Trash & Recycling in Lawrence, KS (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Lawrence, Kansas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
In the City of Lawrence, every single-family and multiple-family home not served by a trash dumpster must use a city-owned roll-out trash cart for garbage, refuse, and yard waste collection. The city assigns a standard 65-gallon cart, with 35-gallon and 95-gallon alternatives available under Lawrence City Code § 9-403. Owners and occupants are responsible for the cart's day-to-day care.
Lawrence, KS Trash Cart Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsLawrence City Code § 9-403
(a)Each single-family and multiple-family dwelling unit, unless such dwelling unit is located in an area served by a trash dumpster, shall use a city roll-out trash cart for the city's collection and removal of garbage, refuse, and yard waste. ... (c)City roll-out trash carts will be made available in three sizes: 35 gallons, 65 gallons, and 95 gallons. The 65-gallon size shall be standard. ......
Bin Placement Rules
In the City of Lawrence, Lawrence City Code § 9-407 tells residents exactly where and when to set out trash carts: within six feet of the alley or curb, out no earlier than 24 hours before collection and no later than 6:00 a.m. on pickup day, then pulled back within 24 hours after the truck comes.
Lawrence, KS Trash Cart Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsLawrence City Code § 9-407
(a)Unless another pickup point has been approved by the director of the municipal services and operations department, all portable containers containing refuse, upon days of collection thereof, shall be placed by the occupant outside of any existing yard fence and within six feet of the alley in all blocks where alley pickup service is provided or within six feet of the curb in those blocks in ...
Bulk Item Disposal
In the City of Lawrence, residential bulk items too large for the weekly cart route, ranges, bed frames, washers, water heaters, refrigerators, air conditioners, and big rolls of carpet, go out through the bulk pick-up program under Lawrence City Code § 9-414, arranged in advance with the solid waste division and billed according to the time and equipment the pickup takes.
Lawrence, KS Bulk Item Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsLawrence City Code § 9-414
A fee schedule for certain types of residential bulk item waste may be established by the municipal services and operations department. Residential bulk item waste means large items which cannot be collected with standard residential solid waste collection equipment during weekly scheduled routes, such as ranges, bed frames, washers, water heaters, refrigerators, air conditioners, large quantit...
Recycling Requirements
In the City of Lawrence, the city runs single stream curbside recycling for every single-family and multifamily dwelling under Lawrence City Code § 9-502, picked up once every other week per § 9-505(b). Recycling itself is voluntary under § 9-504, but declining to participate does not excuse a household from the monthly solid waste charge that already includes the recycling fee.
Lawrence, KS Curbside Recycling Service
Light RestrictionsLawrence City Code §§ 9-502, 9-504, 9-505
The city shall have the right to collect permitted recyclable materials, as defined in this article, for single-family and multifamily dwellings within the city limits. No other person shall collect residential permitted recyclable materials within the city unless authorized by license or other formal agreement with the city. ... Nothing in this article shall prohibit any person from declining ...
Illegal Dumping
In the City of Lawrence, Lawrence City Code § 9-408 makes it unlawful for any resident, business, contractor, or builder to accumulate or deposit refuse on a lot, driveway, alley, street, or any other place in the city, and bars throwing or dumping trash on someone else's property or on public streets and alleys.
Lawrence, KS Illegal Dumping Ban
Heavy RestrictionsLawrence City Code § 9-408
It shall be unlawful for the owner or occupant of any residence, institution, professional, commercial, or business establishment, or for contractors or builders engaged in construction or remodeling projects, to deposit or accumulate refuse in or upon any lot, parcel of land, public or private drive, alley, street or other place in the city. No person shall permit or allow any refuse to be sca...
Yard Waste Collection
Lawrence's Municipal Services and Operations Department collects yard waste, meaning leaves, grass, and small trimmings under 0.5 inch thick, separately from trash on the regular residential collection day during the yard waste season. Trimmings must be bundled or bagged in kraft paper or roll-out carts; plastic bags are strictly prohibited.
Lawrence Yard Waste Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsLawrence City Code §§ 9-402, 9-404(d), 9-406(a)
Yard waste includes leaves, grass, trimmings from lawn and flower gardens, and small twigs or sticks less than 0.5 inch in diameter. ... (d)Acceptable containers for yard waste shall be city roll-out yard waste carts, or compostable kraft paper bags especially designed for yard waste. Plastic bags and other refuse cans are strictly prohibited. ... (a)Yard, shrub, or tree trimmings not bundled o...
Dumpster Rules
In the City of Lawrence, businesses, industrial sites, and institutions are billed as commercial customers under Lawrence City Code § 9-412(b): the minimum commercial rate of $34.03 a month covers two 95-gallon poly-carts emptied once a week, and wheeled commercial containers moved by hand are capped at 250 pounds per cubic yard.
Lawrence, KS Commercial Dumpster Rules
Some RestrictionsLawrence City Code §§ 9-412, 9-413
(b)Business, commercial, industrial, institutional service. All business, commercial, industrial, institutional or professional facilities or establishments are classified, hereunder, as commercial customers and shall be charged the commercial rate as follows:(1)The minimum commercial rate shall be $34.03 per month, which allows the customer to have two 95-gallon poly-carts picked up once each ...
Collection Schedule
In the City of Lawrence, the city holds the exclusive right to collect and dispose of residential refuse, and no one else may run a trash-hauling service without a city license or agreement. Under Lawrence City Code § 9-411, every premises receiving city water or sewer service is billed a mandatory monthly refuse charge, whether or not the resident sets out trash.
Lawrence, KS Mandatory Trash Collection Service
Some RestrictionsLawrence City Code §§ 9-401, 9-411
(a)The city shall have the exclusive right to collect and dispose of refuse within the city limits and no other person shall collect and dispose of refuse within the city unless authorized by license or other formal agreement with the city. ... The refuse collection charge shall be levied against every premises within the city limits which is receiving city water or sewer service and every occu...
Recycling Rules
In the City of Lawrence, Lawrence City Code § 9-508 lists exactly what residents may set out for recycling, glass containers, mixed paper, newsprint, office paper, bagged shredded paper, cardboard, metal food and beverage containers, scrap metal, and #1-7 plastics, and § 9-509 requires containers to be empty and paper to stay clean and dry.
Lawrence, KS Recycling Material Rules
Some RestrictionsLawrence City Code §§ 9-508, 9-509, 9-512
(a)Residential customers may place the following materials in their designated roll-out cart or dumpster for recyclable materials for collection service:(1)Glass food and beverage containers (glass bottles and jars); ... (9)Plastic containers marked with recycling symbols #1 through #7 (plastic bottles, tubs and jars); and ... (a)All permitted recyclable materials consisting of glass, metal, or...