Kansas City Trash Collection Schedules and Guidelines

Kansas City provides trash collection services for residents living in single-family homes, duplexes, and apartments with 6 or fewer units. Trash collection occurs once per week on an assigned day between Monday and Friday. Recycling is also picked up weekly on the same day as trash.

This article provides an overview of Kansas City trash and recycling collection, including:

• Trash collection schedules
• Holiday schedule changes
• Eligibility and guidelines
• Acceptable and unacceptable trash
• Bulky item and hazardous waste disposal
• Missed collection reporting
• Special situations

Trash Collection Schedules

Kansas City has divided the city into zones, with each zone assigned a regular trash day between Monday and Friday. To find your assigned collection day:

• Use the Trash Day Lookup tool on the city website. Enter your address to see your trash day.

• Check the trash day listings by address in the Street Guide (see pages 16-31).

• Call 311 for assistance.

Trash must be placed curbside by 7 AM on your assigned day, but no earlier than 3 PM the previous day. For example:

• If your trash day is Wednesday, place bins curbside before 7 AM Wednesday.

• Do not place bins curbside before 3 PM on Tuesday.

The city recommends setting out trash between 6-7 AM to prevent animals from scattering trash overnight. Collection routes may vary throughout the day. All trash must be curbside by 7 AM.

Holiday Schedule Changes

If a holiday falls on a weekday, collection is delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.

For example, if a holiday falls on Monday:

• Monday collection moves to Tuesday
• Tuesday collection moves to Wednesday
• Wednesday collection moves to Thursday
• Thursday collection moves to Friday
• Friday collection moves to Saturday

Holidays that delay trash collection are:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Presidents’ Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day
• New Year’s Day

Kansas City also has “no-tag weeks” after Christmas and Independence Day where residents can set out extra trash without purchasing tags. See the holiday schedule for details.

Eligibility and Guidelines

The following housing types are eligible for city trash collection:

• Single-family homes
• Duplexes
• Apartments with 6 or fewer units

Buildings with 7+ units are not eligible. The property owner or manager must provide trash service.

Each eligible household receives weekly collection of up to 2 trash bags or cans without tags. To set out additional trash, you must purchase tags – $2.50 per tag at designated retailers. There is a limit of 10 tagged bags per week.

Trash guidelines:

• Use bags or trash cans less than 40 pounds each. Oversize items require special collection.
• No bags over 4 feet long.
• No hazardous materials, car batteries, glass, yard waste, or tires.
• Place bins within 10 feet of the curb – not in alleys.
• Report missed collection within 24 hours by contacting 311.

See the trash collection page for full guidelines.

Bulky Items and Hazardous Waste

The city provides collection of oversized bulky items like furniture and appliances through the Bulky Item Collection program. Schedule pickup by calling 311.

Hazardous waste like chemicals, batteries, and electronics must be disposed of through the Household Hazardous Waste program. Drop off these items at the monthly collection events or schedule a pickup for qualifying items.

Missed Collection

If your trash or recycling is not collected on your scheduled day, report it through 311 within 24 hours:

• Call 311
• File an online request
• Use the myKCMO mobile app

Provide your address and the details of what was missed. The city will send a truck to collect missed pickup.

Special Situations

The city makes accommodations for special situations:

• Disabled residents unable to bring bins to the curb can arrange for pickup at their door by contacting 311.

• Severe weather: Trash pickup may be suspended during heavy snow to allow trucks to plow. Pickup moves to the holiday schedule during suspensions.

• Animals scattering trash: Bag and tie trash securely and set out as close to pickup time as possible. Report problems to Animal Control at 311.

• Missed alley collection: Kansas City does not provide trash collection from alleys. Place bags curbside for pickup.

See the Weekly Trash Collection page for full details on special collection services.

For additional information on trash and recycling services in Kansas City, visit KCMO.gov/Trash. Schedule bulky item pickup, find drop-off locations for hazardous waste, and more.