Kansas City, Missouri – Kansas City garages can quietly turn into storage rooms for half-empty paint cans, old motor oil, dead batteries and chemicals nobody wants to toss in the regular trash. This Saturday, residents will have a citywide chance to clear out that backlog in one trip.
The Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Event will run Sept. 19 from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Burns & McDonnell, 9400 Ward Parkway. The event is open to Kansas City residents, and by Thursday morning, 85 people had already marked themselves as going or interested.
Staff will accept a wide range of household hazardous materials, including antifreeze, motor oil, batteries, cooking oil, corrosive cleaners, household cleaners, paint, pesticides, insecticides, pool chemicals, photographic chemicals and used oil filters.
Residents can also bring fluorescent tubes, CFLs, halogen bulbs, mercury and mercury-containing products, lawn and garden chemicals and other hazardous liquids. The list matches the materials handled through KC Water’s Household Hazardous Waste program, which is designed to keep dangerous products out of landfills, storm drains and regular garbage collection.
Some materials, however, should stay home.
KC Water program rules exclude appliances, asbestos, explosives, ammunition, fireworks, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, medical waste, needles, prescription drugs, butane, Freon, tires, yard waste and propane bottles larger than one pound. Containers holding more than five gallons are also not accepted.
The collection is for household waste only. Materials from businesses, schools, churches, nonprofits, home-based businesses or rental properties cannot be dropped off.
Residents should bring a driver’s license, utility bill or another document showing their name and address. Chemicals should remain in their original containers whenever possible, and products should never be mixed together.
The same Burns & McDonnell parking lot will also host a Kansas City electronics recycling event from 8 a.m. to noon with MRC Electronics Recycling. Computers, phones, printers, televisions, microwaves and many other electronic devices will be accepted, although fees apply to some items. Charges range from $5 for printers and CRT monitors to $50 for larger CRT and projection televisions. Payment is cash or check only.
A separate 5th District Waste Drop-Off is also scheduled for 8 a.m. Saturday at 8434 The Paseo.
Residents who miss the Ward Parkway event can use KC Water’s year-round Household Hazardous Waste facility at 4707 Deramus Avenue. It operates Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for loads under 600 pounds. Residents can call 816-513-8400 to confirm accepted materials.
