Trash & Recycle

Garbage Collection

The City of Eldridge provides new residents with a 95-gallon garbage tote. Any extra garbage that does not fit in your tote must be placed in garbage bags with a blue Republic extra bag sticker, available for purchase at City Hall for $1.50 + tax per sticker.

Pickup Schedule:

  • Wednesday Garbage Pickup:
    Residents on LeClaire Rd., north of LeClaire Rd., the golf course area, and everyone east of Highway 61.
  • Thursday Garbage Pickup:
    Residents south of LeClaire Rd. except for businesses and multi-dwelling homes.

Place your container near the curb with the silver bar facing the street and the handles facing your home. Garbage should be set out by 6 AM on pickup day to ensure it’s collected.

Holiday Schedule:

If an observed holiday falls on a garbage pickup day, collection will be delayed by one business day. Observed holidays include New Year’s Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Pick up will also be one day late during the week of Memorial and Labor Day.

Recycling Collection

Pickup Schedule:

Recycling is collected every other week on your regular garbage pickup day. If a holiday falls during the week, collection will be delayed by one business day. Recycling should be set out by 6 AM on pickup day to ensure it’s collected.

Recycling Guidelines:

  • Recycling must be separated from household garbage.
  • The city provides 95-gallon recycling totes with a gray lid.
  • The recycling fee is included in the monthly garbage pickup fee.


If you have more recycling than will fit in your tote, you may use the Scott County Rural Recycling Drop-Off Site, located 0.5 miles east of Scott County Park’s main entrance on 270th St.

Accepted Paper Products
  • Newspaper Office paper Catalogs
  • Magazines Phonebooks Cereal boxes
  • Shoe boxes Corrugated cardboard Shredded paper
  • Paper egg cartons Tissue boxes Mail
  • Snack boxes Pop cartons
  • Paperback books
  • Greeting cards (no metallics)
  • Hardback books (covers removed) Toilet paper/paper towel rolls
  • Gable Top Container (Orange Juice or
  • Milk Carton) Cans for chips and nuts (e.g. Pringles)

Plastics #1-#7 such as those from:

  • Cleaners
  • Food containers
  • Bleach
  • Milk Cooking oils
  • Pill bottles
  • Cosmetics & lotions
  • Shampoo & conditioner
  • Soft drinks
  • Detergents
  • Flower pots
  • Water or juice
  • Aluminum cans
  • Aluminum pie plates
  • Aluminum foil
  • Tin food/beverage cans
  • Coffee cans
  • Beer bottles
  • Juice containers
  • Food containers
  • Pop bottles
  • Wine and liquor bottles
  • Styrofoam
  • Plastic bags
  • Items with food residue or grease stains
  • Gift wrap, greeting cards with metallic designs
  • Large quantities (dozen or more) of bound books and textbooks
  • Mirror/window glass, crystal, drinking glass, ceramics, ovenware, light bulbs
  • Aerosol cans
  • Metal building materials or scraps

Still unsure of how to dispose of something?

The Waste Commission’s “Waste Wizard” can help! Just select your city and search by the name of your item.

Large Item Pick-Up

Our Garbage provider offers free curbside pick-up for large and bulky items that are not regular household waste. One large item per week is allowed. You must have trash services through the City of Eldridge.

Accepted Items:

  • Indoor & outdoor furniture
  • Mattresses and box springs (no metal box springs)
  • Non-metal toilet fixtures & sinks
  • Bicycles (tires must be removed)
  • Carpeting (rolled, tied in 4-ft sections, under 50 lbs., max 3 rolls)
  • Grills

To schedule a pickup, call City Hall at 563-285-4841 by Tuesday at 4 p.m. for collection on Thursday. Additional items require a large item sticker ($12.50 + tax), available for purchase at City Hall.

Prohibited Items & Special Disposal:
Some items cannot be collected curbside and must be disposed of at designated facilities:

  • Construction/remodeling materials, tires, and dishwashers – Contact Scott County Landfill at 563-381-1300.
  • Hazardous materials (e.g., chemicals, paint, pesticides) – Contact Waste Commission of Scott County at 563-381-1300.
  • Electronics (TVs, computers, printers, etc.) – Contact Electronics Recovery Center at 563-823-0119.
  • Appliances (stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, freezers, window AC units) – Drop off at Eldridge City Shop (105 E. LeClaire Rd.), Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM – 3:15 PM. Dishwashers & microwaves NOT accepted. Car batteries and waste oil can also be dropped off here.

Yard Waste Collection

Yard waste (grass, leaves, and small twigs) must be in 2-ply paper bags (up to 32 gallons, 50 lbs. max).

Bags must have a City of Eldridge Yard Waste Sticker, which are available for purchase at City Hall, North Scott Foods, and Merschman’s Hardware.

Yard waste collection runs from the first Monday in May to October 15 on Mondays. Free curbside collection is also available every Monday in April and the first Monday after October 15 for six weeks.

Drop-Off Yard Waste:
Residents can also drop off yard waste inside the gates of the city shop at 105 E. LeClaire Road. Drop-off waste must be in paper yard waste bags or loose, with proof of Eldridge residency is required.

The city shop is open Wednesdays (9 AM–5 PM) and Saturdays (9 AM–4 PM) from April through November.

Brush & Tree Trimming Collection:
Brush must be bundled with twine (no wire, tape, or plastic ties) and weigh no more than 50 lbs. Tree limbs must be under 6” in diameter and 5’ in length. Curbside pickup is every Monday, April through November, and no call-in is required.

Tree stumps, root balls, and unbundled brush will not be collected.

Christmas Tree Disposal:
Residents can place Christmas trees curbside on their regular garbage collection day for up to four collection days after Christmas. Trees must not be placed in plastic bags to ensure proper disposal.