City of Dubuque Shifts Curbside Collections Schedule, Allows Additional Trash to be Set Out for Holidays

DECEMBER 22, 2025

The City of Dubuque’s Public Works department has announced changes to curbside collections related to the December holidays.

With Christmas Day (Dec. 25) and New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) both falling on Thursdays this year, regular Thursday curbside collections customers will have their pick-up schedule adjusted during the weeks containing those two holidays. Collections will instead be made on the Saturdays following each holiday (Dec. 27 and Jan. 3).

The schedule for regular Wednesday collections customers will not be impacted by the holidays, even as most City offices are also closed on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, Dec. 31.

In addition, all curbside collections customers will be allowed to set out an additional bag of garbage following the Christmas holiday. Beginning Friday, Dec. 26, through Wednesday, Dec. 31, customers can set out one extra 35-gallon bag (weighing no more than 40 lbs.) without the usually required green sticker. Trash must be set out to the curb or alley line by 6 a.m. on the scheduled collection day. Customers are encouraged to place the extra bag on top of the lid of their City-issued tipper cart, rather than on the ground beside it.

Residents are encouraged to properly dispose of materials by recycling or composting when possible. Wrapping paper and Styrofoam are not recyclable and should be included with the trash. Recyclable items include most rigid plastics labeled #1 - #5, cardboard, paper, and metal products. Cardboard items should be broken down as much as possible. Holiday items that can be composted through the City of Dubuque’s Food Scrap Recycling program include non-wax-coated paper products and most food products.

For additional information, please contact the Public Works Department at 563-589-4250.

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MEDIA CONTACT
Ken Miller, Interim Resource Management Supervisor
kmiller@cityofdubuque.org, 563.589.4354