If a holiday falls during the week, trash and recycling collection takes place on the day following the holiday, and collection for the remaining days of the week also takes place one day later than usual. Friday trash is collected on Saturday during such weeks. This one-day push is called the holiday schedule.

Additionally, during winter weather, recycling and trash operations might be suspended. Under the City's stronger snow policy, KCMO suspends collection during big storms to make those drivers available for snow plowing. If this is the case, the holiday schedule goes into effect. Watch this page for notices or check kcmo.gov/snow.

No-tag ("trash amnesty") weeks happens on special occasions. During amnesty, residents can put out up to 12 bags curbside without any additional tags as long as each bag weighs less than 40 pounds. Regular trash rules apply. No hazardous waste, bulky items or leaf and brush will be collected.

No collection occurs on the following 2024 holidays:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Jan. 15th (one day delay all week)
• Presidents Day - Feb. 19th (one day delay all week)
• Memorial Day - May 27th (one day delay all week)
• Juneteenth - Wednesday, June 19th (No collection on Wednesday. Trash will be delayed Wednesday through Saturday)
• Independence Day - July 4th (No collection on Thursday. Friday collection will take place on Saturday)
  Amnesty Week/No-tag pickup will run Friday, July 5th to Wednesday, July 10th during regular collection. Cart + 10 bags will be collected. Residents that have not yet received a cart will be allowed 12 bags. There will be no more amnesty after this holiday.
• Labor Day - Sept. 2nd (one day delay all week)
• Veterans Day - Nov. 11th (one day delay all week)
• Thanksgiving Day - Nov. 28th, Thursday collection will take place on Friday
• Day after Thanksgiving -Nov. 29th, Friday's collection will take place on Saturday, Nov. 30th.
• Christmas Day - Dec. 25th (No collection on Wednesday. Trash will be delayed Wednesday through Saturday)
  No Amnesty Week

• New Year’s Day – Jan. 1 (No collection on Wednesday. Trash will be delayed Wednesday through Saturday)

What is Diversion and Why Do It?

Waste diversion is the act of redirecting waste from landfills to recycle, reuse, or reduce. Diverting waste has significant environmental benefits by reducing garbage in landfills thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions and less contribution to soil and water pollution. Second, recycling or repurposing existing materials means there is less need to extract and produce new materials, meaning less industrial pollution. Making a new product requires a lot of materials and energy.

Why Compost?

Did you know food waste sitting in a landfill will break down in uncontrolled conditions alongside other types of waste, resulting in chemical reactions that produce methane gas? Food waste decomposing separately (i.e. in compost) will produce carbon dioxide. While carbon dioxide and methane are both greenhouse gases, methane is significantly more potent than carbon dioxide. In this case, diverting food waste to compost not only produces useful fertilizer, but also has an automatic environmental benefit.

Benefits of Reducing and Reusing

• Saves taxpayer money.
• Saves energy.
• Improves air quality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills.
• Allows products to be used to their fullest extent.
• Helps sustain the environment for future generations.

1. Access the Your Trash Day application. This will take you to a City mapping page.
2. Enter your street address in the top address space as indicated. Hit the “enter” button on your keyboard. The map should appear with parcels and your address will be outlined in yellow.
3. Look at the navigation on the left side of the map. About 10 rows down you will see a row that lists your trash day.
4. If you need further assistance, please contact 311.

The City will pick these up during regular weekly trash collection:

• Food waste and packaging (some packaging can be recycled)
• Small appliances, toys and tools (donate re-usable items to charitable organizations)
• Rubbish associated with normal home maintenance
• Small automobile parts that can be bagged, such as spark plugs, brake shoes and shock absorbers
• Building materials bundled with twine or wire, including wood and wood products, plaster or wallboard
• Boxes of shingles, empty paint cans and similar small items generated during routine maintenance and minor home repair

The following items require special preparation:

• Animal and human excrement: Must be double bagged (a bag within a bag).
• Sharp items: For the protection of sanitation crews, broken glass, needles and other sharp objects must be clearly labeled and wrapped in layers of paper or placed in a separate container.
• Hypodermic syringes should be clearly labeled, placed in a hard plastic/metal container, then placed within a trash bag for collection.
• Liquids: Trash must not contain liquids. Pour liquids such as soft drinks, water and juice down the drain.

There are some items that the City cannot collect as part of regular weekly trash collection. These items are listed with the suggested disposal alternative.

Residential solid waste must be stored during the week in closed containers. It is suggested that disposable plastic bags be inserted into metal or plastic refuse containers or placed in holders specifically designed for holding bags. When bags are full, they should be removed from the container, and tied with wire or string tie, prior to being set out. Bags should be placed in an enclosed area until collection day. Solid waste can not be stored in front or side yards or adjoining side streets.

Other Things to Remember and Consider:

• Most residents use 30-gallon trash bags
• Trash left in trash cans or other non-disposable containers will not be collected.
• Up to two bags without tags will be collected each week.
• Buy additional trash tags at Westlake Ace Hardware and Price Chopper retail locations.
• Bags and boxes must weigh less than 40 pounds (so the workers can pick it up) and be shorter than four feet long (so it can fit in the truck).
• Trash bags can not be placed on vehicles or walls, tied to fences or trees.
• Place residential solid waste at curbside within 10 feet of the street.
• Residential solid waste is not collected from alleys. Place small items in bags so that collection can be made in an efficient manner.
• It may not be feasible for crews to remove trash that has been scattered by animals or vandals. To help avoid the scattering of trash, set out solid waste just before 7 a.m. on day of collection. Report animal problems to Animal Health and Public Safety at 311.
• Provisions will be made for disabled persons who are incapable of placing their solid waste at the street and are unable to obtain assistance from others. In such cases, their solid waste will be collected at the front of the house through special arrangements. Contact 311.
• An interruption in trash collection services must be reported by 3 p.m. the day after collection day. Report service interruptions, questions or complaints to 311. Call or use the online form within 24 hours or one business day of the missed pickup.