Local service guide
Des Moines yard cleanup: hiring and disposal
Arrange yard cleanup in Des Moines by deciding who will remove the debris before you compare quotes. Ask for separate prices for cleanup labor and contractor haul-away. If you plan to transport the material yourself, the city offers free SCRUB drop-offs for residents, but prohibits commercial haulers. Agree on the disposal plan, areas to clear, and finished condition before booking. [1] [2]
Define the cleanup before asking for prices
Send prospective crews photos of the lawn, garden beds, debris piles, and access route. Describe the work you want: collecting leaves, gathering fallen twigs, removing garden waste, or clearing a particular overgrown area. Mark plants and beds you want the crew to leave alone. Ask the contractor to identify exclusions before accepting the quote.
Describe the finish you expect. You might want leaves gathered into a loading area, debris removed from the property, or a final sweep of paths and the driveway. Specify whether the crew should supply containers, load your vehicle, or bring its own hauling equipment. Treat pruning, tree work, chemical treatments, and unrelated rubbish removal as separate requests for the contractor to assess.
Compare quotes for the same work
Ask each contractor to quote the same areas and disposal arrangement. Request a total that identifies labor, loading, hauling, disposal charges, and any applicable taxes. For an hourly offer, ask how the contractor counts crew time and whether you can set a spending limit. Agree on how the contractor will seek approval for extra work.
Obtain written quotes for your property. Ask about insurance, equipment access, payment timing, and responsibility for damage. Compare the total scope as well as the amount, especially if one contractor leaves piles for you and another includes removal. Have each crew state where it will leave or take the debris so you can choose an arrangement you can manage.
Des Moines prohibits commercial haulers from using SCRUB and directs them to use the landfill. If a contractor includes haul-away, ask where it will take the load and whether the price includes disposal. Do not build a contractor quote around the city's free resident drop-off. [2]
Plan resident drop-off around the material and vehicle
For SCRUB yard debris, use the City of Des Moines Compost Center at 1601 Harriet Street. The city lists loose leaves, grass clippings, garden waste, brush, and tree trimmings among accepted materials. It limits tree limbs to 24 inches in diameter or less and a maximum length of 10 feet. Separate household rubbish from the yard-debris load. [2]
Bring a photo ID or current utility bill as proof of Des Moines residency. The city accepts cars, pickups, and qualifying small trailers. Trailers must have a single axle, measure no more than 12 feet long and 6.6 feet wide, and have sides no higher than 4 feet. The city prohibits dump box trailers of any size. [2]
Plan to unload your own vehicle within 15 minutes and follow staff directions. The city warns that participation can cause delays and reserves the right to refuse unacceptable loads. Before hiring labor for a resident-managed drop-off, check that you can transport and unload the resulting material using an eligible vehicle. [2]
Schedule the work and agree on a weather fallback
As of October 11, the dated 2026 SCRUB calendar lists October 17 and November 21 drop-offs at both the Compost Center and Metro Central Transfer Station, from 7 AM to 2 PM. Use the dated calendar when planning: the page's introductory next-event banner still refers to September 19. Check with Public Works before committing to a trip. [1]
If you intend to use one of those events, ask the crew to finish before your planned loading and departure time. Allow for your own loading, travel, and unloading. Discuss where the crew should leave material if the cleanup finishes before you can transport it, and agree on a fallback if either appointment changes.
Iowa State University's report records 14.50 inches of precipitation at the DSM station in September 2026. That observation does not establish whether your lawn is wet today. Walk the access route with the contractor, point out soft ground, and discuss hand carrying or rescheduling if you do not want equipment crossing it. [3]
DSM station precipitation before fall cleanup
Local details that affect your job
Free resident disposal changes the hiring scope
SCRUB serves Des Moines residents and excludes commercial haulers. Choose a labor-only arrangement with your own eligible transport if you want to use the resident program. For contractor haul-away, request the disposal destination and charges in writing; the city directs commercial haulers to the landfill. [2]
Yard debris has a separate SCRUB destination
Take SCRUB yard debris to 1601 Harriet Street. The guidelines assign trash and bulk items to Metro Central Transfer Station and MEGA SCRUB locations. If your cleanup includes both garden waste and household rubbish, plan separate destinations rather than assuming one mixed load will qualify. [2]
Two dated fall opportunities remain on the calendar
The city lists October 17 and November 21, 2026, from 7 AM to 2 PM for Compost Center and Transfer Station SCRUB drop-offs. Neither date lists a MEGA SCRUB event. The guidelines offer household hazardous waste disposal only at neighborhood MEGA SCRUB events, so arrange another disposal plan for leftover pesticides or similar chemicals. [1] [2]
Choose a cleanup and disposal arrangement
| Your situation | Arrangement to request | Local check |
|---|---|---|
| You can transport and unload the debris | Cleanup labor with material gathered for your vehicle | SCRUB requires Des Moines residency proof and an eligible vehicle. |
| You want the crew to remove everything | Cleanup with hauling and disposal included | Commercial haulers cannot use SCRUB; confirm their landfill disposal plan. |
| You have leaves mixed with household rubbish | Separate yard debris and trash during cleanup | SCRUB accepts yard debris only at the Harriet Street Compost Center. |
| You plan an October or November resident drop-off | Schedule cleanup before your planned departure | The calendar lists October 17 and November 21, 2026, from 7 AM to 2 PM. |
Your hiring checklist
- Photograph debris, work areas, gates, and the loading route.
- Mark plants, beds, and areas the crew should leave alone.
- Choose homeowner transport or contractor haul-away before requesting quotes.
- Request a written total with loading and disposal responsibilities.
- Confirm insurance, payment timing, and approval for extra work.
- For resident SCRUB transport, check the city's vehicle rules and bring residency proof.
- Agree on equipment access, a weather fallback, and where to leave unfinished piles.
- Walk the property with the crew before final payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my hired crew use the free SCRUB drop-off?
The city prohibits commercial haulers from using SCRUB and directs them to the landfill. Ask for contractor hauling and disposal charges in the quote. If you hire cleanup labor and transport the debris yourself, check the resident and vehicle requirements before planning the trip. [2]
Where should I take leaves and garden waste during SCRUB?
Use the City of Des Moines Compost Center at 1601 Harriet Street. The guidelines list loose leaves, grass clippings, garden waste, brush, and trimmings there. They assign trash and bulk items to separate SCRUB locations. [2]
What should a yard cleanup quote include?
Ask for the areas to clear, tasks included, expected finish, loading arrangement, disposal destination, total price, and exclusions. For hourly work, clarify crew time and a spending limit. Include a process for approving extra work and a plan for poor ground conditions.
Can I use any trailer for a resident SCRUB trip?
The city requires a single-axle trailer no longer than 12 feet, no wider than 6.6 feet, and with sides no higher than 4 feet. It prohibits dump box trailers of any size. Confirm your vehicle meets the rules before the crew prepares a load. [2]
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.