Chloe Zhang
Kansas City has two recycling facilities, both operated by private companies. The facilities are located in Shawnee and Harrisonville, and they are where all of the city's recycling goes. Kansas City residents are advised to recycle plastic containers with resin codes #1 through #7. Plastic containers such as bottles, tubs, and jars are recyclable in curbside recycling bins and at area recycling centers. Plastic films and non-food Styrofoam packaging are not accepted by local Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) but are accepted by other businesses. Kansas City's curbside recycling pickup program is paid for by taxes and requires no registration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of recycling centers in Kansas City | 3 |
| Operating days and hours of the recycling centers | Wednesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Materials accepted at the recycling centers | Plastic, clear/brown/green glass, ink cartridges, scrap metal, household/lawn chemicals, fuel, paint, batteries |
| Curbside recycling pickup | Available |
| Curbside recycling bin items that are not recyclable | Plastic bags, plastic clamshells, takeout boxes, snack wrappers, Styrofoam food/beverage containers |
| Plastic items that are recyclable | Plastic containers (bottles, tubs, jars), plastic film (retail shopping bags, plastic shipping envelopes), non-food Styrofoam packaging |
| Where to recycle plastic film and non-food Styrofoam packaging | Local grocery stores, big box stores, and some businesses |
| Where recycled materials are sent | Domestic and international buyers; specific destinations are constantly changing |
| Contamination rate of recyclable materials | Up to 18% |
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What You'll Learn
Curbside recycling pickup
Kansas City provides its residents with a curbside recycling pickup program to encourage proper recycling and reduce landfill waste. The program is funded by taxes and does not require registration.
Kansas City's curbside recycling program accepts plastic containers such as bottles, tubs, and jars, as well as cardboard with plastic caps. Residents are advised to ensure that recyclables are empty, clean, and dry, larger than a credit card, and have their caps and lids put back on. Plastic shopping bags and shipping envelopes can be recycled at local grocery and big box stores, while Styrofoam packaging can be recycled at specific businesses in the metro area.
The city also provides special twice-a-year pickups for leaves and brush in the spring and fall, with no appointments needed. For bulky item disposal, residents can schedule a pickup through the city's website or the myKCMO app.
To ensure efficient collection, residents are advised to place residential solid waste within 10 feet of the street and set out small items in bags. In the event of a missed pickup, residents can report it within one business day using the phone number provided or the online form.
Kansas City's curbside recycling program offers a convenient and easy way for residents to recycle and reduce waste, contributing to a greener and more sustainable environment.
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Drop-off centres
Kansas City has three recycling drop-off centres that are open to the public on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. These centres are staffed by volunteers from Bridging the Gap, a local non-profit organisation. Any item that is accepted in your curbside recycling bin is also accepted at these centres, including clear, brown, and green glass, as well as ink cartridges and scrap metal.
The Environmental Campus at 4707 Deramus Ave. contains both a recycling centre and a hazardous waste facility. Residents can bring household and lawn chemicals, fuel, paint, batteries, and other similar substances to be disposed of safely.
Another option for dropping off recyclables is the Recycling Center in Overland Park, Kansas. This centre is open Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The last entry is at 3:50 p.m. to allow visitors time to drop off items and clear the facility by closing time. This centre accepts a variety of materials, including cardboard, paper, steel, and aluminium, with some specific restrictions on what is accepted. For example, cardboard must be dry and free of mould, and food and drink containers must have their caps and lids removed.
In addition to these dedicated drop-off centres, some plastic items can be recycled at other locations. Plastic containers such as bottles, tubs, and jars are accepted in your curbside recycling bin and at area recycling centres. Plastic films, such as shopping bags and shipping envelopes, can be recycled at many local grocery and big-box stores. Finally, Styrofoam packaging that comes with new appliances, furniture, or electronics can be recycled at two different businesses in the metro area.
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Plastic contamination
Kansas City has three recycling drop-off centers that are open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and are staffed by volunteers from Bridging the Gap, a local environmental non-profit. Any item allowed in your curbside recycling bin is also accepted at your local recycling center. The centers also accept clear, brown, and green glass, as well as ink cartridges and scrap metal.
The Environmental Campus at 4707 Deramus Ave. contains both a recycling center and a hazardous waste facility. Household and lawn chemicals, fuel, paint, batteries, and other substances can be brought here to be safely disposed of.
The easiest way to recycle in Kansas City is to participate in curbside recycling pickup. In the city of Kansas City, Missouri, this program is paid for through taxes and requires no registration. Plastic containers such as bottles, tubs, and jars are recyclable in your curbside recycling bin and at area recycling centers. Plastic films, like retail shopping bags and plastic shipping envelopes, are recyclable at many local grocery stores and big-box stores.
However, plastic contamination is a significant issue in Kansas City. According to the Mid-America Regional Council, many Kansas City area residents are throwing unrecyclable plastic into their recycling carts at the curb. This includes plastic bags, packaging envelopes, grocery bags, and bubble wrap. These items can cause machines at recycling facilities to clog, and they often end up in landfills.
To address this issue, the Mid-America Regional Council has released a flyer to help residents understand how to recycle plastic properly. The flyer provides clear information about what types of plastics are recyclable and where to recycle them. It is important for residents to pay attention to the type of item rather than resin codes, as not all items with a certain resin code are recyclable. For example, water bottles are recyclable, but not all items with a #1 resin code are.
Additionally, residents need to properly prepare plastic containers for recycling. They must be empty, clean, and dry, larger than a credit card (as smaller items cannot be sorted and are disposed of), and have caps and lids put back on.
By following these guidelines, Kansas City residents can help reduce plastic contamination and improve the effectiveness of the city's recycling efforts.
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Plastic types and resin codes
Recycling plastic in Kansas City can be done through curbside pickup or by dropping off items at special sites. Plastic containers such as bottles, tubs, and jars can be recycled in your curbside recycling bin and at area recycling centers. Plastic films, like retail shopping bags, are recyclable at many local grocery and big-box stores. Plastic food containers are often made of mixed materials that cannot be recycled, but coated paper cartons with plastic caps can be recycled.
Now, onto the different plastic types and resin codes. Resin codes, also known as recycling codes, are numerical symbols found on plastic products that indicate the type of plastic resin used. These codes help consumers and recyclers identify and sort plastics for recycling purposes. The Resin Identification Code (RIC) system was first introduced in 1988 by the US Society of the Plastics Industry (now the Plastics Industry Association) and has since been adopted by a growing number of communities implementing recycling programs. The RIC consists of a solid triangle enclosing a number, with the numbers 1 to 6 indicating that the packaging is made from one of six specific types of plastic:
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET): PET is lightweight, strong, and highly transparent, often used for plastic bottles and containers for items like shampoo, conditioner, and vitamins. It is widely recycled and can be reused for new containers, textiles, and carpeting.
- High-density polyethylene (HDPE): HDPE is commonly recycled and used for creating new containers, pipes, and plastic lumber.
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): PVC is known for its versatility and durability, and it can be rigid or flexible depending on additives. However, PVC recycling is less common due to the release of harmful chemicals during processing.
- Low-density polyethylene (LDPE): LDPE is flexible, tough, and resistant to moisture. It is recycled into products like bin liners and floor tiles, but its recycling rates are lower than PET and HDPE.
- Polypropylene (PP): PP is used in various applications, including packaging and healthcare products.
- Polystyrene (PS): There are two types of polystyrene: brittle plastic and expanded polystyrene, which is lightweight, insulating, and waterproof. Polystyrene is not recyclable in standard Local Authority collections.
The number 7 on resin codes indicates that the packaging is made of a type of plastic other than the previous six or is a mixture of plastics. This category includes bioplastics, composite plastics (like crisp wrappers), plastic-coated wrapping paper, and polycarbonate. While these codes help with sorting, they do not guarantee that the packaging is recyclable. The recyclability of an item depends on various factors, including the value of the material and the level of contamination.
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Plastic recycling destinations
Kansas City has two recycling facilities, both operated by private companies. One is in Shawnee, operated by Waste Management, and the other is just outside Harrisonville, Missouri, operated by GFL. The end destinations of recycled materials are constantly changing, so facility managers have not disclosed where each truckload ends up. However, Tronnie Blair, the manager of the Shawnee facility, stated that 100% of his materials are sold to domestic buyers. Jeremy Cooper, the manager of the Harrisonville facility, said that most plastic and metal stay in the U.S., while some paper and cardboard are sold abroad to manufacturers in India and Malaysia.
Recycling facilities in Kansas City use high-speed robots to "pick" plastics out of the stream and get them to the proper collection area. However, these robots are not as efficient or precise as human sorters. Bales of plastics are then sold to manufacturers around the country.
Kansas City residents can recycle plastic containers such as bottles, tubs, and jars through curbside recycling bins and at area recycling centres. Plastic films, like retail shopping bags and plastic shipping envelopes, are recyclable at many local grocery and big-box stores. Non-food Styrofoam packaging is not accepted by local material recovery facilities (MRFs) but is accepted by other businesses with end markets for them.
It is important to prepare plastic containers for recycling properly. They must be empty, clean, and dry, larger than a credit card (as smaller items may be too small for sorting equipment), and have their caps and lids put back on.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear how many households recycle plastic in Kansas City. However, Kansas City's Waste Management officials report receiving 8,000 tons of waste per month, of which up to 18% is contaminated or non-recyclable.
The easiest way to recycle plastic in Kansas City is to participate in the curbside recycling pickup program. Plastic containers such as bottles, tubs, and jars are accepted in your curbside recycling bin. Plastic films, such as shopping bags and plastic envelopes, can be recycled at many local grocery and big box stores. Plastic containers must be empty, clean, dry, and larger than a credit card to be recycled.
Kansas City residents have been told to recycle plastic containers with resin codes #1 through #7. However, not all plastics with these codes are necessarily recyclable. Plastic containers, films, and Styrofoam are the three general types of plastics that regularly enter homes and can be recycled through different means in the Kansas City metro area.
