Kansas City fall leaf & brush pickup starts next week. What to know to clean up your yard

Joseph Hernandez

The leaves are falling around Kansas City, and the city starts its fall leaf and brush collecting services on Monday. Here’s what you need to know before they come to pick your leaves up.

The city splits up leaf and brush collecting into three regions of the city. You’ll need to have your leaves ready by your scheduled trash day, since that’s when the city will pick them up.

WHEN DOES THE CITY PICK UP MY LEAF AND BRUSH COLLECTION?

NORTH

Residents who live between the northern city limits and the Missouri River are in the North region. You’ll want to bring your leaves and yard waste out to the curb from Nov. 14-18.

SOUTH

Residents who live between 63rd Street and the southern city limits are in the South region. Leaf and brush collection starts Nov. 28 and ends Dec. 2.

CENTRAL

The Central region stretches from the Missouri River to 63rd Street, between State Line Road and Blue Ridge Cutoff. The region’s dates are Dec. 12-16.

Check out this map to find out what region you’re in.

HOW TO PROPERLY PACK IT UP

KCMO has rules for curbside leaf and brush collecting. Here’s what you need to do before the city picks everything up:

  • Sacks and bundles should be set on the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your regular trash day, but not before 3:00 p.m. on the day before.

  • The maximum limit for sacks and bundles per house is 20.

  • Sacks and bundles can’t weigh more than 40 pounds each.

  • Only paper lawn debris sacks are allowed.

  • Only use masking tape to seal the sacks.

  • No grass clippings or trash.

  • All branches must be bundled and they can’t be more than two feet in diameter or more than four feet long.

  • They can’t also be more than three inches in diameter.

  • Use twine or jute rope to tie bundles.

  • If rain is in the forecast, cover sacks and bundles with clear plastic.

Residents must call 311 within 24 hours of their scheduled trash day if their sacks and bundles aren’t picked up. You can also call 311 or 816-513-1313 for questions or to report service-related issues.

There are also three leaf and brush drop-off sites. You need to prove your residence by using a valid driver’s license or state-issued ID to use these locations, as there’s an additional fee for non-KCMO residents.

The sites are listed below:

  • 11660 N. Main St.

  • 1815 N. Chouteau Trafficway

  • 10301 Raytown Rd.

WHAT IF I DON’T LIVE IN KANSAS CITY?

Other cities in the metro have rules for leaf and brush collecting. In Wyandotte County, you’ll have to take your collection to their drop off center at 3241 Park Drive, which is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Thursday-Sunday.

Olathe residents can place their leaf and brush collection on the curb every week with no limits, but you’ll have to follow these guidelines:

  • You must put all your yard waste within eight feet of the curb before 8:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.

  • Grass clippings, leaves and small plant trimmings have to be placed in compostable paper yard waste bags or a YardCart. Plastic bags aren’t collected because they aren’t compostable.

  • Limbs and brush can’t be more than four inches in diameter or more than four feet in length. It must also be securely tied in bundles weighing less than 50 pounds.

Other areas surrounding Kansas City, like Independence, Lee’s Summit and Overland Park, use private trash collection, so it’s different businesses who will pick up your leaf and brush collection, not the city. Check-in with your city to see what they offer.

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