Trash and Recycling Collection Schedules in Rapid City, South Dakota

Rapid City, the second largest city in South Dakota, provides trash and recycling collection services to residents through the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department. This article provides an overview of trash and recycling schedules, collection days, acceptable materials, and other key information for Rapid City residents.

Trash Collection

• Trash collection in Rapid City is organized by zones, with each zone having a designated collection day once per week.

• Residents can lookup their trash collection schedule and zone using the My Curbside Day tool on the Solid Waste Division website.

• Trash collection occurs weekly on the following days:

  • Monday: Zones 1, 2, 3

  • Tuesday: Zones 4, 5, 6, 7

  • Wednesday: Zones 8, 9, 10

  • Thursday: Zones 11, 12, 13, 14

  • Friday: Zones 15, 16, 17, 18

• Trash must be placed curbside in city-approved containers before 6:00 AM on collection day.

• Approved containers include trash cans up to 96 gallons, bags that weigh less than 40 pounds each, and bundled brush/branches.

• Unacceptable trash items that will not be collected include electronics, hazardous waste, loose brush, and oversized items like furniture and appliances.

Recycling Collection

• Recycling is collected curbside every other week on the same day as trash collection.

• Acceptable recycling materials include:

  • Paper and cardboard

  • Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (#1-7)

  • Glass bottles and jars

  • Aluminum and steel cans

• Recyclables should be clean and placed loosely in the provided blue recycling bin.

• Hazardous and contaminated materials like used oil containers and light bulbs should not be placed in recycling.

Yard Waste Collection

• Yard waste collection runs seasonally from mid-April to mid-November.

• Yard waste must be placed in biodegradable bags or reusable containers marked as “Yard Waste.”

• Acceptable yard waste items include leaves, grass clippings, garden debris, and branches less than 4 feet long and 2 inches in diameter.

Bulky Item and Appliance Collection

• Bulky items like furniture and appliances are collected curbside by appointment only.

• Residents can submit a collection request online or call 605-394-4171 to schedule pickup.

• Freon-containing appliances require an additional $10 fee paid in advance.

Waste Drop-Off Sites

For trash and recycling that cannot be collected curbside, Rapid City has several drop-off sites:

• Rapid City Landfill: Open 7 days a week from 7:00am-4:00pm for trash, recycling, yard waste, tires, appliances, and other items. Located at 5555 S Highway 79.

• Rapid Valley Transfer Station: Open Tues-Sat 8:00am-4:00pm for trash, recycling, and appliances. Located at 6418 Haines Ave.

• SEDCO Recycling Center: Open Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:00pm, Sat 9:00am-4:00pm for recyclables and electronics. Located at 5531 Covenant Dr.

Holiday Schedule Changes

Trash and recycling collection are paused for the following major holidays:

• New Year’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

Collection typically resumes one day later than normal after a holiday. The Solid Waste Division sends email alerts and text notifications about holiday schedule changes.

Special Waste Disposal

Rapid City offers recycling or disposal options for hazardous household waste, electronics, tires, and other specialty items. More information can be found on the What Goes Where? page.

• Household Hazardous Waste: Accepted at drop-off events 2-3 times per year. Includes paint, chemicals, batteries, fluorescent bulbs.

• Electronics: Can be recycled at SEDCO Recycling Center. Includes TVs, computers, phones, printers, DVD players.

• Tires: Limit 10 tires per visit. $2 off-rim fee per tire. Accepted at the landfill scalehouse.

• Sharps/Needles: Must be in sealed sharps container. Accepted at the landfill and transfer station drop boxes.

Getting More Information

Rapid City Solid Waste Division provides extensive information about trash and recycling services on their website and Facebook page.

Key contact information:

• Phone: 605-355-3496
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.rapidcityrecycles.org
• Facebook: @RapidCityRecycles
• Location: 5555 S Highway 79, Rapid City, SD 57701

Understanding trash and recycling schedules, rules, and site locations in Rapid City ensures residents can properly dispose of waste. The Solid Waste Division offers convenient services and resources to help the community recycle and keep the city clean.