Lawrence, KS Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum commercial rate
- $34.03/month for two 95-gallon carts weekly
- Extra container fee
- $16.66 per container per pickup
- Weight limit, hand-moved containers
- 250 pounds per cubic yard
- Waiting-time charge
- $34.03 per 15 minutes
- Enforcing department
- Municipal Services and Operations Department
Summary
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.
(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 week. The fee for any additional approved container will be $16.66 per container per pick-up. ... (g)Wheeled commercial containers which must be moved by hand by the collection crew shall be limited to no more than 250 pounds per cubic yard. Heavier loads will be billed at twice the normal fee.
Full Breakdown
Section 9-412(b) classifies every business, commercial, industrial, institutional, or professional establishment as a commercial customer and bills the commercial rate rather than the residential fee. 66 per pick-up. 03 waiting-time charge for each 15 minutes the truck is held up. Where alley space is tight and several businesses in one block share containers, § 9-412(b)(3) prorates the charge by square footage or by the rate the director of the municipal services and operations department publishes on the city's downtown solid waste rates page, and building owners can choose to bill tenants directly or absorb the charge themselves.
Section 9-413(g) separately limits any wheeled commercial container that the crew must move by hand to 250 pounds per cubic yard; loading a heavier container doubles the normal fee. Section 9-413 also sets added charges for containers rented less than a month, container delivery, special cleaning, and weekend, holiday, or after-hours roll-off pickups.
Violations & Fines
Overloading a wheeled commercial container beyond 250 pounds per cubic yard doubles the normal collection fee under § 9-413(g). A commercial account that fails to keep its container accessible or ready for pickup still owes the full per-visit service charge, plus a $34.03 waiting-time charge for every 15 minutes the crew is delayed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lawrence
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