Utility Providers in Des Moines, WA

Des Moines uses a strict user-fee system for overflowing waste. If you have an overwhelming mountain of moving boxes or extra trash bags that cannot physically fit inside your rolling cart with the lid closed entirely flat, you cannot just set them on the ground. You must purchase a pink $1 Extra Trash Sticker from local grocery stores (like Hy-Vee or Fareway) and stick it to each extra bag or box (max 40 lbs, max 2′ x 2′ x 3′).

To dispose of large, bulky items like furniture or old household appliances, you must purchase a pink $5 Large Item Sticker. Once the sticker is affixed facing the street, you must call the city at (515) 283-4950 at least 24 hours in advance to schedule a dedicated bulk pickup. If you put it out without calling to schedule, the truck will leave it on the curb.

Des Moines’s automated mechanical truck arms require precise orientation. Your cart must be placed within 18 inches of the curb with the front metal bar directly facing the street. Crucially, you must maintain a strict three-foot clearance from all stationary objects — including mailboxes, utility poles, and even your blue recycling cart. If your bins are placed too close together, the automated driver will skip your property.

DMWW utilizes a tiered volumetric pricing structure, but the biggest summer surprise for newcomers is the sewer surcharge. Because sewer fees are tied directly to your total metered water consumption, filling up a backyard pool or running a garden hose will artificially inflate your sewer bill. The city does not offer standard residential “irrigation meter” credits, so any water flowing through your main tap is billed as if it went straight down the drain.

Because Iowa is entirely regulated for residential electricity and natural gas, you do not have to worry about private alternative energy suppliers or aggressive door-to-door sales reps trying to switch your energy provider. Anyone claiming they can “lower your MidAmerican rate” by switching your core supply contract is a scammer. Your only path to a lower bill is enrolling in MidAmerican’s rolling Budget Billing or taking advantage of their free home energy audits.

Iowa state law strictly bans organic yard waste from entering standard landfills. From late March through December, Des Moines runs a dedicated yard waste collection on your regular trash day. You must place organic material loose inside an official MWA “Curb It” compost cart or packed inside heavy brown biodegradable paper yard bags featuring an official MWA yard waste sticker. Leaves placed in standard plastic garbage bags will be bypassed.