Iowa
Landfill
Mitchellville (Polk County) landfill
Hours, sticker price, who can use it, item fees, hazardous waste options, and holiday notes for Metro Park East Landfill and Metro Compost Center.
Last verified from official sources: 2026-11-09
Who can use it
Open to the public; residential and commercial rates differ. Operated by Metro Waste Authority, the Des Moines-area public waste agency.
Hours
- Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Saturday, November 1-March 31: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Saturday, April 1-October 31: 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Sticker or permit
Required: No (see notes)
Price: No separate sticker price was established on the linked page; the eligibility and item fees below still apply.
Where to buy: Contact the facility about access requirements before loading.
Per-item fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Car, load under 200 lbs (vehicles under 6,000 lbs) | $12 flat |
| Van or SUV (under 6,000 lbs) | $17 flat |
| Large SUV, truck or trailer (under 6,000 lbs) | $22 flat |
| Residential garbage, vehicles over 6,000 lbs | $40 per ton ($22 minimum) |
| Commercial garbage; construction and demolition | $44 per ton ($22 minimum) |
| Yard waste (recycling) | $30 per ton ($22 minimum); free in Compost It! bags or with Compost It! stickers |
| Electronic and computer waste without a CRT | $40 per ton residential, $44 commercial ($22 minimum) |
| Bulky waste (over 6 ft long and 18 in diameter, e.g. poles, unprepared trees) | $78 per ton minimum |
| Appliances (fridges, freezers, ranges, A/C, dehumidifiers, water heaters, furnaces, washers, dryers, dishwashers, microwaves) | $22 residential, $37 commercial; doors must be removed from fridges and freezers |
| CRT TVs and monitors | $30 (39 inch or smaller), $40 (40 inch or larger) |
| Mixed recyclables | No charge |
| Tire, up to 16.5 inch | $10 |
| Tire, 16.5-24.5 inch | $20 |
| Tire over 24.5 inch | $40 |
| Tractor tires and bulk or commercial tire loads | $360 per ton |
| Grow Gold compost, bulk (1 cubic yard minimum, loaded by front loader) | $14 per cubic yard residential, $28 commercial |
Hazardous waste
No household hazardous waste drop-off at the landfill. Use Metro Hazardous Waste Drop-Off, 1105 Prairie Drive SW, Bondurant (Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-noon); most household items are free up to 75 lbs.
Holiday closures
Closed on major holidays (Metro Waste Authority does not list them on the location pages).
Holiday schedule last verified 2026-11-09 from official sources .
Other notes
- Payment is due at the time of service: cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit and debit cards. Charge accounts are available.
- Loads with more than one material type are classified as mixed and charged at the highest applicable rate.
- All loads must be secured, enclosed or covered; unsecured loads pay a violation fee of $35 (vehicles under 25,000 lbs) or $120 (over 25,000 lbs) on top of normal rates.
- Class 2 hi-vis safety vest required to enter the landfill (sold at the scale house for $10). No cell phone use, children and pets stay in the car, no scavenging, staff do not help unload. Customers must leave within 30 minutes of closing or pay $50 per 15 minutes.
- Yard waste is taken year-round at the Metro Compost Center on this site; no dirt, sod, stumps, mulch, rocks or food.
- Source conflict: the Metro Compost Center rates page (same address) lists lower figures ($10/$15/$20 flat rates, $39 per ton residential garbage, $20 minimums, $20 appliances, tires $8/$15/$35). This page uses the Metro Park East Landfill rates page; confirm at the scale.
- Tractor trailers that must be unloaded by hand have to check in at least 2 hours before closing.
Nearby Iowa towns
Sources
Every fee and hour above was taken from these official pages or PDFs on 2026-11-09. If something conflicts, trust the town.