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City storm cleanup guide

Do you have debris that needs cleaned up following last week's severe weather? Here's a guide to how your city's resources.

IOWA, USA — Due to the severe weather that occurred on Monday, many cities around the state are offering tree and debris pick-ups and drop-offs. 

Below is a guide offering details on what each city is offering.

Ankeny

City of Ankeny is offering tree and branch drop off for residents starting Tuesday Aug. 11 at 8 a.m. through 4 p.m. Saturday, August 15th. The drop off location is at located at the Prairie Ridge Aquatic Center parking lot, 1220 NW Prairie Ridge Drive.

Curbside pickup will be offered beginning Wednesday, August 12th. Trees and branches should be placed in the right-of-way only. Please keep sidewalks clear. Trees must have a trunk size no larger than 18" in diameter and branches should be no smaller than 1" in diameter.

Altoona

City brush drop-off, located just west of the Altoona Aquatics Park at 1200 Venbury Drive, will be left open around the clock for residents to drop-off branches and logs. No commercial vehicles will be allowed.

Curbside pickup will occur on Monday, August 17th. Debris must be placed at the curb by 6 a.m.

Clive

Curbside collection for residents will begin later this week. Residents should have their debris at their curb no later than 7:00 a.m. Monday, August 17. 

Residents can begin cutting up large trunks and limbs and moving debris to the area in front of their homes between the sidewalk and curb.  Tree trunks and limbs must be no longer than 8 feet and 18 inches in diameter. Tree debris should be stacked parallel to the street and away from hydrants, mailboxes, and utility boxes. Residents should place plant material in a yard waste bag or appropriate cart and put it on the curb on their next regular collection day. 

Updates will be shared on cityofclive.com.

Des Moines

The sticker requirement for curbside yard waste collection has been waived for two weeks. Storm debris left at the curb by residents will need to meet the guidelines for our yard waste collection program. 

  • Sticker requirements for collecting yard waste have been waived for two weeks following the storm.
  • Tree branches must be placed on City right-of-way “parallel” to the curb. The placement of branches the same direction as the street and/or sidewalk allows mechanical equipment to load the material efficiently and minimize damage to the right-of-way. City crews will only be collecting material that is placed at the edge of the street.
  • Branches cannot exceed 18 inches in diameter or eight feet in length.
  • Branches that are too long will be left behind. For removing a whole non-public tree from private property, hiring a private contractor is required.
  • Residents are encouraged to utilize the Metro Waste Authority Compost-It! program for smaller debris that is typically handled by this program. Bags and bundles will be collected on the regularly scheduled collection day.
  • Garden vegetation and incidental trimming and branches from trees not damaged from the storm should not be placed out for collection. Put in bags or bundles for collection on your regular collection day.
  • Tree branches should not be placed near fire hydrants, mailboxes, utilities or any other item in the right-of-way which could be damaged by equipment during the collection.
  • No tree material from work done by private contractors should be placed on the right-of-way for collection. Contractors are required to haul away any tree debris that is a result of their work.

Free disposal will also be available for residents to drop-off debris this Saturday, August 15 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the MWA Compost Center located at 1601 Harriett St.

Grimes

Downed tree branches should be placed near the curb (parallel to the curb). Public works will be picking them up this week.

Tree branches may also be taken to the Public Works facility at 1700 SE Destination DR.

Johnston

The curbside collection of storm-related trees and branches will begin on Monday, August 17. All material must be placed on the curb by 6:00 a.m. and meet the following guidelines:

Branches and trees cannot exceed 18-inches in diameter or six feet in length

To avoid damage, please do not place storm debris next to fire hydrants, street signs, or mailboxes.

You can drop off your tree branches and debris beginning 8 a.m. on Wednesday, August 12th through Friday, August 14th. The drop-off location is at Terra Park, 6400 Pioneer Parkway.

Newton

City of Newton residents will be able to place tree debris on the curb and the public works crews will pick it up. It could take several weeks for the crews to pick them up, but it will be picked up at no cost. Debris should be cut down and be no longer than 6 feet; please pile at the end of your property parallel to the street.

Norwalk

The city put together a "one-time curbside storm debris pickup and drop-off" program. All collection begins next Monday, August 17 and 6 a.m. Here are the guidelines the city says you need to follow: 

  • Tree branches must be placed on City right-of-way “parallel” to the curb. The placement of branches in the same direction as the street and/or sidewalk allows mechanical equipment to load the material efficiently and minimize damage to the right-of-way. Crews will not be collecting material that is on private property.
  • Branches cannot exceed 18 inches in diameter or 8 feet in length.
  • Residents are encouraged to utilize the Metro Waste Authority Compost-It! program for smaller debris that is typically handled by this program.
  • Garden vegetation and incidental trimming and branches from trees not damaged from the storm should not be placed out for collection.
  • Tree branches should not be placed in close proximity to fire hydrants, mailboxes, utilities or any other items in the right-of-way which could be damaged by equipment during the collection.
  • No tree material from work done by private contractors should be placed on the right-of-way for collection. Contractors are required to haul away any tree debris that is a result of their work.

Pleasant Hill

The city will begin debris clean up Tuesday, August 11 through Monday, August 17. Place limbs on your curb in order to have them picked up.

They are operating the street sweeper to clean debris from the streets, as well.

Urbandale

Curbside collection of storm-related tree damage will begin immediately.  In order to take advantage of this free collection, place your materials at the curb prior to Monday, August 17. 

Residents must follow these guidelines for collection:

  • Tree branches must be placed on City right-of-way “parallel” to the curb. The placement of branches the same direction as the street and/or sidewalk allows mechanical equipment to load the material efficiently and minimize damage to the right-of-way. Crews will not be collecting material that is on private property.
  • Branches cannot exceed 18 inches in diameter or 12 feet in length.
  • Residents are encouraged to utilize the Metro Waste Authority Compost-It! program for smaller debris that is typically handled by this program.
  • Garden vegetation and incidental trimming and branches from trees not damaged from the storm should not be placed out for collection.
  • Tree branches should not be placed in close proximity to fire hydrants, mailboxes, utilities or any other item in the right-of-way which could be damaged by equipment during the collection.
  • No tree material from work done by private contractors should be placed on the right-of-way for collection. Contractors are required to haul away any tree debris that is a result of their work.

If you don't want to do curbside pickup, the city is opening the Public Works Facility beginning Friday, August 14 through Thursday, August 27 daily from 7 am to 7 pm. There you'll find roll-off dumpsters for your storm debris.

Waukee

Public Works will begin clean up on Tuesday, August 11 through Friday, August 14. Tree debris must be placed with the 'public right-of-way' in order to be collected. The right-of-way is the grassy area between the back of the curb and the front of the sidewalk. Debris not placed within the right-of-way will not be removed.

West Des Moines

Curbside collection will begin on Monday, August 17. All debris must be placed out for collection by 6 a.m. and must follow these guidelines: 

Tree branches must be placed on City right-of-way "parallel" to the curb. The placement of branches the same direction as the street and/or sidewalk allows mechanical equipment to load the material efficiently and minimize damage to the right-of-way. Crews will not be collecting material that is on private property. Branches cannot exceed 18 inches in diameter or 8 feet in length.

Residents are encouraged to utilize the Metro Waste Authority Compost It! program for smaller debris that is typically handled by this program.

Windsor Heights

Residents of Windsor Heights are encouraged to place damaged tree limbs or other storm related vegetation debris along the "public right-of-way" to be collected. The right-of-way is the grassy area between the back of the curb and the front of the sidewalk.

Debris not placed within the right-of-way will not be removed. Storm debris should be cut into sections no longer than 4-foot in length. Debris over 4-inches in diameter need to be in a separate pile.

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