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Cardboard Recycling in Iowa City, IA

Flattened cardboard goes in the blue-top curbside cart or free, 24/7, at East Side Recycling Center; cardboard is banned from the landfill.

See all 4 options
Stacked brown cardboard boxes
Illustrative item photographKadarius Seegars / Unsplash (opens in new tab)

Checked October 26, 2026 · Call before you go · How we check

4 ways to get rid of a cardboard in Iowa City

Tap an option to see the address, hours, cost and rules.

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  1. CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · Iowa CityNo haulingWe recycle it for youFrom $80.00
    How it works

    Book online, set out your cardboard and we’ll pick it up and recycle it for you. You see your price before you book and pay only after pickup.

    Book a pickup →

  2. East Side Recycling CenterDrop-off · 2401 Scott Blvd. SE, Iowa CityJohnson County residentsFree
    Where

    2401 Scott Blvd. SE
    Iowa City, IA 52240

    Hours

    Recycling containers available 24/7

    Cost & rules

    Cardboard

    AcceptedFree (documented)
    • Preparation: Flatten and cut to a maximum of two by two feet.

    Full details & sourcesOfficial site (opens in new tab)

  3. Iowa City Landfill and Recycling CenterCity service · Johnson CountyJohnson County residentsFree
    How it works

    City of Iowa City landfill and recycling center at 3900 Hebl Avenue SW (mailing address Iowa City; Census places it in Union township, unincorporated Johnson County). Open Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m.-noon. Recycles electronics, appliances, tires, scrap metal, cardboard and more for customers from Johnson County and the city limits of Kalona and Riverside. Phone 319-356-5185.

    Cost & rules
    • Open Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m.-noon; Johnson County, Kalona and Riverside only.
    • Before you go: Flatten and cut to a maximum of two by two feet.

    Official page (opens in new tab)

  4. Iowa City curbside recyclingCity service · Iowa CityIowa City residentsFees apply
    How it works

    Single-stream curbside recycling in 65-gallon blue-top carts for Iowa City homes up to 4 units, billed $8.50 per month on the utility bill.

    Cost & rules
    • Part of the $8.50 monthly curbside recycling charge.
    • Before you go: Flatten and cut to a maximum of two by two feet.

    Official page (opens in new tab)

Before you go

  1. Check whether you have corrugated boxes, coated packaging or mixed materials.
  2. Remove foam, plastic and other packing inserts.
  3. Flatten boxes and check quantity limits for your program.
More about cardboard

Iowa rules

More Iowa rules (7)
Where this information comes from (17)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

  • Iowa City Landfill (opens in new tab) · City of Iowa City
    • The Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center (3900 Hebl Avenue SW) serves Johnson County and the city limits of Kalona and Riverside, and cannot accept materials from outside that area. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Open Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m.-noon; closed City holidays and windy days. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Cardboard recycling is at no cost; flatten and cut pieces to two by two feet. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Curbside Collection (opens in new tab) · City of Iowa City
    • Corrugated cardboard goes in the blue-top recycling cart, flattened and cut to at most two by two feet. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Curbside recycling serves single-family homes up to 4-unit buildings for $8.50 per month on the utility bill. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • East Side Recycling Center (opens in new tab) · City of Iowa City
    • Programs serve residents and businesses in Johnson County and the city limits of Kalona and Riverside; materials from outside are not accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Cardboard, paper, glass, plastic, metal and oil recycling are in the parking lot and available 24/7 at no cost. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Flatten corrugated cardboard and size pieces to at most two by two feet. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Iowa DNR: Household Hazardous Materials (opens in new tab) · Iowa Department of Natural Resources
    • Iowa households can take household hazardous materials to Regional Collection Centers (RCCs); RCC services are free to residents within each RCC's service area. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • RCC services for eligible businesses carry a small fee. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • DNR tells residents to find their nearest RCC and schedule an appointment before dropping off hazardous materials. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • DNR says not to dump hazardous materials in ditches, pour them down drains or sewers, or put them in the trash. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Iowa DNR: Regional Collection Centers & Grants (opens in new tab) · Iowa Department of Natural Resources
    • Iowa has 28 main RCCs and 43 satellite facilities serving 96 of the state's counties. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Some counties are served by RCC mobile collection events run under contract with a main RCC; 29 counties have RCC mobile service. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Many RCCs run a Swap Shop where usable products can be dropped off for others to take at no charge. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • DNR publishes a county-by-county table of the RCC main and satellite facilities that serve each county. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Iowa Code chapter 455F: Household hazardous materials (opens in new tab) · Iowa Legislature (Legislative Services Agency)
    • Under Iowa Code chapter 455F, regional collection centers keep regular hours when the public may drop off hazardous materials. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.

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