Public’s Help Needed to Reduce Waste Collection Challenges

Published on July 01, 2022

The Unified Government Public Works Department’s Solid Waste team is seeing a notable increase in the number of missed residential trash and recycling collections. Public Works Department leaders acknowledged that these missed collections are frustrating for residents and asked for the public’s help to reduce these waste collection challenges.

The recent increase in missed trash and recycling collections results from staffing shortages and labor sources available to Waste Management; the company contracted to collect trash and recyclables for the Unified Government. These challenges mean that Waste Management drivers can sometimes not complete their routes. As a result, large areas of Wyandotte County are running behind schedule on trash and recycling collections.

Residents can be assured that the Unified Government is committed to working closely with Waste Management to reduce missed trash and recycling collection and quickly recover items.

“Public Works staff knows that Wyandotte County residents are frustrated. The hard-working men and women who drive these routes are also frustrated. Staffing shortages are straining residential trash and recycling services right now,” said Dave Reno, Public Works’ Community Engagement Officer, “Both our Solid Waste Management and the Waste Management teams are committed to overcoming these challenges. As we work toward these solutions, residents can do a few things to help speed up collection, reduce missed collections, and help drivers stay on schedule.”

How Residents Can Help

1. Leave it at the curb – don’t bring it back in!
   • Recovering your missed items can take a day or two. Leave your items at the curb or street edge until they are recovered. Bringing your missed trash or recycling back into your garage or placing it on the side of your house can result in it being missed again.
2. Make sure you put your trash and recycling at the curb or street edge by 7 AM
   • Putting your trash out on time helps prevent it from being missed. You can put it out as early as 4 PM the day before your scheduled pickup.
3. Put your trash and recycling in containers
   • Put your trash and recycling in sealed containers whenever possible. Doing this helps speed up the collection process by making it easier to handle for drivers, and it keeps your items from blowing around the neighborhood if the container in which they are stored is knocked over.
4. Bundle sticks and branches
   • Branches and sticks should be tied in bundles 4-feet or less in length and weigh no more than 50 lbs.
5. Avoid bulky items
   • Avoid putting bulky items out for collection. Bulky item collection takes time and slows the collection process down significantly. The longer it takes a driver to collect your items, the longer it takes them to pick up items at your neighbor’s house.
6. Call ahead for large items
   • Large items like refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners are only picked up if you call (913) 631-3300 and request pick up in advance.
7. Wrap your mattresses
   • You are encouraged to wrap old mattresses in clear plastic before setting them out for pickup, in order to help protect drivers from things like bed bugs and lice.
8. Don’t report missed collection to Waste Management
   • Always report service issues by calling 3-1-1 or visiting mywyco.wycokck.org. Using these services allows Public Works to follow up directly with Waste Management and ensure your missed items are recovered.

Reno also emphasized that Waste Management is actively looking for new workers. If you or someone you know is interested in a career in Waste Management, visit https://www.wm.com/careers. For more information about trash and recyclables collection, visit wycokck.org/waste.