Trash & Recycling in Kansas City, MO (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Kansas City, Missouri, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Kansas City collects curbside refuse weekly, but residents may not set carts or bags out before 3:00 p.m. the day before pickup or leave them past 7:00 a.m. on collection day.
Kansas City Trash Placement Timing Rules
Some RestrictionsKansas City Code of Ordinances § 62-42
No refuse shall be placed curbside earlier than 3:00 p.m. the day before the scheduled day of collection or later than 7:00 a.m. the day of collection. ... Disposable refuse bags not bearing an excess refuse tag shall not be collected.
Bin Placement Rules
Kansas City requires households to use their city-issued KCart for weekly curbside refuse, set it out no earlier than 3 p.m. the day before pickup, and keep it within ten feet of the curb at ground level.
Kansas City Garbage Cart Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsKansas City Code of Ordinances § 62-42(a), (e); § 62-47(a)(5)-(6)
Any person issued a wheeled refuse cart by the city shall exclusively utilize that cart in lieu of placing loose bags curbside... No refuse shall be placed curbside earlier than 3:00 p.m. the day before the scheduled day of collection or later than 7:00 a.m. the day of collection... It shall be unlawful for any person to:...Place refuse...curbside for collection in a location more than ten feet...
Bulk Item Disposal
Kansas City picks up bulky items curbside by appointment only, capping each item at 500 pounds and barring construction debris, under City Code Chapter 62.
Kansas City Bulky Item Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsKansas City Code of Ordinances § 62-45
Periodic curbside collection of bulky items shall be provided by the city to each eligible dwelling unit. Collection of bulky items shall be by appointment only. The director shall establish a system for scheduling appointments.(b)The director shall establish rules and regulations governing the types of bulky items that may be placed curbside for collection, the manner in which such materials a...
Recycling Requirements
Kansas City provides weekly curbside recycling to eligible dwellings, but only from units using a city-approved KC Recycles bin displayed at the curb.
Kansas City Curbside Recycling Rules
Some RestrictionsKansas City Code of Ordinances § 62-43
Collection of recyclable materials shall be provided by city to each eligible dwelling unit once per week on a schedule to be established by the director, provided the recyclable materials originated from the eligible unit, placing the same curbside. Collection shall be provided as follows:(1)Recyclable materials may be placed curbside in a non-disposable receptacle (KC Recycles bin) provided o...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping garbage, rubbish, yard waste or litter on public or private property in Kansas City, Missouri is a fine-and-jail offense, with steeper mandatory fines on vacant lots and city parkland.
Kansas City Illegal Dumping Penalties
Significant RestrictionsKansas City Code of Ordinances § 62-89
No person shall dump or otherwise deposit or cause, permit, suffer or allow the dumping or depositing of any garbage, rubbish, yard waste, litter or any other offensive or disagreeable thing in any public place... or upon any private property... without the consent of the owner... Any person violating any of the provisions of this section, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not les...
Yard Waste Collection
Kansas City collects leaves and brush curbside on a schedule the director sets each year, but only if it's bagged in paper lawn sacks or twine-tied bundles under four feet long.
Kansas City Yard Waste & Brush Collection
Some RestrictionsKansas City Code of Ordinances § 62-44
Periodic curbside collection of leaves and brush shall be provided by city to each eligible dwelling unit with such frequency as determined by the director from time to time, provided the leaves and brush originated from the eligible building site, placing the same curbside. The director shall annually determine the number of curbside collections to be made during the year and, if curbside coll...
Dumpster Rules
Kansas City requires multiplex, multi-unit residential, and nonresidential properties to screen dumpsters, trash compactors, and recycling bins from public view on all sides, using a solid fence, wall, or gate that is appropriately landscaped.
Kansas City Dumpster Screening Requirements
Some RestrictionsKansas City Zoning and Development Code § 88-425-08-A
Trash containers, dumpsters, trash compactors, and recycling bins associated with multiplex, multi-unit residential, and nonresidential uses must be screened from public view on all sides with a solid fence, wall, or gate constructed of cedar, redwood, masonry or other similar building material reflecting the overall design of the site, and be appropriately landscaped.
Collection Schedule
Kansas City picks up curbside refuse once a week at buildings with six or fewer units, with a strict set-out window from 3 p.m. the day before to 7 a.m. on collection day.
Kansas City Trash Collection Schedule
Some RestrictionsKansas City Code of Ordinances § 62-42
Curbside collection of refuse... shall be provided by the city to each eligible building described in 62-41(a) once per week on a schedule to be established by the director... No refuse shall be placed curbside earlier than 3:00 p.m. the day before the scheduled day of collection or later than 7:00 a.m. the day of collection.
Recycling Rules
Kansas City runs weekly curbside recycling pickup for eligible dwelling units, but only from units displaying a city-approved KC Recycles bin, under City Code § 62-43. The city also runs free drop-off sites for residents.
Kansas City Recycling Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsKansas City Code of Ordinances § 62-43
Collection of recyclable materials shall be provided by city to each eligible dwelling unit once per week on a schedule to be established by the director... Recyclable materials shall not be collected from any eligible dwelling unit not displaying a city-approved recycling container at the curbside... The director shall provide one or more areas or sites where all residents of the city may disp...
Looking for Jackson County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Kansas City city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Jackson County →