Frequently Asked Questions

The City of Ankeny offers free mulch and compost to Ankeny residents and businesses during the spring and summertime.

The mulch and compost are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week outside the fence of the City Maintenance Facility, located at 211 SE Lorenz Drive.

The mulch comes from wood and yard clippings that are dropped off and chipped during the City's tree and branch recycling events. The mulch is rough and has not been dyed; however, it is still effective at retaining moisture and preventing weeds around trees and plantings.

The compost is made from the wood chips and leaves the City collects during leaf collection days in the fall. The City periodically turns the compost pile with heavy equipment. The natural organic processes raise the temperature of the material but we do not add any artificial heat or cook the compost.

Ankeny offers subscription garbage collection, each resident contracts individually with a private garbage hauler. The following companies provide residential services in Ankeny:

Residential Garbage Haulers

• Ankeny Sanitation 515-964-5229
• Aspen Waste Systems, Inc. 515-974-1600
• Garbage Guys 515-707-3866
• Walters Sanitary Service, 515-432-2866
• Waste Connections of Iowa, Inc. 515-265-7374
• Waste Management of Iowa 515-265-5267

Residents should contact the above companies for information on:

• Start and stop service
• Garbage collection rates
• Pickup days and times
• Yard waste collection and fees
• Large item (furniture, appliances, etc.) and extra trash pickup procedures and fees
• Special pickup for elderly or disabled residents
• Missed collection
• Request an extra cart, cart repair

Metro Waste Authority's Curb It! program provides each residential household in MWA's service area a 96-gallon cart with automated collection with every other week pickup. For those who generate less trash, 48-gallon carts are available. Requests for the smaller carts can be made by calling 515-24-GREEN. An exchange fee may apply. Check the lid on your cart for the pickup schedule in your area, and be sure to set your cart out by 7 a.m.

Items Accepted

• Cardboard
• Mixed Paper
• Newspapers
• Paper Food Cartons
• Plastic Containers
• Shredded Paper 
• Tin and Aluminum Cans

Items Not Accepted

• Food-contaminated material    
• Garbage or yard debris    
• Plastic bags or containers with motor oil or other hazardous materials

For more information about card placement, large recycling quantities or more, please contact Metro Waste Authority at 515-244-0021.

The City of Ankeny and the Public Works department host a variety of recycling and clean-up events throughout the year.