Greater Des Moines apartment owners, asset managers, and on-site teams: avoid rental-certificate headaches and surprise citations while giving residents the clean, convenient valet trash & recycling experience they expect. National Doorstep designs valet trash & recycling programs that align with the City of Des Moines multifamily recycling mandate for 5+ unit communities and the multi-family recycling ordinances in key suburbs, helping you stay inspection-ready across the metro.
Within the City of Des Moines, multifamily properties with 5 or more dwelling units must provide residents with on-site recycling as a condition of their rental certificate. The City requires a written recycling plan, adequate container capacity, convenient placement and ongoing resident education under its Multifamily Recycling Guidelines and related provisions of Des Moines City Code Chapter 98 (Solid Waste). In nearby suburbs such as West Des Moines, Altoona, Pleasant Hill, and Ankeny, multi-family recycling is required through their own municipal recycling chapters, while Urbandale, Clive, Johnston, and Windsor Heights rely on Metro Waste Authority standards and general solid-waste codes to drive apartment recycling expectations.
- Protect NOI & Asset Value: Keep your property in good standing with Des Moines rental certificates and suburban multi-family recycling ordinances, and reduce risk of civil penalties or denied renewals.
- Resident-First Convenience: Doorstep collection keeps residents out of icy, dark enclosures, cuts trips to dumpsters, and supports renewals, online reputation, and word-of-mouth in competitive Des Moines submarkets.
- Code-Smart Design: Container layouts, labels, and service frequencies built around Des Moines’ 5+ unit mandate and suburban Chapter 107 / municipal recycling requirements instead of guesswork.
- Hands-Off Compliance: We coordinate with licensed haulers, support your recycling plans and documentation, and provide resident education that mirrors Metro Waste Authority guidance and city code language.
At a Glance: City of Des Moines vs. Greater Des Moines Suburbs
City of Des Moines (Inside City Limits)
- Mandate Type: Mandatory recycling for multifamily properties.
- Applicability Threshold: Applies to multifamily dwellings with 5 or more units under the City’s multifamily recycling ordinance and Multifamily Recycling Guidelines (Five Unit or More).
- Property Manager Duties: Provide adequate on-site recycling capacity, locate bins as conveniently as trash, contract with a licensed hauler, and provide move-in and annual resident education.
- Enforcement: Recycling compliance is tied directly to the rental certificate process – failure to comply can delay or jeopardize rental certificate issuance/renewal.
- Key City Links: Des Moines City Code – Chapter 98 Solid Waste · Five Unit or More Multifamily Recycling Guidelines (PDF) · City Letter to Multifamily Owners re: Recycling (PDF)
Core Suburbs (West Des Moines, Altoona, Pleasant Hill, Ankeny)
- Mandate Type: Mandatory multi-family recycling through city municipal-recycling or multi-family recycling chapters.
- Applicability Threshold: Applies to multi-family dwellings not on single-family cart service (typically 3+ or 5+ units using dumpsters or shared toters).
- Property Manager Duties: Provide dedicated recycling containers, ensure enough capacity between collections, give every unit access, and arrange collection by a licensed hauler serving the Metro Waste Authority region.
- Enforcement: Multi-family recycling is enforced through biannual inspections, complaint-driven inspections, and general municipal infraction penalty frameworks.
- Key Suburban Code Links:
West Des Moines – Chapter 6 Municipal Recycling · Altoona – Chapter 107 Recycling for Multi-Family Units · Pleasant Hill – Chapter 107 Multi-Family Recycling · City of Ankeny – Municipal Recycling Info
Greater Des Moines Cities & Apartment Recycling Mandates
Several core Greater Des Moines jurisdictions now have explicit multi-family recycling requirements, while others rely on Metro Waste Authority standards, general solid-waste codes, and hauler contracts. Use this table as a quick reference when you operate across multiple cities and counties.
| City / Jurisdiction | Apartment Recycling Mandate? | Notes for Property Managers & Owners |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | Yes – Mandatory recycling for 5+ units |
Multifamily buildings and complexes with 5 or more units must provide on-site recycling for residents. Compliance is enforced via the rental certificate process, backed by the City’s Multifamily Recycling Guidelines and Chapter 98 Solid Waste. Property managers must provide adequate container capacity, convenient locations, a licensed hauler, and documented resident education. Key local links: Des Moines Code – Solid Waste · Multifamily Recycling Guidelines (PDF) |
| West Des Moines | Yes – Municipal recycling mandate for multi-family |
Under Title 4, Chapter 6 – Municipal Recycling, multi-family dwellings are subject to city recycling rules. Owners must ensure each dwelling has access to recycling containers and that containers can hold all recyclables between collections. The City ties recycling compliance into multi-family inspections and authorizes civil penalties, including a per-dwelling monthly penalty for non-compliance and additional fines for unauthorized collection of recyclables. Key local links: West Des Moines – Chapter 6 Municipal Recycling |
| Altoona | Yes – Chapter 107 Recycling for Multi-Family Units |
Chapter 107 establishes a mandatory recycling program for multi-family dwellings not served by existing residential recycling programs. Property owners must provide facilities for source separation and arrange collection through a recycling facility. Multi-family dwellings (more than two units) must have sufficient containers, kept clean and clearly marked for recycling. Enforcement includes inspection and municipal infraction penalties, with additional fines for unauthorized collection. Key local links: Altoona – §107.03 Establishment of Recycling Program · Altoona – Chapter 107 Overview |
| Pleasant Hill | Yes – Chapter 107 Multi-Family Recycling |
Pleasant Hill’s Chapter 107 Multi-Family Recycling requires multi-family dwellings not on single-family cart service to provide on-site recycling containers, ensure adequate capacity, and arrange for regular collection. Violations are enforceable as municipal infractions under Chapter 4, with civil penalties consistent with Iowa law. Inspections may be tied to property and code-enforcement visits. Key local links: Pleasant Hill – Chapter 107 Multi-Family Recycling · Pleasant Hill – Code of Ordinances |
| Ankeny | Yes – Municipal recycling duties for multifamily |
Ankeny’s municipal recycling chapter places specific duties on owners of multifamily dwellings to provide and maintain enough containers for designated recyclables and to ensure each dwelling unit has access. Containers must be durable, watertight, clearly marked for recycling, and located so they do not block sidewalks, driveways, or entrances. Violations can be treated as municipal infractions with civil penalties. Key local links: City of Ankeny – Solid Waste & Recycling |
| Urbandale | No dedicated apartment mandate – strong regional expectation |
Urbandale participates in the Metro Waste Authority “Curb It!” program for single-family and duplex properties. Apartments are typically treated as commercial accounts that contract with private haulers. While there is no separate apartment recycling chapter, Metro Waste Authority guidance states that most cities expect apartments to offer recycling, and Urbandale enforces solid-waste, nuisance, and hauler rules that impact multifamily operations. Key local links: City of Urbandale – Solid Waste & Recycling · Metro Waste Authority – Apartments & Townhomes |
| Clive | Partial – strong single-family program, multi-family encouraged |
Clive has a mandatory curbside recycling program for single-family and duplex homes under its recycling chapter, administered through Metro Waste Authority. Multi-family properties are encouraged to offer recycling through private hauler contracts but are not under a separate, apartment-specific mandate. Property managers should still design programs to prevent overflow and nuisance conditions in enclosures and align with MWA material guidelines. Key local links: City of Clive – Trash & Recycling · Metro Waste Authority – Regional Programs |
| Johnston | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Johnston offers curbside Curb It! recycling to single- and two-family homes, but multi-family communities are generally treated as commercial accounts working with private haulers. There is no separate multi-family recycling ordinance with unit thresholds and penalties; however, properties are still subject to solid-waste and property maintenance standards around container management and cleanliness. Key local links: City of Johnston – Trash & Recycling · Metro Waste Authority |
| Windsor Heights | No codified apartment mandate – regional recycling expectation |
Windsor Heights participates in Metro Waste Authority programs, and residents are directed to MWA for trash and recycling information. Apartments are handled as commercial customers contracting with private haulers. While there is no stand-alone apartment recycling ordinance, Metro Waste Authority promotes recycling for apartments and townhomes, and local nuisance/solid-waste rules still apply to enclosures and container areas. Key local links: City of Windsor Heights – Garbage & Recycling · MWA – Apartments & Townhomes Guide |
| Metro Waste Authority / Regional Context | Regional standards, not a direct mandate to owners |
Metro Waste Authority provides regional recycling processing, Curb It! cart programs, and guidance for apartments and townhomes across Polk County and the Des Moines metro. Its contamination, preparation, and accepted-materials standards heavily influence what city codes and inspectors expect to see on-site. Property managers should design programs that match MWA’s accepted materials (paper, cardboard, plastics, metals, glass) and avoid contaminants like plastic bags in recycling. Key regional links: Metro Waste Authority – Home |
Greater Des Moines Fines & Penalties Snapshot
- Des Moines – Rental Certificate Leverage: For 5+ unit properties, failure to implement an approved recycling plan and on-site program can be treated as grounds for denial or non-renewal of the rental certificate. This is often a more serious business risk than a one-time fine.
- Municipal Infraction Penalties (Iowa law): In most Greater Des Moines cities, violations of solid-waste or recycling chapters are handled as municipal infractions, with civil penalties that can reach hundreds of dollars per violation, and higher for repeat offenses.
- West Des Moines – Per-Dwelling & Unauthorized Collection: West Des Moines can assess a monthly civil penalty per dwelling unit on non-compliant multi-family properties and separate fines (e.g., $100–$1,000 per offense) for unauthorized collection of recyclables.
- Altoona & Pleasant Hill – Chapter 107 Enforcement: Both cities enforce multi-family recycling under Chapter 107, using inspections and municipal infraction penalties, and may also penalize unauthorized scavenging or improper storage of recyclables.
- Risk Management Tip: Across the metro, the safest strategy is to treat multi-family recycling as a required utility service wherever you operate, document your program, and ensure your valet trash & recycling partner can demonstrate alignment with local code and Metro Waste Authority standards.
Des Moines Metro Multifamily Recycling Compliance Checklist
| Task | Action / Requirement | Helpful Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm City & Unit Count | Identify which Greater Des Moines city your property is in and confirm your total dwelling units. In the City of Des Moines, 5+ units triggers the mandatory multifamily recycling requirement tied to your rental certificate. In West Des Moines, Altoona, Pleasant Hill, and Ankeny, multi-family recycling is required under their own municipal recycling chapters. |
Des Moines – Chapter 98 Solid Waste West Des Moines – Chapter 6 Municipal Recycling Altoona – Chapter 107 Multi-Family Recycling |
| ☑ Engage a Licensed Recycling Hauler | Confirm that your current vendor is authorized to provide recycling in your jurisdiction and that recycling is explicitly included in your contract. In Des Moines, 5+ unit properties must use an approved hauler and document service levels in their recycling plan. In suburbs, multi-family programs must be designed to match city code and Metro Waste Authority requirements. |
Metro Waste Authority – Service & Hauler Info National Doorstep – Valet Trash & Recycling |
| ☑ Right-Size Capacity & Enclosure Layout | Provide enough recycling container volume to handle typical resident usage between pickups, and locate recycling as conveniently as trash (or at valet pickup stations). Make sure containers are labeled, accessible, and do not block fire lanes, sidewalks, or building entrances. |
Des Moines – Multifamily Recycling Guidelines (PDF) The Recycling Partnership – Multifamily Toolkit |
| ☑ Create & Maintain a Written Recycling Plan | Document your hauler, container sizes, collection frequency, accepted materials, enclosure layout, and resident education plan. In Des Moines, this written plan supports rental certificate compliance. In surrounding cities, it demonstrates good-faith adherence to Chapter 107 / municipal recycling expectations. | Request Help Drafting a Recycling Plan |
| ☑ Resident Education & Signage | Provide residents with clear instructions at move-in and at least annually: what can be recycled, where to set out materials (valet or enclosure), and contamination no-nos (especially no plastic bags in recycling). Reinforce with signage at mail kiosks, lobbies, elevators, and digital channels. | Metro Waste Authority – What’s Recyclable? |
| ☑ Document Inspections, Service & Issues | Keep a simple file with service logs, photos, inspection notes, notices to residents, and hauler contracts. This documentation helps if a city inspector, lender, or owner asks how you are complying with Des Moines or suburban multi-family recycling rules. | Schedule a Free Compliance Audit |
Need to get your Greater Des Moines property inspection-ready? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Des Moines-area community. We’ll review your current setup, align service with Des Moines and suburban multi-family recycling requirements, design a resident-friendly valet trash & recycling program, and prepare the inspector-ready documentation you need across the metro.
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