Your Complete Guide to Kearney, NE Trash and Recycling Pickup

Navigating trash and recycling collection in Kearney, NE can seem confusing. This guide provides a breakdown of trash pickup schedules, accepted materials, and key information for Kearney residents and businesses to ensure you know when to take out the trash.

Overview of Trash and Recycling Service in Kearney

The City of Kearney provides trash and recycling collection for households and businesses located within city limits.

• Trash collection happens once per week on designated days depending on your location.
• Recycling is picked up every other week.
• Special yard waste collection is also offered seasonally.

The city provides printable collection route maps and an online lookup tool where you can enter an address to see your assigned collection day.

All trash, recycling, and yard waste carts must be placed curbside by 7AM on pickup days.

Standard Trash Collection Policies

• Kearney provides one 96-gallon cart per property included with trash service.
• Extra carts can be requested for $5 monthly fee per cart.
• Weight limit is 200 lbs per cart.
• Carts must be 3-5 feet away from other objects.
• Trash must be bagged inside carts with lids fully closed.

Accepted trash items:

• Bagged household waste
• Food scraps
• Non-recyclable paper
• Plastics not accepted in curbside recycling

Non-allowable items:

• Hazardous waste
• Electronics
• Appliances
• Yard waste
• Construction debris
• Vehicle parts

Recycling Collection

• Recycling is collected every other week on your designated day.
• Kearney provides one 96-gallon recycling cart per property.
• All recyclables can be mixed together in the cart – no sorting required.

Accepted curbside recyclables:

• Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs
• Glass bottles and jars
• Metal cans
• Paper and cardboard
• Milk and juice cartons

Make sure all containers are empty and free of food debris before recycling. Do not bag recyclables.

Yard Waste Collection

• Yard waste pickup happens seasonally April 1 through November 30.
• Grass clippings, leaves, garden debris must be placed in paper yard waste bags or reusable containers marked with an X.
• Brush must be bundled in 4-foot lengths.
• Christmas trees are collected free during the first 2 weeks of January.

Bulky Item Pickup

Bulky items like appliances and furniture can be collected curbside for an additional fee by scheduling a pickup. Available 1-2 times per month.

Accepted bulky items:

• Furniture
• Mattresses
• Appliances
• Grill (no propane tank)

Building materials, electronics, hazardous waste cannot be collected.

Holiday Collection Schedule

Trash pickup is delayed by one day after major holidays like Christmas, New Year’s, Memorial Day, etc. View Kearney’s holiday collection schedule for exact dates.

If your normal pickup falls after the holiday that week, it moves to the following day. For example:

• Regular day – Thursday
• Holiday – Monday
• New pickup day – Friday

Contacts for Missed Pickup or Questions

Contact Kearney Sanitation Division at 308-233-3273 if your trash or recycling was missed or if you have any other collection questions.

For bulky item pickup, call 308-233-3273 or submit a request form online to schedule.

View your personalized collection schedule or download calendars on the Kearney trash and recycling page.

Recycling Tips for Kearney Homes and Businesses

Follow these tips to recycle right in Kearney:

• Place cart at curb by 7AM on pickup days.
• Do not bag recyclables – keep loose in cart.
• Rinse containers to remove food residue.
• Break down cardboard boxes.
• Keep lids and caps on bottles and jars.
• No plastic bags, film, or Styrofoam. Use drop-off locations for these.
• No clothing, shoes, electronics, batteries.
• No yard waste or wood pieces.

Improper recycling can contaminate loads and cause more waste to end up in the landfill. Make sure you know what can and cannot be placed in Kearney’s curbside recycling program.

Additional Kearney Waste Resources

Kearney Recycling Guide – Details on preparing and sorting recyclables.

Hazardous Waste Disposal – How to properly dispose of hazardous items.

Sanitation Division – Contact information and overview of trash services.

Online Service Requests – Form for bulky item pickup, cart delivery, and other requests.

Following Kearney’s trash and recycling policies helps prevent litter, extends the life of the landfill, and saves taxpayer dollars. Contact the city’s Sanitation Division at 308-233-3273 if you have any other questions about trash, recycling, or yard waste collection in Kearney.