Preparing Yard Debris for Curbside Collection

Yard debris in YARDY carts is collected curbside on your normal collection day year round.

The purpose of the YARDY collection system is to provide a more convenient method of yard debris management for our customers, to permit the collection of additional organic materials curbside for composting, and to minimize worker injuries and workers' compensation costs.

Learn More:

• Acceptable Yard Debris and Organic Items for the YARDY Cart
• Setting Out and Maintaining the YARDY Cart
• Preparing Brush
• Preparing Branches
• Dealing with Yard Debris Overflow
• Christmas Tree Collection

Video Clip

Watch as a YARDY cart is collected curbside by a City truck.



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Acceptable Items for the YARDY Cart

The following types of debris may be placed in the YARDY cart for curbside collection:

• Yard Debris
• Tree Debris
• Brush Debris

• Fruit Debris
• Wood Debris
• Lawn Debris

• Vegetable Garden Debris
• Other Organic Debris

See More Details about Acceptable Yard Debris and Organic Items

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Setting Out & Maintaining the YARDY Cart

Filled, the YARDY cart must not weigh more than 250 lbs., and the YARDY cart must be set out with the arrows facing the street. Please keep the YARDY cart 3 feet away from other collection containers and obstructions. The YARDY cart is vented to permit airflow in it, thus providing the opportunity to set it out every other week if desired.

Each YARDY cart is owned by the Solid Waste & Recycling Services Department and must remain at the property where it was issued. Residents can purchase additional carts for $50.00 each by calling our office at (319) 286-5897. We will deliver the additional cart(s) to your home and apply the charge to your water bill. Purchased carts belong to the purchaser.

Cautions

• Grass leachate/ooze will stain your driveway if it is not hosed off immediately.
  
• The YARDY cart will smother and damage any grass area it is left on. Set the YARDY cart on a paved or gravel area, patio stones, or in a flower bed.
  
• The YARDY cart may smell if stored in an enclosed area. You may want to consider leaving your cart outside the garage.
  
• Wash/rinse the YARDY cart out periodically to reduce odors and remove stuck materials.
  
• Due to automated collection, the YARDY cart must be set out with the arrows on the lid facing the street.
  
• Please keep the YARDY cart 3 feet away from other collection containers or obstructions.
• YARDY lid MUST be closed for collection.
• DO NOT place hot or warm ashes into YARDY.  If cart is melted or burnt property owner is responsible for buying a replacement.
  

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Preparing Branches

• Brush must be bundled and tied with biodegradable twine or cord (no wire or nylon cord).
  
• Bundles must not be larger than 3 feet long by 2 feet in diameter.
  
• Bundles must weigh less than 40 lbs.
  
• Place bundled brush beside the YARDY cart.
  

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Preparing Brush

• All branches must be less than 5 inches in diameter and less than 3 feet long.
  
• Branches must be bundled and tied with biodegradable twine or cord (no wire or nylon cord).
  
• Bundles must be no larger than 3 feet long by 2 feet in diameter.
  
• Bundles must weigh less than 40 lbs.
  
• Place bundled branches beside YARDY.
  

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Dealing with Yard Debris Overflow

The City is aware that leaves pose a problem for some residents in the fall . YARDY must be used first for all yard waste collection even during fall leaf collection. The preferred method is to mulch your leaves with your lawn mower or leaf vacuum and set YARDY out weekly in the Fall rather than raking leaves into the gutter.

A second option is to use brown Kraft paper bags to collect excess leaves in the Fall and then set those bags out in addition to YARDY on your collection day. A 40 lbs. weight limit applies to each Kraft paper bag of leaves.

Plastic bags of yard waste will not be collected.

Please note: City crews will not collect yard debris set out in Kraft paper bags or garbage cans. The only current exceptions are:

• Bundled brush and branches.
• Bagged leaves set out during the Fall Leaf Collection Program.

Residents can purchase additional YARDY carts for $50.00 each by calling our office at (319) 286-5897. We will deliver the additional cart(s) to your home and apply the charge to your water bill.

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Christmas Tree Collection

Un-flocked Christmas Trees are collected on your regular collection day and will be collected when you decide to set it out, before or right after Christmas or later in the spring.

Trees must be cut into 3 foot lengths and be free of all tree decorations, decoration hangers, tinsel, nails and plastic tree bags. Trees must be easy to move, NOT stuck to the ground or frozen into snow banks.

Un-flocked Christmas Trees can also be dropped off at the Bertram Access Parking lot of the Indian Creek Nature Trail. Trees are only accepted until the 3rd week in January. The trees are chipped and the mulch used to resurface some of their nature trails.

Flocked Christmas trees are NOT recyclable and will be collected with your garbage. Trees must be cut in half and currently do not require the City of Cedar Rapids $1.25 garbage tag.

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