City of Waterloo Public Works Sanitation Department

05/30/2026

Waterloo Sanitation Department Instituting Existing Cart Exchange Policy Effective June 1st, 2026:

The City of Waterloo Sanitation Department will begin implementing a $20 Cart Adjustment Fee for residential cart exchanges, removals, and additional cart deliveries after the initial delivery has been completed.

This fee will apply when the request is made for reasons other than normal damage or loss not caused by the household.

In cases where a garbage or yard waste container is damaged due to actions caused by the household, residents will be responsible for:

The cost of the replacement cart, plus
A $20 Cart Adjustment Fee

Residents will not be charged for repairs or replacement of carts that are damaged through normal use, equipment malfunction, or causes not related to customer actions. These repairs or replacements will continue to be provided free of charge.

The Sanitation Department appreciates the cooperation of Waterloo residents as these policies help offset operational and equipment costs while maintaining efficient service for the community.

For questions regarding cart services, residents may contact the Waterloo Sanitation Department during normal business hours.

05/26/2026

Holidays can be confusing when it comes to garbage collection. Are we getting serviced the day before or the day after?

Garbage collection can be very complicated scheduling around holidays and landfill closures. But you do not have to wonder anymore.

If you had the WATERLOO WYRE app installed on your smart device, you would receive a notification like this:

CURBSIDE RECYCLING COLLECTIONS WILL BE DELAYED 1 DAY THE REMAINDER OF THIS WEEK. MONDAY B WEEK RECYCLING WILL BE COLLECTED ON TUESDAY, MAY 26TH. PLEASE HAVE CARTS COMPLETELY CLOSED AND CURBSIDE BY 6 A.M.

Don't stay in the dark, get WYRE'd in so you never miss another collection!

05/25/2026

City of Waterloo Public Works Holiday Schedule – Memorial Day

The City of Waterloo Public Works Department will be closed on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. Due to the holiday closure, garbage and recycling collection schedules will be adjusted as follows:

Monday garbage routes will be postponed one day and collected together with Tuesday routes on Tuesday, May 26.
NO other collection days will be affected.

Recycling collection routes will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Republic Services collection will be Tuesday, the 26th through Saturday, the 30th.

There will be no curbside yard waste collection during the holiday week.

There will be NO BULK ITEM COLLECTION on Monday or Tuesday due to manpower needed for routes.

Residents are reminded that the yard waste/compost site will remain open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The City of Waterloo Sanitation Department appreciates residents’ patience and cooperation during the holiday schedule adjustment.

05/08/2026

Compost & Yard Waste Site Notice

The Compost/Yard Waste Site will now be verifying residency by checking driver’s licenses upon arrival. Staff will also inspect the contents of each load for approval before entry.

Once your yard waste load has been approved, attendants will direct you to the appropriate unloading area for disposal.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping keep the site safe, organized, and properly maintained.

05/06/2026

Our phone lines experienced a brief outage but have since been restored and are now fully operational. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Send a message to learn more

05/05/2026

Q: How come I am having trouble getting information regarding my collection?

A: Download the Waterloo WYRE app for FREE on the Apple and Google Play Stores. This is your direct connection to the Sanitation Dept. of Waterloo.
Not sure of your collection days? The app has reminders you can set.
Not sure how to get rid of something? The app has a Waste Wizard you can ask and get the answer.
Need to schedule a bulk item? You can schedule it through the app without leaving your home.

Don't have a smartphone, but I have a PC/tablet/laptop? You can access on the web right here:
https://www.cityofwaterlooiowa.com/departments/public_works/sanitation_department/index.php

Don't have a computer? You can still call our office and elect to have reminders called to you on your phone or emailed to you like the image of the email reminder in this post.

What about emergencies and route changes due to weather? Affected households signed up will receive a notification from our department of any changes!

Stay informed and get WYRE'D IN!

05/04/2026

Cameron Agan, a stormwater specialist for the City of Waterloo has been recognized with the 2026 Traveling Paddle Award, a statewide honor presented by the Iowa Storm Water Education Partnership (ISWEP) during its annual IStorm Conference.

The Traveling Paddle Award recognizes an innovative Iowa municipality demonstrating exceptional leadership in stormwater management and watershed protection. The City of Waterloo earned this distinction for its sustained leadership and impactful projects that improve water quality and reduce flooding risks.

Agan plays a key role in advancing these efforts, helping lead initiatives like the Sunnyside Wet Pond and Channel Improvements project. This project combines water quality treatment with flood control, including a 14-acre wet pond that treats runoff from a 375-acre drainage area and significantly reduces sediment along Sunnyside Creek.

The award was presented at the IStorm Conference held last month at the University of Northern Iowa, where stormwater professionals from across the Midwest gathered to share best practices and celebrate progress in water quality and watershed management.
Waterloo has long been an active partner with ISWEP, supporting training and collaboration efforts that benefit communities across Iowa.

04/29/2026

All the slots for the Spring Household Hazardous Waste Event are filled. Residents can monitor the registration page for cancellations. Do not show up without an appointment; you will be turned away.

Electronics can be recycled year-round at the Cedar Falls Transfer Station and Goodwill. For details, visit their websites. These options are open to all residents.

For Household Hazardous waste, options include using it as intended, checking with a friend or neighbor to see if they can use it, storing it until the August event, or solidifying and disposing of it with your normal trash.

Registration for the August HHW collection event will open in July.