Garbage & Recycling Service

Updated for the new automated system effective May 1, 2025

What You Need to Know

The City of Clarence provides garbage and recycling services for all residential addresses. These services are transitioning to an automated collection system to improve efficiency and safety.

Residential Collection Service

City-Provided Containers

  • Each residence is provided with:
    • One 95-gallon garbage bin
    • One 95-gallon recycling bin (optional to request, but mandatory participation in the recycling program)
  • Containers remain the property of the City and must stay with the property if you move.
  • Lost, stolen, or damaged bins will be replaced at the owner/occupant’s expense ($150 per bin), unless damaged by the City or through normal wear and tear.

Container Use Guidelines

  • Garbage: Must be bagged before being placed in the bin.
  • Recycling: Must be placed loosely in the bin – do not bag or tie recyclables. Items should be:
    • Rinsed and clean
    • Cardboard flattened
    • Newspaper dry and uncontaminated

Collection Day Reminders

  • Place bins at the curb or street edge by 7:00 a.m. on collection day. Garbage is collected every Wednesday, and recycling is collected every other Tuesday. Please see the city calendar for the current schedule.
  • Do not place bins out more than 12 hours in advance, and remove them by the end of collection day.
  • Leave at least 3 feet of clearance on all sides of the bin.
  • Bin lids must be closed, and the handle should face your house (open side faces the street).

Extra Waste & Bulky Items

Extra Bags

  • Use only City-issued extra bag tags.
  • Tags must be permanently attached to the bag.
  • Each bag must weigh no more than 40 lbs.
  • Place on top of your garbage bin.

Bulky Items

  • Require one or more City-issued bulky item tags.
  • Place next to your garbage bin on collection day.
  • Tags are available at City Hall or authorized vendors.

Items NOT Accepted for Curbside Collection

Some items are prohibited from regular garbage collection and will not be picked up at the curb. These items can be dangerous, environmentally harmful, or require special handling.

❌ Do NOT place the following in your garbage or recycling bin:

  • Household hazardous waste (paint, solvents, pesticides, etc.)
  • Electronics (TVs, computers, monitors, printers)
  • Appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, etc.)
  • Tires
  • Batteries (especially lithium or car batteries)
  • Construction or demolition debris (drywall, wood, concrete, etc.)
  • Liquids of any kind
  • Yard waste (grass, branches, leaves – per City Ordinance, yard waste must be burned or composted on site and is not permitted in garbage collection)

Items not accepted at the curb may be taken to the Cedar County Transfer Station (please contact them in advance with any questions you may have):

Cedar County Transfer Station – https://cedarcounty.iowa.gov/solid_waste_commission/
1202 240th St, Tipton, IA 52772
(563) 886-6437

Recycling Guidelines

All residential properties in Clarence are required to participate in the City’s recycling program. Recyclables must be placed loosely (not in bags or tied) in the City-provided 95-gallon recycling bin.

What CAN Be Recycled:

Plastics

  • All hard plastics labeled #1 through #7 (e.g., bottles, tubs, jugs, milk jugs, detergent bottles, yogurt containers, etc.)
  • Must be rinsed and empty

Metals

  • Aluminum cans (e.g., soda)
  • Steel/tin food cans (e.g., soup, vegetables)
  • Must be clean and dry
  • You may leave labels on

Paper & Cardboard

  • Newspaper (must be dry)
  • Office paper, magazines, and mail
  • Cardboard boxes (flattened)
  • Paperboard (e.g., cereal and tissue boxes)

Glass

  • Clear, green, and brown bottles and jars
  • Must be rinsed and clean
  • Remove lids and caps (place them in the trash unless they’re metal)
  • You may leave labels on

❌ What CANNOT Be Recycled:

  • Plastic bags, films, or wraps (no grocery bags or shrink wrap)
  • Styrofoam (cups, packaging, or takeout containers)
  • Food-soiled items (e.g., greasy pizza boxes, dirty containers)
  • Diapers or personal hygiene items
  • Tanglers (hoses, wires, cords, or chains)
  • Chemically contaminated items (paint cans, motor oil bottles, etc.)
  • Glass other than bottles/jars (no window glass, mirrors, or dishware)
  • Batteries (should be disposed of or recycled in the proper way determined by battery type)

If your bin contains non-recyclable materials or improperly prepared items, your recyclables may not be collected.

Commercial, Industrial & Institutional Properties

  • May contract their own waste collection service.
  • Optional participation in City services is available (tote or dumpster-based), but service and equipment must meet City specifications.
  • Contact City Hall for more information on commercial options.

Billing Information

  • All accounts are billed monthly for garbage and recycling services.
  • For residential locations, charges apply regardless of whether the recycling bin is requested or used, as participation in the program is required by ordinance.
  • Rates are set by the City Council.

Violations

  • Containers not compliant with City rules will not be collected.
  • Bins left out past collection day may result in a violation.