The upcoming Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays mean that trash and recycling collection will be delayed one day for residents with Friday pickups. So, if trash day is Friday, Dec. 25, trash and recycling will be collected on Saturday, Dec. 26. The same schedule holds true for Friday, Jan. 1. There are no other delays in service.

Also in time for the holidays, Kansas City, Mo., residents will be able to set out up to 12 bags of trash, weighing less than 40 pounds each, during the week of Dec. 26 through 31. This free, no-tag service is provided to help ease the burden of having to dispose of the extra trash accumulated during the holiday season. However, hazardous waste, bulky items or leaf and brush will not be accepted.

After the holidays, residents are encouraged to recycle holiday lights and real trees. Kansas City residents can dispose of trees for free on Saturdays through Jan. 16, 2021, at one of three leaf and brush sites. Trees must be free of tinsel, lights and other ornaments. Proof of Kansas City residency is required. Trees can also be dropped off at the sites Monday through Friday for a $5 fee.

Residents are also encouraged to recycle plastics #1-7, cardboard, seasonal gift boxes and non-working strands of holiday lights. They can be brought to one of three recycling centers. The centers are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Check the city’s website before going to the centers because operating hours may change due to the holidays.

Gift wrap and tissue paper are not recyclable. Here are a few sustainable, alternative options: reusable gift bags or boxes, reusable fabric gift bags, baskets, fabric scraps or brown grocery sacks decorated by kids.

“This holiday season, get creative and help reduce what goes to our landfill,” the Solid Waste Services Department recommends.    
 
For more information, contact Shannon Dooley, Solid Waste Services Marketing and Customer Care Manager at Shannon.Dooley@kcmo.org.