Shawnee County, KS Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Bulky waste defined
- interior household replacement items only
- Collection frequency
- once monthly per customer
- Extra charge
- none, if within volume limits
- Excluded items
- fixed carpet, affixed fixtures
- Basement/attic cleanouts
- separate service charge applies
- Max fine
- $1,000.00 Class B misdemeanor
Summary
Shawnee County's refuse department picks up residential 'bulky waste,' items like furniture and appliances, at no extra charge under General Code Sec. 28-5(h), but only once a month per customer and subject to volume limits the solid waste department sets.
Bulky waste means interior household replacement items. The term "bulky waste" excludes room-sized carpeting or any item that has been affixed to the residence (inside or outside). ... Sec. 28-5(h). Residential bulky waste may be collected by the refuse department at no additional charge. Collection is restricted to once monthly service for each customer and is subject to volume limitations established by the department.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 1).
Full Breakdown
General Code Sec. 28-2 defines 'bulky waste' narrowly as 'interior household replacement items,' expressly excluding 'room-sized carpeting or any item that has been affixed to the residence (inside or outside),' so built-in fixtures and wall-to-wall carpet don't qualify. Sec. ' That collection right flows from the same account created automatically under Sec. ' Two related limits matter for anyone doing a bigger cleanout: Sec. 28-5(g) excludes refuse from vacant property and material 'accumulated from cleaning out basements, attics and garages' from the standard monthly charge, making that hauling subject to a separate service charge set by the board of county commissioners, and Sec.
28-43(1) makes it unlawful to 'deposit solid waste for collection on any property other than his or her own,' so bulky items can't be set out at a neighbor's curb. Customers who switch to a licensed private hauler instead of the county refuse department must give the director written change notice under Sec. 28-5(b), or billing continues under Sec. 28-5(c).
Violations & Fines
Sec. 28-45(a) makes a knowing violation of the solid waste article a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.00, with each day of a continuing violation by a hauler or customer treated as a separate offense under Sec. 28-45(b). Unauthorized dumping of bulky items on someone else's property is separately fined $1,000.00 per occurrence under Sec. 28-44(b).
Frequently Asked Questions
How often will Shawnee County pick up my old furniture or appliances?
What counts as 'bulky waste' the county will collect free?
Will the county haul away everything from an attic or basement cleanout for free?
Can I put my bulky items at the curb of a vacant lot next door?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shawnee County
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