Facility details
- Address
- 2742 E Market St
Des Moines, IA 50317 - Phone
- (515) 265-1208
- Google reviews
- See visitor reviews on Google
- Website
- greenstarrecycling.com
- Facility type
- MRF
- County
- Polk County
- EPA Region
- 7
- Data sources
- EPA
- Last verified
- 2026-10-15
About this facility
A materials recovery facility, or MRF, is the plant where mixed curbside recycling is sorted. Collection trucks tip commingled material on the floor, and a line of screens, magnets, eddy-current separators, optical sorters and hand-picking stations separates it into bales of cardboard, paper, plastics by resin, aluminum and steel for sale to end markets. MRFs mainly serve haulers and municipal programs rather than walk-in customers, although some operate a public drop-off area. Contamination such as bagged recyclables, food waste and hoses slows the line and lowers bale value. Hours, fees and accepted materials vary — call ahead before bringing material, since many MRFs accept only contracted route loads.
Typically accepted at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)
- Cardboard and mixed paper
- Plastic bottles, jugs and tubs
- Aluminum and steel cans
- Glass containers (program dependent)
- Cartons (program dependent)
Hours, fees and accepted materials vary by site — call ahead before hauling a load.
County context
One of 28 recycling centers in Polk County, IA.
48 waste haulers in Polk County, IA.
ZIP 50317 at a glance
- Population
- 36,548 (638 per sq mi)
- Median age
- 37
- Households
- Median income $65,617 · 25% earn six figures
- Housing
- 73% owner-occupied · median home value $176,833 · median rent $1,102
- Workforce
- 68% labor-force participation · 6.7% unemployment
ZIP figures are US Census estimates for the ZIP area, not the company.
Iowa solid-waste agency: Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR)