Trash & Recycling
Trash Containers and Collection
Residential trash pick up is NOT a City-provided service. It's the responsibility of individual residents or home associations to arrange for service with one of the city's permitted trash haulers.
Trash must be collected at least once weekly at all properties. On trash collection day, containers may be placed outside on private property for pickup. On other days, containers and bags must be either stored indoors or placed outside behind the front of the residence and screened from view.
Permitted Trash Haulers
Waste Management (Deffenbaugh)
913-631-3300
Gardner Disposal
913-856-3851
*Commercial and roll off dumpster service only
KC Disposal
816-388-9739
Solid Waste Regulations
Find information about Johnson County's solid waste management program and regulations at jocogov.org.
Free City Services
Large-Item Pickup
April and October
Twice a year, Merriam collects large-items for residents to dispose of during the third full weeks in April and October. Call our Public Works Department at 913-322-5570 with any questions.
Tree Limb Pickup
March
Merriam Public Works offers free curbside tree limb pickup once a year. Any tree limb or brush larger than a pencil will be collected.
Christmas Tree Pickup
First week in January
Public Works crews will collect holiday trees in early January. Place trees curbside by 7 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day.
Recycling Opportunities
All trash haulers who operate in the City of Merriam are required to offer recycling as part of their services. Since items accepted for recycling vary by hauler, check with your trash provider to see what items are approved for recycling pickup. As a general guideline, RecycleSpot created a flyer with items that do and do not belong in the curbside recycling bin.
One universal rule for recycling bins is leave all of your recycling items loose in the bin. Bagged items may end up in the landfill. Don't put any plastic bags or flexible plastic product wrap in your recycling bin. This type of plastic gets caught in the machinery at recycling facilities and slows down processing. Many area grocery and retail stores offer recycling options for plastic bags. Learn more on Johnson County's Recycling 101.
RecycleSpot.org
The Mid-America Regional Council has a searchable database on RecycleSpot.org for finding exactly where to take specific items. It is searchable by material, city, or county.
Community Recycling Event
Merriam partners with neighboring cities on a yearly community-wide recycling event to provide an opportunity for residents to drop off a variety of items in one convenient location. Learn more about this event.
Recycling Centers
There are more ways to recycle than just through a curbside collection program. You can take your materials to a community recycling drop-off center. There are several in Johnson County:
Electronics Recycling
Looking to dispose of unwanted electronics? There are several options available to Johnson County residents. Old computers, TVs, stereos, and nearly anything with a cord can be recycled at Merriam's annual Community Recycling Event (fees may apply). Johnson County Department of Health and Environment provides additional drop-off locations on their website.
Latex Paint
Have a few cans of latex paint you don’t need anymore? The Johnson County Household Hazardous Waste Facility collects unneeded latex paint. Good paint is used in their latex paint recycling program, and re-blended latex paint is available for purchase. Appointments are required to drop off unwanted paint. No appointment is necessary for picking up paint.
Glass
Ripple Glass, a glass collection and processing company, has placed numerous purple glass recycling bins throughout the county. These drop-off locations are conveniently located so you can swing by and drop off your glass recycling while running other errands. In Merriam, a collection bin is located in the front parking lot at IKEA. Find other locations.
Ripple Glass can also help you find available curbside glass recycling collection providers for your convenience.
Household Hazardous Waste
The Johnson County Household Waste and Reuse Facility is now located in Overland Park (11231 Mastin St.) off College Blvd.
Improper disposal of household hazardous waste, such as paint, oil, and fertilizers, can cause serious environmental concerns and may present a health hazard to people who come in contact with the improperly disposed items.
Johnson County residents can safely get rid of household hazardous waste products at no charge by visiting the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment's disposal facility. The disposal facility is available by appointment only, but appointments can easily be made by calling 913-715-6907 or online.
Household hazardous waste includes paint, oil, compact fluorescent light bulbs, gasoline, stains, solvents, insecticides and pool chemicals. To help identify other common household hazardous waste items that shouldn't be thrown in the trash, look on product labels for words such as "corrosive," "reactive," "toxic," "flammable," or "explosive."
You can purchase paint through the re-blended paint program, and the Free Store has usable items, such as stain, household cleaners, car care products, etc., free to the public.