What can and can't be recycled?
Why recycle?
Waste disposal costs continue to rise as landfills are closed and new ones have to be opened. Manufacturing aluminum cans and newspaper from raw materials requires mining, logging and importing raw materials to the United States. Collecting and processing recyclables has become more efficient. It makes sense to recycle materials as much as possible, to reduce what sits in a landfill. Reduce, reuse, recycle!!! Our planet thanks you!!
Can I recycle hoses, cords, wires or clothes in my cart?
No. These items are considered “tanglers” as they wrap around equipment at the recycling processing facility, creating a safety hazard for workers, and causing facility shutdowns. They are also not acceptable items in the curbside recycle program. Scrap metal, like chains and metal hangers, can be taken to a scrap metal recycler.
Can I recycle plastic bags or wrap in my cart?
No. Plastic bags and wrap causes equipment jams at recycling processing facilities. These items can be taken to your local retail or grocery stores for recycling drop off.
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 the night before collection or no later than 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.
Do I need a cart for recycling? Where do I get a cart?
Yes, participation requires the use of a "clearly labeled" recycling cart. This is required because it signals the truck to stop. If you have not received a cart by September 2023 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 a few 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. Do not place behind trees, mailboxes, lamp posts or parked cars. When putting your cart out please ensure the lid is closed.
What do I do with my old recycling bin?
Residents can either keep containers for other household uses or Kansas City will collect any unwanted bins and barrels. Please leave a note left on it that says, “Take with Trash” to dispose of an old recycling container. You can also keep your recycling bin for excess recycling and put it out with your cart when needed.
What if I'm moving, do I take my cart with me?
No. All recycling carts are assigned to an address not a person. If you have moving, please leave the recycling cart at that address. If you move into a house with no 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.
A recycling cart was delivered to my home, but I do not want it. Will you take it back?
Yes. Please report through the myKCMO app.
Report an Issue > Recycling Cart Program > Cart Removal - Do Not Want A Recycling Cart
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.
Is there a limit to how much I can recycle? What if I can’t fit all my recyclables in my cart?
There is no limit on recycling collection! A recycling cart signals the truck to stop. Place extra recyclables in your old recycling bin, cardboard boxes, paper bags, or a storage tote that is "clearly" labeled as recycling. The recycling container may not exceed 32 gallons to be collected weekly.
Do I have to separate recycling materials?
No! Not having to sort makes this program convenient and efficient! Please just make sure your items aren't contaminated with food or liquid and are loose in the cart. No plastic bags, no glass.
What happens to all the recyclables that I put out for collection?
After recyclables have been collected, recycling trucks deliver the items to a local company that sorts the items and distributes them to processors. Your recycled materials might be converted into new cans or newspapers, or recycled into carpet fibers, lawn chair frames, food packaging or even jigsaw puzzles and plastic “lumber.”
What if I have difficulty getting the recycling cart to the curb?
Whether it is trash or recycling, the amount of material that is taken to the curb remains the same. The only differences are that the materials are now set out for recycling rather than for trash, and recyclables can be in a cart. Residents can roll their cart to the curb and any additional items can be in your old bin next to the cart for pick-up. There is an "Assistance Stop” trash and recycling collection program available for disabled individuals. If you believe you qualify, please contact myKCMO to apply for "Assistance Stop" paperwork. Once you apply, paperwork with the instructions to qualify will be sent to your address.
Who is not included in curbside recycling?
Curbside recycling does not include businesses, apartments with more than six units and home associations that privately contract for trash service.
How common is curbside recycling in other cities?
According to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), about 10,000 cities across the U.S. have curbside recycling programs. During the 2020 pandemic, many cities had to scale back or even stop curbside recycling, Kansas City never did either one. The City of KCMO continues to educate on the importance of recycling and recycling right, so we all can reduce what ends up in our landfill for a "greener" KC!
How do I benefit from recycling?
Recycling curbside is convenient and most importantly, easy as it is a single stream process. By recycling, Kansas City residents will help save space in the landfill, reduce air, land and water pollution, and protect the environment for generations to come.
Just how much of my regular weekly trash can be recycled?
While this could vary from household to household based on product purchases, on average up to 70 percent of your household trash can be recycled. This includes items like cardboard, paper and paperboard, plastics containers marked #1 - #7 and aluminum/tin cans – all of which can be recycled at the curb.
What if I don’t know if something I have to dispose of is recyclable?
Review the detailed list of items accepted or not accepted at the curb or contact 311 myKCMO. In Kansas City, there is no penalty for discarding a recyclable item in the trash. In fact, when in doubt, throw it out.
What about glass jars and bottles?
Glass can be dropped off at one of the City’s recycling drop-off centers. There are also several purple bins all over Kansas City to dispose of glass. Glass is one product we never want to see in your trash or recycling cart. Glass can be recycled again and again, so please never throw it away in your trash and always dispose of it properly.
Do I have to do anything special to my recyclables before putting them at the curb?
Residents can do several things to keep stored recyclables free of odors and to conserve space in your curbside recycling cart. For example, rinse out cans and bottles and break down cardboard boxes. If you have an abundance of cardboard boxes weekly, break most of them down but leave one remaining and put those all in one box. Put that box of broken down cardboard next to your recycling cart not your trash bags. Keep lids or caps on bottles as well. Please don't bag your recycling in plastic bags. Plastic film and plastic bags are prohibited in curbside recycling.
What if non-recyclable items are put in the recycling cart?
Recycling carts containing glass bottles, motor oil bottles, Styrofoam, plastic bags or other non-recyclable items will be left at the curb. Collection crews do not sort materials at the curb. If you place one contaminated item into your recycling cart you are not only contaminating all of your recycling, you may contaminate an entire truck. Please recycle right and help us keep KC clean and green.
Besides separating the obvious recyclables from regular trash, how can I reduce the amount of trash I accumulate each week?
Just remember the three R’s – reduce, reuse and recycle. Reduce by buying only what you need or by buying products that have little or no excess packaging. Reuse by buying quality products that can be reused or by buying items that can be refilled. Recycle as many items as you can so the materials can be used over and over again. For example, use cloth towels/napkins, instead of paper towels or napkins. Reuse margarine or yogurt containers for leftovers. With a little effort and some creative “re-thinking,” we can eliminate most of the trash we now send to landfills.
What about leaves, brush and other yard waste?
Kansas City Solid Waste Services Division provides special twice-a-year pickups of leaves and brush each Spring and Fall. No appointment is needed, but dates and regions do rotate and change yearly, so check web-site for updates.
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?
Concerns about curbside recycling should be directed to the myKCMO app Reycling Cart Program.
Why don't the recycling trucks have automated collection?
The good news is they do! All recycling truck have semi-automatic tipping mechanisms on the truck and all crew members have been trained on how to use them properly. Keeping our crews safe is a priority!
