The Johnston Brief
Good news for new Johnston residents: you don't have to shop for a trash company. The city already arranges it, it shows up on your water bill, and your pickup day comes down to one street. Here's exactly how it works - your day, the recycling rules, and yard waste.
Johnston arranges your trash and recycling for you through Metro Waste Authority, billed on your city water bill - no private hauler to hire. Your day depends on NW 86th Street: west = Monday, east = Tuesday, with recycling the same day. Carts out by 6 a.m. Recycling runs through MWA's Curb It program.
Yes - and it's simpler than in some neighboring suburbs. The City of Johnston arranges curbside collection of garbage and recycling through Metro Waste Authority (MWA), and the charge is folded into your monthly city water bill. You don't sign a contract with a private company or juggle a separate invoice; when you set up your city utilities, trash service comes with it.
Your collection day is set by which side of NW 86th Street you live on. Recycling is collected the same day as your garbage.
Not sure which side you're on, or live near the line? Look up your address on the Metro Waste Authority Johnston page, or call the city. Holiday weeks can shift your day - see our holiday trash delay guide.
Carts stay with the house. If yours is missing or damaged when you move in, contact the city or MWA to sort out a replacement.
Recycling is coordinated by Metro Waste Authority through its Curb It program. Rinse containers before they go in the cart - you don't need to peel labels. Accepted items include:
Plastic bags, foam, food-soiled containers, and hoses tangle or contaminate the load. If you're unsure whether something belongs in the cart, check the Curb It recycling guidelines or call MWA at 515-244-0021 - tossing "hopeful" items in does more harm than good.
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Johnston participates in MWA's Compost It yard waste program alongside Curb It. A few rules worth knowing:
Branches shouldn't exceed about 2 inches in diameter, and the MWA rule of thumb on food scraps is simple: if it was served on a plate, it goes in the trash, not yard waste. The city also runs a seasonal Spring Cleanup for larger items - watch cityofjohnston.com and the Brief for dates.
Once your City of Johnston water/utility account is active, garbage and recycling collection comes with it and appears on your bill. If there's no cart at the house, contact the city or MWA (515-244-0021) for one.
Contact Metro Waste Authority at 515-244-0021 about the collection itself, or the Johnston Utilities Clerk at 515-727-7772 for billing questions.
No - garbage collection is included on your monthly City of Johnston water bill, not billed by a private hauler.
Holiday trash delays · Setting up utilities · Is the water safe to drink? · Moving to Johnston