plan Your Iowa City Landfill & Recycling Drop-Off Before You Load the Vehicle
The Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center at 3900 Hebl Avenue SW handles garbage, recycling, appliances, electronics, tires, compostable material, hazardous household products and other special wastes. The correct lane, fee and service window depend on what you bring.
Normal landfill hours are Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Saturday, 7:00 a.m.-noon. The entrance gate closes at noon on Saturday, and the facility may close early on windy days.
Quick answer
The Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center serves residents and businesses in Johnson County and within the city limits of Kalona and Riverside. Material from outside this service area is not accepted.
Do not treat the property as one general dump. Cardboard, appliances, TV and computer monitors, oil, batteries, yard waste and tires are among the materials that cannot simply be buried as regular landfill garbage. Sort your load before leaving home.
On this page
Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center Overview
This City of Iowa City property combines several services at one address: the landfill, recycling programs, Compost Facility and Hazardous Material Collection Facility. That makes it useful for mixed household cleanouts, but it also means different items may have different fees, lanes or operating windows.
Garbage disposal
Regular garbage is weighed and paid for through the Scalehouse. Trailer loads of garbage may be directed down into the landfill for unloading.
Recycling
The site accepts multiple recyclable materials, including paper, selected plastic containers, scrap metal, electronics, appliances and tires. Some are free; others have item or weight-based fees.
Special programs
Food and yard waste, hazardous material, shingles, asbestos and other special wastes follow separate rules. Calling first is sensible for unusual or commercial loads.
Do not arrive with an unsecured load
Iowa City requires landfill loads to be secured during transport. The City’s published policy provides one warning for an unsecured load, followed by a $50 charge for each subsequent violation.
Iowa City Landfill Hours and Remaining 2026 Holiday Closures
Normal operating hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to noon. The City specifically warns that the Saturday entrance gate closes at noon; vehicles still outside the gate must return during another open period.
| Service or situation | Published schedule | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Main landfill | Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Use this window for standard landfill and most staffed recycling services. |
| Saturday | 7:00 a.m.-noon | The entrance gate closes at noon. Arrive with enough time to weigh, pay and unload. |
| Sunday | Not listed as a normal open day | Use weekday or Saturday service unless the City posts a special notice. |
| Wind event | Possible early closure | Check the official landfill page or call 319-356-5185 before a windy-day trip. |
| Residential HHM | Thu-Fri 7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.; Sat 7:00 a.m.-noon | These hours are narrower than the main landfill schedule. |
Remaining published 2026 holiday schedule
| Date | Landfill status | Next useful opening information |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Day — Nov. 11, 2026 | Closed | Use regular hours on the next normal operating day. |
| Thanksgiving — Nov. 26, 2026 | Closed Thursday | Regular Friday hours, 7:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| Christmas Eve — Dec. 24, 2026 | Open normal hours | Normal Thursday schedule is published. |
| Christmas Day — Dec. 25, 2026 | Closed Friday | Regular Saturday hours, 7:00 a.m.-noon. |
Wind closure is not a live-status signal
The City says the landfill may close early when wind makes litter control difficult. That does not mean every windy day causes a closure. Check the official landfill page or call the facility before leaving with a paid, trailer or hard-to-reload load.
Which Iowa City Drop-Off Route Should You Use?
Separating the vehicle before you leave is the easiest way to avoid unloading the same item twice. A bag of household trash, television, tire, cardboard box and container of oil should not all be treated as one landfill load.
| What you have | Use this route | Prepare before leaving |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary garbage | Scalehouse / landfill route | Remove cardboard, tires, appliances, monitors, oil, batteries and yard waste. |
| Cardboard, paper, accepted containers | Recycling drop-off | Flatten cardboard and prepare containers according to City recycling rules. |
| TVs, computers and appliances | Fee-based recycling | Remove personal data from devices and keep items accessible for unloading. |
| Food scraps, leaves, brush and yard waste | Compost Facility | Keep garbage, plastic, glass, metal, hazardous material and other contamination out. |
| Paint, chemicals and household hazardous products | Hazardous Material Collection Facility | Keep containers sealed, upright and labeled. Never mix chemicals. |
| Clean asphalt shingles | Shingle recycling | Keep out wood, flashing, gutters, plastic wrap, buckets, paper and trash. |
Iowa City Landfill Fees and Recycling Charges
Fees depend on where the material originated and what it is. The landfill accepts cash, checks and credit cards, including Mastercard, Visa, Discover and American Express, plus Apple Pay and Tap to Pay.
| Material or service | Current published fee | Important rule |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa City regular garbage | $14 under 600 lb; $47.50/ton | Additional weight above 600 lb is charged incrementally. |
| Eligible non-Iowa City garbage | $15 under 600 lb; $52.50/ton | Only the published Johnson County/Kalona/Riverside service area is eligible. |
| Computer | $20 each | Fee includes components. |
| Television | $20 each | TVs and monitors are not ordinary landfill garbage. |
| Other electronics | $3 each | Includes many printers, phones, cameras, radios and similar electronics. |
| Small appliances | $3 each | Examples include vacuums, toasters, lamps and small household appliances. |
| Large appliances | $12.50 each | Large commercial appliances may use a $1-per-cubic-foot charge. |
| Grills / exercise equipment | $3 each | Use the recycling/appliance route rather than treating them as mixed trash. |
| Residential propane / helium tank | $1 each | Applies to residential-sized tanks. |
| Tires | $0.15/lb; $3 minimum | Tires are excluded from normal landfill garbage. |
| Clean asphalt shingles | $30/ton | Contaminated loads can lose the recycling rate. |
| Compost Facility load | $5 minimum through 400 lb; $24/ton above | Large stumps/root balls may be treated as special waste instead. |
| Light fixture without PCBs | $3 each | CFL and LED bulbs/tubes have different rules. |
| Light fixture with PCBs | $12.50 each | Keep it separate and follow facility instructions. |
Fees can change. For a large, commercial or unusual load, check the City page again before loading the vehicle.
Accepted Recycling Items and Preparation Rules
The City accepts numerous recyclable materials at the landfill and other Iowa City drop-off locations. The exact preparation rule matters because an accepted material can still cause problems if it is dirty, mixed with excluded material or brought to the wrong service area.
Cardboard and paper
- Flatten corrugated cardboard.
- Keep paper dry.
- Cardboard is banned from the landfill and should be recycled.
- Large commercial quantities may be directed to another program.
Plastic containers
- Accepted forms include bottles, jugs, jars and round tubs.
- Empty and rinse containers.
- Leave caps on where the City instructs.
- Do not assume plastic bags, wrap or bulky plastics belong in the same container.
Scrap metal
Small amounts of iron, steel, aluminum, brass and copper are listed for recycling at no cost at the landfill. Very large or commercial quantities may be better suited to a dedicated scrap recycler.
Motor and vegetable oil
Use sealed, labeled plastic bottles under five gallons with secure lids. Leave the container at the Oil Recycling Shed; customers are not permitted to pour the oil themselves.
TVs, Computers, Electronics and Appliance Recycling
Electronics and appliances are not simply ordinary garbage. Computers and televisions are currently listed at $20 each, other electronics and small appliances at $3 each, and large appliances at $12.50 each. Holiday-light strands and electronic cords are listed at no cost.
Before recycling a computer
Back up files you need, sign out of accounts, remove removable media and erase personal data before handing the device over. A recycling facility processes hardware; it does not replace your data-security responsibilities.
TV and monitor rule
TV and computer monitors are on Iowa City’s landfill-ban list. Use the designated recycling route instead of loading them into ordinary garbage.
Battery-containing devices
Phones, cordless tools, tablets, e-scooters and other rechargeable devices may contain lithium or other batteries. Keep them out of normal garbage and follow the City’s battery or electronics route.
Compost Facility, Food Waste and Yard Waste
Food scraps and yard waste use the Compost Facility at 3900 Hebl Avenue SW. Iowa City’s published fee is a $5 minimum covering loads through 400 pounds; heavier loads use the $24-per-ton organic-material rate.
2026 construction is still relevant
The City says Compost Facility construction began in April 2026 and is anticipated to finish in fall 2026. Temporary traffic patterns and drop-off areas can change during construction, so follow posted signs and current staff directions rather than an older site diagram.
Large stumps and root balls are treated differently from normal organic material and may be charged as special waste. If you have heavy tree material, call before hauling it.
Keep these contaminants out of compost loads
- Plastic bags and ordinary trash
- Glass and metal
- Painted, treated or stained wood
- Dirt, sand and rocks
- Hazardous material
- Diapers and wipes
- Liquids
- Plant pots and garden netting
- Animal carcasses
- Large root balls unless handled as special waste
Current compost-sale availability can change
The City’s current recycling/landfill information says the Iowa City Landfill and East Side Recycling Center are out of finished compost until further notice. That affects purchasing finished compost, not normal food- and yard-waste drop-off. Verify supply before traveling specifically to buy compost.
Hazardous Material Collection Facility Hours and Rules
Residential hazardous material from the service area can be brought to the Hazardous Material Collection Facility at no cost during its specific drop-off hours: Thursday and Friday, 7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., and Saturday, 7:00 a.m.-noon. No residential appointment is required during those hours.
Businesses use a different process. Business hazardous-material drop-off is by appointment, and the City’s VSQG program may apply to qualifying very-small-quantity generators.
Inventory what you are bringing
Separate paint, automotive fluids, cleaners, pesticides and other products rather than creating an unidentified mixed load.
Keep products safely packaged
Keep containers sealed, upright and labeled. Never mix chemicals. Unmarked containers should be identified as clearly as possible before the trip.
Use HHM hours
Do not assume the hazardous-material service remains open for all of the landfill’s weekday hours.
Follow Lane 1 instructions
The City directs residential HHM visitors through Lane 1 and under the collection-area overhang.
Leave containers with the facility
Containers must have secure lids and are left with the material. Empty containers are not returned to customers.
Common hazardous-material questions
| Item | Current guidance | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Oil-based paint | Use the Hazardous Material Collection Facility. | Bring it during residential HHM hours if eligible. |
| Latex paint | It follows a different route from oil-based paint. | The City allows properly hardened latex paint in regular trash. |
| Fire extinguisher | Expired or used units are accepted through the HHM program. | Use HHM hours or a listed alternate facility. |
| Residential propane / helium tank | Handled through appliance recycling. | $1 per residential-sized tank at the landfill. |
| Sharps | Do not place loose sharps in trash, recycling or compost. | Use the City’s residential safe-disposal instructions and an approved rigid container. |
The Swap Shop operates during the same Thursday-Friday 7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and Saturday 7:00 a.m.-noon window. It offers usable products brought through the hazardous-material program, often including paint, automotive fluids and cleaners.
Items Not Allowed in Iowa City Landfill Garbage
The most common load problem is putting material into garbage even though Iowa City requires it to be diverted through recycling, composting or another handling route.
Cardboard
Cardboard must be recycled. Garbage loads containing cardboard may be charged double the regular tipping fee.
Yard waste
Yard waste is banned from landfill disposal. Mixed garbage-and-yard-waste loads can be turned away.
TV / computer monitors
Use electronics recycling rather than burying screens with ordinary garbage.
Tires and appliances
Both have designated recycling routes and fees instead of normal garbage disposal.
Lead-acid batteries and oil
These materials require specific collection routes and should be kept separate from ordinary trash.
Hazardous / pressurized material
Hazardous chemicals, propane cylinders, explosives and medical sharps are not regular landfill garbage.
Burned material needs special timing
The City’s landfill guidance says loads containing burned material, including burn barrels, must have been fully extinguished for at least 30 days before disposal. Open burning is prohibited in Iowa City.
Special Waste, Asbestos and Construction Material
Heavy construction or unusual waste should not be treated as a routine household-trash trip. The City publishes separate special-waste and asbestos rates, and some material requires advance notice.
| Waste type | Iowa City rate | Eligible non-Iowa City rate |
|---|---|---|
| Special waste | $95/ton minimum | $105/ton minimum |
| Non-friable asbestos | $100/ton; $100 minimum | $105/ton; $105 minimum |
| Friable asbestos | $100/cu. yd.; $100 minimum | $105/cu. yd.; $105 minimum |
| Contaminated soil | $50/ton | Check current City guidance |
Asbestos requires advance notice
The City requires 24-hour notice for asbestos. Call Resource Management Customer Service at 319-356-5151 before transporting asbestos material. Do not arrive unannounced with an asbestos load.
Examples of material that can fall into special-waste handling include railroad ties, telephone poles, concrete and tree root balls. Call first if the load is unusual, difficult to unload or likely to require special handling.
Other Recycling Drop-Off Options in Iowa City
If you only have common recyclable material, you may not need to drive to the landfill. Iowa City maintains other drop-off choices that can be more convenient for a small recycling-only trip.
East Side Recycling Center
2401 Scott Blvd. SE
Cardboard, paper, glass, plastic, metal, oil and wine-cork drop-off in the parking area is listed as available 24/7 at no cost. Electronics and small-appliance services through ReStore follow staffed hours.
Sturgis Ferry Park Recycling Center
1700 South Riverside Drive
The City lists this recycling location as 24/7 for accepted common recyclables. Check the City’s recycling page for the current material list before using it for anything unusual.
Small recycling load?
For clean cardboard, bottles, cans, paper or similar accepted recyclables, compare a nearby recycling-only site before entering the landfill Scalehouse route.
Related independent planning guides: find the right type of recycling center near you, household hazardous waste drop-off planning, and used-oil recycling preparation and drop-off rules.
Before-You-Go Checklist
Confirm your service area
Make sure the material comes from Johnson County or within the city limits of Kalona or Riverside.
Check the correct service hours
Main landfill hours and hazardous-material hours are not the same. Holiday and wind closures can also affect the trip.
Sort before loading
Separate cardboard, recycling, electronics, appliances, tires, compostable material, oil and hazardous material from normal garbage.
Secure the load
Use tie-downs, a tarp or another appropriate method so material cannot blow or fall from the vehicle.
Bring a usable payment method
The landfill accepts cash, checks and listed major card/mobile payment methods.
Arrive early on Saturday
Do not plan a complicated unloading job at 11:55 a.m. The entrance gate closes at noon.
Call before unusual loads
Asbestos, special waste, commercial hazardous material, root balls, large commercial appliances and unusual mixed loads deserve advance verification.
Iowa City Landfill Map and Directions
The Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center is at 3900 Hebl Avenue SW, Iowa City, Iowa. Use the map for navigation, but use the City website or landfill phone for the final decision on service hours, wind closures, fees and accepted material.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center?
The facility is at 3900 Hebl Avenue SW, Iowa City, Iowa. It contains landfill, recycling, composting and hazardous-material services.
What are the Iowa City Landfill hours?
Normal hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to noon. It is closed on City holidays and may close early on windy days.
Is the Iowa City Landfill open on Saturday?
Yes. Normal Saturday hours are 7:00 a.m. to noon. The entrance gate closes at noon, and vehicles still outside the gate must return during another open period.
Is the landfill open on Sunday?
Sunday is not listed as a normal operating day. Use weekday or Saturday service unless the City publishes a special schedule.
Who can use the Iowa City Landfill?
The facility serves residential and commercial customers in Johnson County and within the city limits of Kalona and Riverside. Material from outside the service area is not accepted.
Can I bring household hazardous material anytime the landfill is open?
No. Residential hazardous-material drop-off is Thursday and Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to noon. Eligible businesses must arrange an appointment.
Can cardboard go in landfill garbage?
No. Iowa City bans cardboard from landfill disposal and requires it to be recycled. The City warns that garbage loads containing cardboard may be charged double the regular tipping fee.
How much does Iowa City charge for TVs and computers?
The current landfill recycling fee is $20 per computer and $20 per television. Other electronic items commonly have a $3-per-item fee.
What happens if my landfill load is not secured?
The City’s secured-load policy provides one warning for an unsecured load. Each subsequent unsecured-load violation is subject to a $50 charge.
Do I need to call before bringing asbestos?
Yes. Iowa City requires 24-hour notice for asbestos. Call Resource Management Customer Service at 319-356-5151 before transporting an asbestos load.
Official sources checked for this update
This guide was refreshed against City of Iowa City Resource Management information covering the Iowa City Landfill, recycling programs, Hazardous Material Collection Facility, Compost Facility, batteries and the City’s 2026 holiday schedule.