• All eligible households receive one collection of residential trash each week, and each neighborhood is assigned a regular collection day, Monday - Friday. Find your trash day. Read the entire ordinance.
• Trash must be placed at the curb no later than 7 a.m. on the collection day, but not before 3 p.m. on the previous day. For example, it your trash day is Wednesday, trash must be placed at the curb before 7 a.m. on Wednesday, but not before 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
• Recycling and trash crews begin collecting at 7:00 am.  We recommend that trash be set out between 6 - 7 a.m., on day of service, to reduce littering that results when animals get into trash bags overnight.  Please note, routes do change for time of day weekly, due to several factors, so all residents must have trash and recycling at curb by 7:00 am on day of service.  A return in service will not be granted for those "not-out" when trucks go by initially.  
• 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.

Actually, all trucks have automated collection capability. There is an automatic tipping mechanism on the truck and all crew members have been trained on how to use them properly and instructed to use the mechanism for their safety. Keeping our crews safe is a priority! The City is purchasing fully automated trucks to use in most areas allowing crews to stay out of extreme weather conditions, providing better customer service to our residents.

Is there a limit to how many bags I can have? What if I can’t fit all my bags in my cart?

There is no limit on quantity of bags! You can have as many bags as what fits in the cart but the lid must fully close and the weight of the cart cannot exceed 250 lbs. If you have more bags than what fits in the cart, then up to 2 extra tagged bags can be placed next to your cart for collection.

How often will trash and recyclables be picked up?

The City collects trash and recycling once a week from houses and apartments having up to six units. Recyclables are collected on trash day every week. Exceptions to this includes holidays, in which collection is delayed one day, or weather-related issues, when drivers are redirected to plow snow.

What time should I place my trash and recycling cart out for collection?

Carts should be placed out no earlier than 3 p.m. the day before collection or no later than 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.

Do I need a cart for trash? Where do I get a cart?

Yes, curbside trash collection requires the use of the City distributed cart. This is required because it signals the truck to stop. If you have not received a cart by November 2024 and believe you should have one reach out to myKCMO.

Are there any special instructions for placing out carts for collection?

Trash and recycle carts should be placed 3 feet away from each other and within three (3) feet from the roadway. For the truck to pick up the cart, the opening of the lid needs to be facing the roadway, with the handles in the back. Do not place behind trees, mailboxes, lamp posts, or parked cars. When putting your cart out please ensure the lid is fully closed.

What if I'm moving, do I take my cart with me?

No. All carts are assigned to an address not a person. If you are moving, please leave the recycling cart at that address. If you move into a house with no trash and/or recycling cart, please report through the MyKCMO app.

Where do I store my recycling and trash carts?

Please store your carts behind or beside your home, on or under a back porch, or inside your garage or shed.

What if my cart is stolen or damaged?

The carts are owned and maintained by the City. If your cart is stolen or damaged, please contact the City through myKCMO to have the cart replaced.

Who is not included in curbside trash and recycling?

Curbside trash and recycling does not include businesses, apartments with more than six units, home associations that privately contract for trash service, or commercial property.

What do I do when I have bulky items for disposal?

There is no charge for the bulky item program. Please note that trash bags and big piles of “stuff” are not bulky items. Bulky collection requires an appointment and please remember your appointment date once scheduled. If you forget to set out your items on your scheduled date, the City does not return until you make another appointment through the system.

How do I make a complaint about collection of recyclables or trash?

Concerns about curbside recycling and trash should be reported through myKCMO.

What if I have difficulty getting the trash and recycling carts to the curb?

Assistance Stop is a collection program available for individuals protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. To apply for an Assistance Stop, residents eligible for trash and recycling collection who think they might qualify can contact 311. Once a resident applies, paperwork with instructions on how to qualify will be mailed to the resident.

Report trash cart issues through the myKCMO app or by calling 3-1-1.

What can I report about my City issued trash cart?

Trash Cart Needed

Residents with households expecting delivery in Phase 1, 2, or 3 can submit a case for review. Phase 4 and Phase 5 households will receive trash carts soon!

If your cart has been stolen, you may also use this selection to submit a case.

If approved, the case will be switched over to X SW USE ONLY Trash Cart Delivery. It may take up to 2 trash collection cycles to receive a cart.

It takes about 1 month to get all the trash carts in each phase delivered. It is not uncommon for delivery trailers to run out of carts midblock, so you may not receive your cart at the same time as your neighbor. Please wait until the end of your phase before submitting a report.

Assisted Trash Cart Removal

Residents who have applied and qualified for an assisted stop can submit a request to have the cart removed.

If approved, the case will be switched over to X SW USE ONLY Trash Cart Removal. Trash carts will be removed within 2 trash collection cycles.

To apply for an assisted stop, please contact 3-1-1 for assistance.

Pilot Trash Cart Removal

Residents with carts from the pilot trash cart program can submit a request to remove the pilot cart.

Trash carts in the Marlborough neighborhood have the updated technology and do not need to be replaced. However, residents in the Marlborough neighborhood with trash carts that need repairs can submit a case for review.

If approved the case will be switched over to X SW USE ONLY Trash Cart Removal. Trash carts will be removed within 2 trash collection cycles.

Damaged Trash Cart

Pilot program trash carts will not be repaired, except in the Marlborough neighborhood. New trash carts and Marlborough neighborhood trash carts with the updated technology will be repaired. 

Extra Trash Cart

Households that have received more than 1 trash cart, please call 3-1-1 to report.

Households that have received their cart: 

We collect up to 2 additional tagged trash bags per week placed next to your trash cart for collection.

Households that have not received their cart:

We pick up two bags per week per eligible household without tags. If you have more than two bags, you will need to purchase a trash tag for each additional bag. Note: There is a limit of two free bags and 10 tagged bags each week.  

Additional trash tags are available for purchase, at a cost of $2.50 each, at the Westlake Ace Hardware and Price Chopper at following locations.

Westlake Ace Hardware Stores

• 5945 Antioch Road (Gladstone)
• 5009 N.E. Vivion Road
• 6201 Independence Ave.
• 1000 Westport Road
• 104 W. 63rd Street
• 10130 E. 350 Hwy (Raytown)
• 1020 W. 103rd St.
• 444 S.W. Ward Road (Lee’s Summit)
• 103 South 291 Highway

Price Chopper Stores

• 9717 N Ash Avenue
• 896 S. Hwy 291 (Liberty)
• 500 N.E. Barry Road
• 9107 N.W. Hwy 45 (Parkville)
• 4820 N. Oak Trafficway
• 5800 Wilson Road
• 6327 Brookside Blvd.
• 8700 E. 63rd St.
• 8430 Wornall Road
• 5665 E. Bannister Road
• 1030 W. 103rd St.
• 4201 S. Noland Road (Independence)
• 12220 US 71 (Grandview)  

You may also purchase trash tags at the Finance Department on the first floor within City Hall (open Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from 8 am to 5 pm).  

The City will hold one, one week-long, no-tag (“trash amnesty”) event in 2024 for the 4th of July holiday. Trash amnesty events will no longer occur due to the increased capacity of trash collected with carts.

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. 

Did you receive a trash violation notice and your items were not collected? When trash is not placed at the curb correctly, collection will not occur. Be sure to follow instructions for an easy trash collection day experience.

The Trash Violation Notice includes the following information:

For more information, within 1 business day of your collection day, call 311 or visit kcmo.gov/311

Trash Violation Notice
We could not pick up this item because of the following reason(s) checked below:

• Overweight/Oversized

  Exceeds weight limit, each tagged trash bag must weigh less than 40 lbs each.

• Extra
  1. Exceeds maximum limit of 2 tagged trash bags outside of trash cart.
  2. No pre-paid tags on extra bags.

• Contaminated/Unacceptable
  1. Trash container unacceptable, trash must be placed in City provided cart for collection.
  2. All trash must be bagged.
  3. Trash carts must be clean.

• Prohibited
  Trash mixed with glass, yard waste, stones, rocks, tires, masonry, medical waste, construction debris, bulky items, etc.

• Overflowing
  All trash cart lids must be closed. Trash must be bagged in cart with lid fully closed.