The Trash Cart Pilot Program is Kansas City's newest curbside waste disposal program. This pilot program began service in selected neighborhoods in the spring 2007. The program has been refined with input from citizens and neighborhood organizations to make it simpler and more cost-effective.

View the program in operation.

Here's the program in brief:

- Regular "household trash" is picked up by the City once a week.

- Regular "household trash," in bags, is placed in a City provided trash cart. The carts hold approximately two standard 40-gallon trash bags or three to four standard 13-gallon kitchen trash bags. Trash needs to be bagged. The City will collect all extra trash placed in trash bags beside the cart. Each additional trash bag requires an "Extra Trash Tag" and may not exceed 40 pounds.

- Recyclables are collected at curbside every week in the blue City-provided recycling bins.

- Leaves and brush are collected at curbside twice a year, once in the spring and once in late autumn.

- Large items are picked up at the curb on scheduled bulky item collection days.

- The pilot program is being conducted in nine neighborhoods between the Missouri River and 63rd Street. Experience in these neighborhoods will help guide further refinements and expansion of the program.

The Pilot Program neighborhoods are:

• Boston Heights
• Center City
• Citadel
• Columbus Park
• Eastern 49/63
• Ivanhoe
• NE Industrial District
• Sante Fe
• Washington Wheatley

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the City considering Trash Carts?
The City is committed to providing services for its citizens. The Trash Cart Program will improve trash service in Kansas City. The process is safer, more efficient, promotes a clean city and brings greater value to our residents and the community.

What can I put in my cart?
Regular bagged household trash and small items such as irons, toasters, fans, lamps, etc. may be placed in the cart. All items placed in the cart must be small enough to ensure a proper lid closure. No yard waste, hot ash, rocks, bricks, gravel, construction materials or liquids will be accepted. No household hazardous waste items such as motor oil or paint will be accepted. Please contact the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at (816) 784-2080 to properly dispose of household hazardous materials.

Does trash need to be placed in a bag before it is put in the cart?
Yes. Using bags in the carts helps keep odors in and animals out. Placing loose trash in the cart creates unsanitary conditions both in the cart and in your neighborhood.

Can I use my cart for yard waste?
No. You may contact a private yard waste hauler or use any of the City's convenient leaf and brush drop-off locations. The City does provide seasonal curbside yard waste collections. When utilizing the City curbside collection, place your yard waste in brown paper bags or bundle limbs no greater than four feet with twine and place out to the curb at least four feet apart from trash or bulky items.

What size is the cart?
The standard-issue cart holds 68 gallons and measures about 25" wide, 26" deep and 42" tall.

What if I need more than one cart?
Only one cart per household will be collected. Any excess trash that cannot properly fit inside the cart will need to have a $1 Excess Trash Tag and be set next to the cart.

What do I do with extra trash if my cart is full?
The City will collect all extra trash placed in trash bags beside the cart, as long as each bag has a $1 trash tag and does not weigh more than 40 pounds.
Do I have to use the cart or can I just put my bags at the curb?
You must use your City-issued cart. Use of the carts is a part of Kansas City's clean city initiative. A major benefit of carts is to prevent animals from getting into your trash bags and scattering trash throughout your neighborhood.

I already own a similar cart. Can I use it instead?
No. Cart uniformity has many advantages. One such advantage is that City-issued carts meet specification requirements for semi-automated collection.

How many bags does a cart hold?
The 68-gallon cart holds about three to four standard 13-gallon kitchen bags. Actual cart capacity depends on the size and capacity of the bags used.

What do I do if my cart is lost or damaged?
Please contact the City's 311 Action Center by dialing 3-1-1 or (816) 513-1313 to report a cart theft or damage incurred during normal use. Damage from normal use will be repaired or replaced by the City. Residents are responsible for damage from abuse such as hot coals, bricks, rocks, etc. In the event of theft, a police report should be filed by the resident. Any person found with a reported stolen cart may have criminal charges filed against them.

Can I take my cart with me if I move?
No. Since carts are bar-coded according to each address in Kansas City, the cart should remain at the address.

I just moved in and I don't have a cart. How do I get one?
The previous resident should have included the cart as part of the home. If not, please notify the City's 311 Action Center by dialing 3-1-1 or (816) 513-1313, to establish your solid waste account. A cart will be delivered within 24 hours.

Can I leave my cart at the curb or does it need to be put away on non-trash days?
A cart, as with trash bags, may be placed out for collection no earlier than 3 p.m. the day before your scheduled collection day. It should be returned to the house as soon as possible after the collection, but no later than 7 p.m. the day of the collection.

How are you going to keep items that are not picked up (oil, gravel, etc.) out of the trash?
We will continue to observe the household trash as it is dumped into the trucks. Any violations found will be left and reported to Neighborhood Preservation for education and/or enforcement action.

Will a deposit be required for the carts?
No. There is no deposit required for the carts. Carts will remain the property of the City.

Where can I store my trash cart?
Carts can be stored conveniently in your garage or side or back yard.

Can I use my cart in the bulky program?
No. Placing the cart out with your bulky items will be a violation and subject to enforcement action. In the event that your bulky day and trash day are the same, please place your bulky items and cart at least four feet apart at the curb.

Where and how do I place my cart at the curb?
The cart should be placed within four feet of the curb with the handle of the cart towards the house. There are arrows and instructions on the cart for reference. Carts should be readily accessible with no barriers in front of the cart such as a parked car.

What if I am elderly or disabled and cannot manage a large cart?
The City will work with you to develop a solution that meets your needs. Residents who are disabled or unable to get trash and/or recyclable material to the curb for collection may be eligible for assistance.

If I am currently enrolled in the City's Disability Service for trash and recycle collection, do I still receive a trash cart?
No. Residents currently enrolled in this program will not receive a cart since the trash and recycling is collected from the porch.
How were the Neighborhoods selected:

Neighborhoods were selected from the following criteria:

• Neighborhoods located between the Missouri River and 63rd Street
• Currently participating in the Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP)
• Operational efficiency for semi-automated collection
• Number of housing units within the neighborhood