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Solid Waste

Show All Answers

1. How do I sign up for trash collection?

When you open a water account at the office of Burlington Municipal Waterworks, 500 North 3rd Street, you are automatically signed up for trash collection.

2. What day is my trash collected?

Please refer to the Trash Route Map to determine your collection day, If you are unsure, please call the Solid Waste Information Line at (319) 753-8114. 

Trash Route Map (PDF)

3. What time of day is my trash to be out?

Trash is to be out before 7 a.m. of your collection day to ensure collection.  Crews begin collecting at 7 a.m. and do not start route in the same place each week.

4. How do I report that my trash was missed?

Please remember that your trash must always be set out before 7 am of your collection day. Weeks in which holidays fall, a specialty program is being carried out, a change in drivers due to vacation or illness and weather conditions all can be cause for the collection truck to come earlier than usual. If your cart is not out at the set out location when the collection vehicle arrives to collect your trash the driver notifies the office. You are allowed one (1) late set out; if you call and request collection of your trash AFTER the truck has been there, the office will notify the crew and an effort will be made to send them back that same day. It could be the next work day before they return to collect your properly prepared trash. However,  a second violation/late set out request to return for collection will require you to attach two $4 yellow trash tags to your cart with the lid fully closed and extra trash tagged, otherwise you will need to hold your trash until your next collection day and attach trash tags to any extra bagged trash that does not fit in your cart with the lid fully closed. Crews will NOT be sent back for chronic repeat offenses.

Once in a while staff does miss someone, so to report that your trash was missed send an email to wasterus@burlingtoniowa.org and provide your name and address and describe the problem.

5. I rent my home. Does the City provide trash collection?

The City serves single family homes and apartments, four-plex and under.

6. Where can I buy Trash Tags? How much do they cost?

TAGs typically cost $4 and are available at both Hy-Vee stores, Fareway, BS Mini Mart and  Gasland.

7. I forgot to set my trash out on time. What can I do?

Please remember that your trash must be set out before 7 a.m. of your collection day. If this is your first time reporting a late set out, you may  Send eMail , and provide your name and address and describe the problem. NOTE: Return trips and back-tracking are inefficient, and cost the department time and money. Residents repeatedly requesting a return trip to be made may be required to attach trash tags to their cart if back tracking is to be done or a return trip is to be made to collect the Late Set Out. 

8. What holidays alter my trash collection day?

There is no trash collection on the following observed holidays: New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Usually trash will be collected on the day following the holiday, then crews will go right into the next day’s route. They play catch-up until they are back to normal. Please note however, on those rare occasions where the holiday is on a FRIDAY, both Thursday and Friday’s trash will be collected on Thursday.  

The Solid Waste Information line has the current holiday pickup schedule. Please call (319)753-8114.

9. How do I dispose of construction or demolition material?

The Burlington Solid Waste Program generally does not accept construction or demolition material.  Construction, demolition or remodeling material like lumber from remodeling projects, bricks, stones, concrete, rubble, asphalt, shingles, siding, dry wall, flooring, tile, landscape timbers or railroad ties may be taken to the landfill any time of year for a fee ($53/ton), with the minimum charge being  $10.  An alternative to self-hauling, there are local private haulers with roll off container and dumpster services.

10. How do I dispose of a tire or car battery?

The landfill off of Washington Road has a paved drop off area and accepts self-hauled materials for a fee (319-753-8722) Solid Waste crews can collect tires and lead-acid batteries from Burlington Solid Waste customers. Tires require 2 Trash Tags for the first tire from a residence and 1 for each additional tire. This pertains to tires from motorcycles, cars or pick up trucks. We do not pick up tractor tires. Tires must be clean but they can be on or off the rim. Lead-acid batteries require 2 Trash Tags for collection. To get on the list for pick up, send an email to wasterus@burlingtoniowa.org provide your name, address, and telephone number.

11. How do I dispose of paint or spray paint?

If you have nearly full cans of paint, you may be able to donate them to an organization like a community theater, battered women's or homeless shelter. If you have a least ½ gallon of paint, it may be accepted at the HazChem Center for the swap shop. Oil-based or lead paint should be taken to the HazChem Center. Call 319-753-8758 for an appointment. Small quantities of spray paint should be sprayed onto a piece of cardboard until the can is empty. The can and the cardboard can both be thrown into the trash. However, the HazChem Center encourages residents to bring aerosol cans of all types, full or empty, for free disposal. Call 319-753-8758 for an appointment.  Paint cans will be picked up by garbage collection crews if the lid is off the can and the driver can see that the can is empty or the contents are dry or have been absorbed with material like saw dust, cat litter, or oil dry. Latex paint will dry by simply leaving the lid off the can.

12. How do I dispose of batteries?

Non-rechargeable alkaline and carbon zinc batteries, like those used in toys and flashlights may be thrown away in the trash. Rechargeable nickel cadmium batteries used in kitchen appliances, cordless phones, and power tools are recyclable and should be taken to the HazChem Center, Burlington Public Library, Lowes, Standard of Beaverdale or Staples. Button batteries like those used in hearing aids and watches are considered hazardous waste and should be taken to the HazChem Center. For your safety, materials are accepted at the HazChem Center by appointment only, so always call first! The number is 319-753-8758. Lead-acid batteries, like those from a vehicle are collected by Solid Waste crews from Solid Waste customers and require 2 Trash Tags. To get on the list for pick up, send an email to wasterus@burlingtoniowa.org and provide your name, address, and telephone number. If you prefer, you may take batteries to the landfill for a nominal fee. The number of the landfill is 319-753-8722.

13. How do I dispose of a propane tank or helium tank?

Due to their explosive nature, propane tanks from gas grills, or any type of pressurized tank (even helium tanks used for blowing up party balloons) will not be taken with the trash, and they are not accepted at the HazChem Center.  They may be taken to the Des Moines County Area Recyclers, 1818 West Burlington Ave, for free disposal. Solid Waste crews can collect pressurized tanks from Solid Waste customers for delivery to the Area Recyclers;  2 Trash Tags are required. To get on the list for pick up send an email to wasterus@burlingtoniowa.org  with your name, address and telephone number.

Area Recyclers

14. How do I dispose of old carpet?

Carpet will be picked up ONLY if it is cut into strips no more than 4' wide and each strip is tightly rolled and tied. Each roll must be tagged with a garbage TAG. You may take carpet directly to the Des Moines County Regional Landfill without cutting it up, but you will have to pay the landfill tipping fee for garbage. There is a minimum of $10. The number of the landfill is 319-753-8722.

15. Where is the landfill? What are the hours of operation?

The Des Moines County Regional Landfill and the HazChem Center are located off of Washington Road, northwest of West Burlington and has a paved drop off site for citizens. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. until noon. For your safety, an appointment is always necessary at the HazChem Center, so please call first. The number of the Hazchem Center is 319-753-8758. To reach the landfill from the intersection of Mt. Pleasant Street and Roosevelt Avenue, travel West through West Burlington on Mt. Pleasant Street to Washington Road which is ½ mile past Deery Brother's. Turn North on Washington Road and travel 1.3 miles to the entry road on the right to the landfill. All loads delivered to the landfill must be secured to prevent litter along the road. In most cases, this will require a tarp. Unsecured loads are charged a $10 surcharge. The Des Moines County Regional Landfill telephone number is 319-753-8722. 

16. Can I rent a large roll-off container or a dumpster from the City?

The City does not have containers available for rent. There are commercial haulers in town that offer this service. Floyd's EZ Way Container Service (319-752-5394);  LaVeine Sanitation Service (319-753-0405); Luxx Limited (319-572-7921) or Fisher Metals & Recycling (319-209-1143)

17. Who can I call if there is a problem with garbage at my neighbors?

Garbage and trash can create a nuisance.  Report a nuisance here, or call 319-753-8172.

18. Does the City pick up Christmas trees?

The City does NOT pick up Christmas trees. You may dispose of Christmas trees at the Des Moines County Regional Landfill free of charge if you show a recent water bill that indicates the line item “TRASH”. Trees must be free of wire, tinsel, and ornaments. 

WREATHS may be set out with your regular trash and will be picked up free of charge.

19. If I want to throw away furniture infested with bed bugs, will the Solid Waste crew take it?

Speaking to pest control professionals about your infestation is critical.  Disposal of furniture after professional treatment may not be necessary and can be expensive to replace.  There are mattress and box spring encasements specifically designed to help control bed bug problems.   In answer to the question, yes, but only if properly prepared and tagged.  The item must be enclosed in heavy-duty plastic sheeting such as a tarp or shrink wrap (rolls of shrink wrap are generally available at stores like Wal-Mart, Menards, Lowes, etc).  All seams must be taped using duct or box tape.  This should be done inside the house BEFORE moving items and placed at collection point as near the time is to be collected as possible.   Attach a sign or label "Bed Bugs- Do Not Take" to discourage scavengers and prevent spread of infestation.  Trash Tags may be required; call and leave a message on the Solid Waste Information line 319-753-8114 or send email to wasterus@burlingtoniowa.org.  

20. There is a dead animal in my yard. Who can I call?

The Solid Waste Department is the "go to" department to get a dead animal removed, BUT they generally DO NOT enter private property to pick up a dead animal; the animal must be in the City Right Of Way (typically in the street, along the curb or in the area between the sidewalk and the back of the curb).  In cooler weather or winter, City trash customers may, using a shovel or pair of rubber gloves, place a small dead animal into a tight-closing plastic garbage bag and place the bag in their trash cart for collection with their normal trash; doing so is acceptable and is by far the most efficient way to deal with a small dead animal, gag reflex notwithstanding.  If the citizen does not wish to deal with the issue, and the animal is in City ROW, whether a deer, raccoon, whistle pig, dog, polecat, opossum, rabbit or other creature, the Solid Waste Department will send a truck to collect the animal during their normal working hours.  Call with details 319-753-8114.

21. How can I dispose of unused prescriptions and over the counter medications?

The Burlington Police Department has a Drug Drop-Box located at 201 Jefferson Street.    Unwanted pharmaceuticals should be placed in a plastic bag.  Items accepted:  Prescription medications, patches, ointments, medication for pets, and over-the-counter drugs.   Syringes and inhales/aerosols are not accepted.  For more information of Sharps disposal Safe Disposal of Home Generated Medicine and Sharps (PDF)