Mo. City Brings Trash Collection In House, Adds 24 Trucks

Kansas City, Mo., will nearly double its refuse collection fleet as it plans to fully bring trash collection in house next year. The city, which collects trash and recycling for one-third of the city and outsources the rest, has 28 packer trucks and will buy 24 more, according to Michael Shaw, assistant to the director of solid waste.

The city is making this decision after numerous resident complaints about poor trash service, KMBC reported. Shaw said bringing the service fully in-house is estimated to save the city $21 million over 10 years.

The city provides trash and recycling services to its central section while contracting it out in the north and south regions. It will continue to outsource recycling collection even as it brings trash collection in house.

“We won’t receive the trucks for a year,” Shaw explained. “Our city’s trash collection contract expires May 1, 2020. So, at that time, the city will assume collection of the north and south zones for trash collection only.”

The 24 trucks the city is purchasing will run on compressed natural gas and are expected to cost $6.9 million in total, Shaw said. He added that fleet operations will need to hire more staff members — three to five technicians — to handle the increased workload.

Originally posted on Government Fleet