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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a trampoline or playset in Des Moines, verified October 2026.
Checked against Des Moines Public Works
$5
pink Large Item sticker per bulk item, scheduled at 515-283-4950
$35
for an appliance (7 stickers), refrigerant included
24 hours
minimum notice before your regular collection day
Every route for a trampoline or playset in Des Moines, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Des Moines guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Des Moines, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Des Moines sticker-based bulk and appliance pickup: trampolines and playsets
City pickup, $5 sticker per itemDisassembled bundles each need a sticker, or the steel goes free to a scrap yard.
Who qualifies: Households with City of Des Moines Public Works garbage collection.
How to schedule: Call Public Works at 515-283-4950 (24 hours a day) at least 24 hours before your regular collection day, then put a pink $5 Large Item sticker on each bulk item and set it out on your collection day with the sticker facing the street. Appliances need 7 stickers ($35). Stickers are sold at City Hall, grocery and hardware stores, and MWAToday.com.
Limits: One $5 sticker per bulk item; 7 stickers per appliance. Large limbs and bundles need a green Compost It! sticker instead.
Set-out: At the curb on your regular collection day with stickers facing the street, after calling to schedule.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in Des Moines: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering trampolines and playsets, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Des Moines: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Des Moines, Iowa runs a Pay-As-You-Throw pink sticker system rather than a free bulk pickup program. Every bulk item or extra bag of trash requires a sticker purchased in advance, with appliances scheduled separately for $35 (seven $5 stickers). The system rewards households that recycle and reduce waste, if everything fits in your cart with the lid closed, no extra fees. Big stickers stack: a couch, a chair, and a coffee table from a living room cleanout each need their own $5 sticker. Des Moines uses a blue recycling cart while surrounding suburbs use green Curb It! carts, a common confusion when moving within the metro. This guide covers every option for Des Moines city residents, plus Central Iowa Metro Waste Authority resources.
The Des Moines rule for trampolines and playsets: Disassembled bundles each need a sticker, or the steel goes free to a scrap yard.
Program basics: One $5 sticker per bulk item; 7 stickers per appliance. Large limbs and bundles need a green Compost It! sticker instead. At the curb on your regular collection day with stickers facing the street, after calling to schedule.
What the city will not take: Household hazardous waste and electronics (Metro Waste Authority programs), tires, and construction debris.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Des Moines Public Works: Bulk Trash and Appliances. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why trampolines and playsets are different from ordinary bulk. Trampoline springs are under tension and are the injury risk. Use the spring puller that came with the trampoline or a pair of locking pliers, work in a cross pattern so tension releases evenly, and remove the net and pads first. The frame tubes then pull apart by hand or with a rubber mallet.
Three mistakes that get trampolines and playsets left at the curb:
Paid options are for large playsets with concrete footings, in-ground trampolines, and cities with tight bulk limits.
Self-haul to a transfer station
$20 to $60Bundled lumber and a rolled mat load into a pickup or trailer. Transfer stations charge by weight; pressure-treated wood goes as C&D.
Take the steel to a scrap yard first where it is free.
LoadUp paid trampoline or playset pickup
$80+For Des Moines households who need same-day or in-home pickup, crew labor, or faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Des Moines area for upfront-priced pickup.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your trampoline or playset. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book trampoline or playset pickup in Des Moines with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Des Moines proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Des Moines junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national trampoline and playset disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Des Moines: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Des Moines pick up trampolines and playsets for free?
Stickers per bundle, or a scrap yard for the frame.
How much does paid trampoline removal cost in Des Moines?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single trampoline or playset pickup in Des Moines starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Des Moines households who need same-day or in-home pickup, crew labor, or faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Des Moines area for upfront-priced pickup.
Can a trampoline go out with bulk trash?
Disassembled, yes in most cities: frame tubes bundled, springs bagged, mat and pads rolled or bagged. The steel can also go to a scrap yard free. Check your city’s bundle limits in the directory below.
How do I take down a trampoline?
Remove the net and poles, then the pad. Use the spring puller or locking pliers to unhook springs in a cross pattern (one, then the opposite side, then a quarter turn around). Lift off the mat. Pull the frame tubes apart at the joints with a rubber mallet, and unbolt the legs. Two people, one to two hours.
Can I put playset lumber out for pickup?
Most bulk programs accept dismantled lumber in tied bundles under a length limit (commonly 4 to 6 feet) and a weight limit, with all nails removed or flattened. Pressure-treated wood is accepted as bulk but excluded from yard waste everywhere.
How do I know if the wood is pressure-treated?
Look for a greenish or brownish tint, small incision marks in a grid pattern, or an end tag or stamp. Most residential playsets sold since the 1990s are pressure-treated pine unless marketed as cedar or redwood.
Is this Des Moines page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Des Moines guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.