Waste Management Trash FAQs

Your Guide to Lenexa Trash, Recycling & Yard Waste Services

Manage your waste effectively with these guidelines for regular collection, special items, and hazardous materials.

Regular Collection Schedule

Provider: Waste Management (WM)

🗓️ Important Reminders:

Collection Time: All containers must be placed curbside by 7 a.m. on pickup days.
Holidays: Collection is delayed by one day if a Waste Management holiday occurs during the week.
Weather Delays: We will notify residents via email as soon as WM reports service delays due to inclement weather.
Container Rules:
- Container should be 3 feet from other objects.
- Drivers will not pick up loose trash; all waste must be secured inside the container.
- Items sticking out of bins may result in a missed pickup.
- Construction debris may result in a missed pickup.

WM has drop off locations across the USA to properly dispose of the aforementioned household hazardous waste.

View our neighborhood dates on our calendar here.

Universal Recycling Rules (The "Recycle Right" Program)

Waste Management emphasizes three core rules for successful recycling:

Recycle accepted items only: This primarily includes clean and dry bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard.
Keep food and liquid out: Empty and rinse all containers. Food and liquid contamination can spoil an entire batch of otherwise recyclable materials.
No plastic bags and no bagged recyclables: Place accepted items loose in your recycling cart. Plastic bags (and other "tanglers" like hoses or cords) wrap around sorting equipment, causing damage and facility shutdowns.

Accepted Items

Items generally accepted in most WM curbside programs include:

Paper & Cardboard: Flattened cardboard, paperboard (e.g., cereal boxes), newspapers, magazines, office paper, and mail. Soiled paper (like used paper plates or greasy pizza boxes) must be trashed.
Metal Cans: Aluminum, tin, and steel food and beverage cans. Empty aerosol cans are often accepted, too.
Plastic Bottles, Jars, Jugs, and Tubs: Look for rigid plastic containers, such as milk jugs, detergent bottles, and yogurt tubs. Lids can usually be left on the containers. The chasing arrows symbol is not the sole indicator of recyclability; shape is more important.

Prohibited Items

The following items should never be placed in your curbside recycling bin:

Plastic bags and plastic film/wrap: These should be returned to participating grocery or retail stores for recycling (find a location at plasticfilmrecycling.org).
Foam plastic (Styrofoam): Includes cups, plates, and packing peanuts.
Electronics and Batteries: These often contain hazardous materials and require special disposal (check Earth911.org for locations).
"Tanglers": Hoses, ropes, cords, chains, and wires can damage machinery.
Soiled or wet materials: Food-contaminated paper, diapers, and tissues go in the trash.
Glass: Acceptance of glass varies widely by location. Some communities require drop-off or have separate collection.
Clothing/Textiles: Donate these items to organizations like Goodwill or the Salvation Army.

Special Item Disposal (Bulky Items & Hazardous Waste)

Bulky Item Pickup

Lenexa residents receive one free bulky item curbside pickup per year included in their service rate.

To schedule your annual pickup, call WM directly at 800-964-8988 or visit the WM Bulk Trash Pickup page. Or visit https://www.wm.com/us/en/home/bulk-trash-pickup.
Any additional large item pickups within a 12-month period must be arranged and paid for by the homeowner.
Lenexa also offers residents the opportunity to dispose of items during Dumpster Days, which occur twice a year for a fee. https://www.lenexa.com/Your-Residence/Trash-Utilities/Dumpster-Days

Yard Waste Services

Yard waste collection is included in the basic service charge for residential customers.

Disposal Method: Yard waste must be separated from regular trash and placed in a compostable container, such as a brown yard waste bag (available at local hardware and grocery stores).
Bundling Requirements: Tree limbs and brush can be bundled securely (max 48 inches long, 18 inches in diameter, 65 lbs) or placed loosely in rigid containers (max 35 gallons).
Schedule & Limits:
March – November: Collected weekly (limit 6 bags/bundles per pickup).
December – February: Limit increases to 10 bags/bundles per pickup.

Self Drop Off Services

The county landfill will accept waste free of charge if the following regulations are met:

Accepted Materials: Leaves, grass clippings, fallen fruit, nuts, and acorns. Branches must be no bigger than 3" in diameter and 4' long.
Customer Requirements: Material must be generated from the customer's property, and the owner must be present to show proof of residency and service (e.g., current utility bill or ID with service address listed).
Volume Limit: Limited to one load per week per household, with a maximum of 3 cubic yards of material.
Disposal Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8 am to 3:30 pm
Saturday: 8 am to 12 pm
Address: 17955 Holliday Drive, Shawnee, Kansas 66217

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

The following items should NOT be placed in your regular trash or recycling carts: