Trash and Recycling

General Information

Pickup for normal household trash and recyclables is provided by the City of Mission Hills and paid for by your tax dollars. Collection starts at 7:00 a.m. Service is provided by Deffenbaugh Disposal (913-631-3300). Please keep all containers out of sight except on your scheduled pick-up day.  When placing items in your recycling container, please remember that plastic bags cannot be recycled. 
Yard waste is picked up every Monday and must be placed in paper bags or a rigid container no larger than 35 gallons with no plastic bags. Tree trimmings and small limbs must be bundled with twine or another biodegradable tie and cannot be longer than 3 feet. There is no limit to the amount of yard waste that can be put at the curb side as long as it adheres to these requirements. 

Household hazardous materials including paint, yard chemicals, cleaners, and much more must be taken to the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment Household Hazardous Waste facility for disposal. Drop-offs are by appointment only and can be made through the Johnson County website or by calling 913-715-6907.

​COVID-19 Trash Update
Spring bulky item pickup has been cancelled due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 virus. The fall bulky item pickup is currently scheduled for Saturday September 12, 2020.

Holiday Schedule


Trash and recyclables are picked up once a week. Pickups scheduled on a holiday or following a holiday will be delayed one day. Deffenbaugh only observes the following holidays:
  • New Year’s Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day
 See more information on the new regulations.

See more information on what can be recycled. See more information on why plastic bags cannot be recycled. 

Check the map to find out when your trash and recycling will be picked up.

Spring pickup has been cancelled due to COVID-19 protection measures.  

To find the location of recycling centers around the Kansas City area, visit www.recyclespot.org or www.bridgingthegap.org

10 Things: Can I recycle this? The ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ of Curbside Recycling 

  1.  Receipt paper - No. All Thermal printed receipts belong in the trash. 
  2.  Plastic bags - No.  These bags are not accepted in your curbside bin.  
  3.  Pizza boxes - Clean side only. Please completely empty the container, tear off the top for recycling, and trash the rest of the box. 
  4.  Plastic wear and paper plates - No. Due to the odd shape of the plastic wear and lower paper quality, these items cannot be recycled. 
  5.  Paper milk and juice cartons - Yes. Simply rinse and place into your recycling.
  6.  Styrofoam - No. Styrofoam is not accepted because it can break into thousands of small pieces and contaminate other recyclables. 
  7.  Shampoo bottles - Yes. Simply rinse and place into your recycling. 
  8.  Red solo cups - Yes. 
  9.  K-Cups - No. The size and material components cannot be recycled and belong in the trash. 
  10.  Aluminum foil - Yes. Although previously not acceptable with curbside recycle bin, you can now recycle aluminum foil and pans in the curbside recycle bin. 
  11. Aerosol cans - Yes. Please empty to where there is no longer a "hiss" sound.