Recycling Centers in Ames, IA
Find drop-off recycling locations in Ames, Iowa. View hours, addresses, and phone numbers for each facility.
If you live in Ames and need a convenient place to recycle, this directory helps you find local recycling centers. These centers accept standard materials like paper, cardboard, plastics, glass, and aluminum, as well as specialty items depending on the facility. Browse the listings below to find contact information and hours for each location.
Recycling in Ames: A Local Guide
Ames has 4 recycling facilities in our Iowa directory, spanning the city's Resource Recovery Plant, a salvage yard, a bottle-and-can center, and a waste hauler. The City of Ames launched residential curbside recycling on July 1, 2026, serving roughly 13,700 single-family and small multi-family homes for a per-customer fee of about $7.75 per month. The city also operates the Arnold O. Chantland Resource Recovery Plant — the first municipally owned waste-to-energy facility in the nation — which handles appliances, electronics, and hazardous materials, and offers drop-off recycling.
For drop-off, the Arnold O. Chantland Resource Recovery Plant at 110 Chantland Ave accepts waste, recyclables, appliances, electronics, and hazardous materials (Mon–Fri 7 a.m.–3:30 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.–noon). Ames Bottle and Can handles deposit returns, Bell Salvage processes scrap, and WM (Waste Management) provides hauling. Check each center's page to confirm what it accepts.
Recycling elsewhere in central Iowa? Browse recycling centers in Boone, Des Moines, and Waterloo, or see every listing in our Iowa directory.
All Recycling Centers in Ames
Recycling Centers in Nearby Cities
Frequently Asked Questions — Recycling in Ames
Does Ames have curbside recycling?
Yes, as of July 1, 2026. The City of Ames launched a residential curbside recycling program serving about 13,700 single-family homes and multi-family properties with up to four units. The service carries a per-customer fee of roughly $7.75 per month. Confirm your start date, cart details, and accepted materials on the City of Ames Resource Recovery System pages.
What can I drop off at the Ames Resource Recovery Plant?
The Arnold O. Chantland Resource Recovery Plant at 110 Chantland Ave accepts solid waste, recyclables, appliances, electronics, hazardous materials, and food-waste diversion. It is open Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–3:30 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.–noon. Some items may carry a disposal fee, so check the city's site for specifics before hauling a load.
Where do I return bottle deposits in Ames?
Iowa has a 5-cent deposit on many beverage containers. Ames Bottle and Can on Lincoln Hwy handles deposit redemptions, separate from the city's recycling program. Confirm current hours and the container types accepted before you go.
Is the Ames waste-to-energy plant closing?
The city is transitioning away from the decades-old waste-to-energy process at the Resource Recovery Plant due to high operating costs and aging equipment, and is developing a new Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus (R3C). Under the new system, solid waste will be consolidated and landfilled, recyclables sent to processors, and yard waste composted. Check the City of Ames site for the latest on the transition and current drop-off operations.