St. Louis County, MO Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- SLCRO Ch. 607, Waste Management Code
- Recycling frequency
- Weekly, same as trash
- Plan required before license
- Section 607.170 license
- Customer notice interval
- At least every 6 months
- First violation fine
- $100 (second: $300)
- Municipality exemption threshold
- 40%-50% diversion rate
Summary
Trash haulers licensed to serve one- and two-family homes in unincorporated St. Louis County must file a recovered materials (recycling) plan with the Director of Public Health before getting a license, and must provide weekly recycling pickup alongside weekly trash collection.
607.183 - Plan for Recovered Materials Collection Services to be Made Available by Person Providing Hauling Services.
1. As of January 1, 2008, prior to the issuance of any license pursuant to Section 607.170, the applicant shall submit a plan to the Director for the provision of recovered materials collection services to the one and two family dwelling residential customer served or to be served by the applicant. 2.The plan shall contain:a.a description of the materials which the applicant will accept for recycling.b.a description of any requirements which the applicant will impose on those using the service, including, but not limited toi.whether the applicant requires pre-sorting of recyclable materials;ii.the type of container which may be used for recycling, if any; whether the container must be purchased from the applicant and the cost therefor;iii.the fee imposed by the applicant for the provision of the minimum level of service.c.A list of the incorporated municipalities for which the applicant has a contract for the collection of one and two family dwelling residential municipal waste and a copy of each contract including fees.3.The Director shall approve the plan if it provides a reasonable fee, reasonable requirements imposed by the applicant on persons using the recovered material collection service, and provides that material for which the Director believes a market exists is included in the list of materials which the applicant will accept for recycling.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Traffic: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
170, the applicant hauler must submit a written plan for recovered materials (recycling) collection covering its one- and two-family dwelling residential customers in unincorporated St. 183. The plan must describe which materials the hauler will accept for recycling, whether pre-sorting is required, what container type is required and whether it must be purchased from the hauler (and at what cost), the fee charged for the minimum level of service, and a list of incorporated municipalities under contract with copies of those contracts including fees. The Director approves the plan only if the fee and requirements are reasonable and the accepted-materials list includes items for which the Director believes a market exists, as specified in rules the Director promulgates.
181 minimum-service standard, licensed residential haulers must provide weekly Recovered Materials collection alongside weekly Municipal Waste collection and biannual bulky waste pickup (bulky waste excludes Banned Items), a duty that took effect January 1, 2008 or at the end of an existing contract term if later. 183 plan, the collection schedule, and any charges or sorting requirements. 185. A hauler serving a municipality is exempt from the recycling-collection duty within that municipality only if the municipality itself operates a drop-off recycling facility and documents a 40 percent waste diversion rate (rising to 50 percent after January 1, 2010) in the preceding six months.
Violations & Fines
The Department of Public Health's Director may cite any person who violates Sections 607.181 through 607.185, including failure to submit or comply with the recovered materials collection plan. The county's own fine schedule lists a $100 fine for a first violation of Section 607.183 (failure to make available a plan for recovered material collection) and $300 for a second violation. The citation requires payment by mail or in person at the Department of Public Health within ten days of receipt, and the Director may also suspend a hauler's license for failing to submit or comply with the plan or for not providing the required services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does St. Louis County require curbside recycling in unincorporated areas?
What must a hauler's recycling plan include?
What happens if a hauler skips the recycling plan requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis County
Compare St. Louis County to another location·View the Missouri trash & recycling overview
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