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Frequently Asked Questions on 5 Day Solid Waste Collection


Why were these changes necessary?
Since 1995, residential solid waste customers have increased by more than 70%. With Olathe's continuous growth, collection of yard waste in one day city-wide has become increasingly difficult with resources available. For much of the year, Mondays involve long hours of overtime, working after dark, and worker injuries trying to handle the amount of yard waste generated. By spreading the yard waste load over the week and rebalancing regular trash routes, we can better use limited resources and reduce upward pressure on costs and rates.

What are the benefits of these changes?

  • Dedicated collection vehicles. The transition to fully automated sideloaders reduces the number of residential collection vehicles needed to collect trash, which in turn allows vehicles to be assigned to manual collection of yard waste. Using collection vehicles designed for manual collection, like rearloaders, allows the sizing of routes to fit the right vehicle with the right task.

  • Reduces overtime. This change provides the ability to size the collection crews on dedicated trucks to fit the high and low seasonal generation of yard waste for efficiency and less overtime on given days.

  • Reduces injuries. The collection of yard waste is now the major cause of injuries in the Solid Waste Division due to the manual lifting of bags and bundles into the higher hopper heights of sideloaders. Using rearloaders with significantly lower hopper openings for manual collection should greatly relieve this issue.

  • Simplicity. During periods when yard waste generation is low, yard waste collection vehicles would be able to assist with regular trash collection activities or drivers reassigned to cover vacancies and other employee absences. All of these operational changes can be accomplished without adding new vehicles or positions and by efficiently using temporary labor services.

  • Improves efficiency of composting. Operations would be improved at the composting facility as the delivery of yard waste and the composting process would be spread over 5 days. It would also reduce odors compared to the current delivery of all yard waste on one day.

  • Uniformity. With this change, customers will only have one day to remember for trash, yard waste, large item pick-ups, and recycling services. Collection of yard waste on a resident's regular trash day is "the norm" for most of the country. Olathe is the only community in Johnson County with a single day dedicated to separate yard waste collection.

Why do we want to separate yard waste from residential trash?
Landfill space is limited and expensive. Waste reduction is a critical part of Johnson County's solid waste management plan. Yard waste bans from landfills are mandated in some states, including Missouri, and such bans are expected to increase. Diverting yard waste from the overall solid waste stream and reusing it for beneficial purposes is the right thing to do from both an environmental and cost perspective. In 2006, Olathe avoided nearly $400,000 in disposal costs through yard waste diversion while providing free mulch and compost to our residents.

How does this change affect residential customers?
All customers will experience some change. Utilizing routing software, the intent of rebalancing will be to minimize households that actually change days of service. Approximately 80% will change their day of yard waste collection and a minimum of 20% will change their trash collection day to Monday. Collection of yard waste on a resident's trash day is "the norm" for most of the country, including the Kansas-side of the metro area.

Can I still drop off my yard waste?
All residential customers will continue to have the opportunity to drop off their yard waste at Olathe's Composting Facility, 127th & Hedge Lane, Monday through Saturday 8:00am to 4:00pm.

What if the City did not make this change?
Future growth in the City would make it impossible to collect yard waste in one day without a substantial new investment in additional trucks and labor to meet yard waste peaks on Monday.

What are the plans for informing the customers about these changes?
The City is committed to making this change as easy as it can for our citizens and is planning an extensive information and outreach effort. In addition to the usual newspaper notices, web site, and Channel 7 postings the outreach will include direct mail brochures to all residents, direct mail post cards with specific "new day" information, and cart-hanger notices the week before the actual change.

Who do I call for more information?
Direct questions about these changes to residential collection schedules to Customer Service 913 971-9311.