Missouri City Starts Weekly Collections

The city of Kansas City, Mo., will be introducing weekly curbside collection of recyclables. The program will begin Nov. 1.

Kansas City has provided curbside recycling program on a bi-weekly collection basis since implementation was phased in across the city beginning in March 2004. On Sept.15, the City Council approved an ordinance providing for weekly recycling collection.

Recycling is voluntary, so eligible households can set their recyclables out every week or on an as-needed basis. Eligible households are single-family residences and apartment buildings of six or fewer units. Residents do not need to call or sign up for the service; the blue KC Recycles bin signals the recycling truck to stop. Free recycling bins were provided to residents as the program was implemented.

Kansas City accepts two trash bags with no tags each week. Each additional bag requires a trash tag that can be purchased for $1 at a number of participating stores.

Recyclables will continue to be collected on the same day that trash is collected.

KC Recycles has recycled 12,000 tons of material this year, and a total of 19,000 tons since March 2004. Recycling has increased from about 1,300 tons per month earlier this year to an average of 1,495 tons per month for August and September.