Residential solid waste collection has been an issue identified in multiple Citizen Strategic Plans for many years. The most recent City Strategic Plan in 2019 was developed by community stakeholders and residents, and adopted by City Council. The “Ignite!” plan states “Evaluate solid waste management services” as an action step in support of the plan objective, and City Council has identified residential city-wide solid waste services as one of the top priorities for the City.

City Council has the authority to determine how solid waste collection services are provided. After receiving public input both in support of and opposed to residential city-wide solid waste collection services, City Council voted to place the issue on the November 3, 2026 ballot for consideration by voters.

No. The City is providing educational information about the ballot measure. The City does not advocate for or against any ballot measure.

No. The City will not bill residents, manage service accounts, or collect payments. The contracted service provider will be responsible for all resident billing, account management, and payment collection.

No. The City does not plan to enact or collect a sales tax, property tax, user fee, or pay the contractor for citywide services from the City’s budget. Customers will pay the hauler directly for services.

No. This only affects residential curbside trash service. It does not affect commercial services or apartments.

No. The billing will be the responsibility of the service provider. The City will not bill residents, manage service accounts, or collect payments.

Basic service would include trash, recycling, and yard waste collection. Basic service would occur weekly, year-round. Bulky item collection would occur quarterly and is included in the price for basic service. Additional, on-demand or bulky item pick up would be offered for an additional fee as needed.

No, unless the HOA chooses to do so. HOAs that currently contract for trash service can continue their existing contracts or choose to use the City’s provider.

Residents who live outside of an HOA, or those who live in an HOA that does not contract trash service, will be included in the city-wide solid waste collection service.

Similar to your water, natural gas, or electric provider, there will not be another service provider option.

The City is not proposing that all trash collection in Lee’s Summit be handled by a single hauler. The proposed services would apply only to residential curbside service for single-family homes and properties with up to four units. This does not apply to commercial customers, apartment complexes, and HOAs that choose to continue with an exisitng service provider.

No. The ballot question addresses whether the City should provide for residential solid waste collection service. If approved by voters and the City moves forward with a contract, the service provider would be selected through the City’s Request for Proposals process, and any contract award would be considered and approved by the City Council.

If a contract is executed, changes would start sometime between July 1, 2027 and June 1, 2028, as allowed by State law. This would also provide time for the City to educate residents on the services, and for the contractor to prepare for service delivery.

Residents would initially call the service provider to resolve any issues. If the issue is not resolved, residents can call the City for assistance. Since the City would have a contract with the service provider that would include terms and conditions of performance and consequences, there would be mechanisms for the City to help address any concerns. The City does not currently have a residential curbside solid waste service contract with any service provider, so a resident’s only current option is to change service providers.

Professional customer service would be regulated by the contract. Residents would contact the service provider directly if they miss a pick-up. If the service provider fails to collect within a reasonable amount of time as defined in the contract, the service provider can be fined and/or terminated, depending upon the severity of the violations. The contract would also include bonding requirements, which would allow the City to call upon the bonding company to replace a hauler who is in material breach of contract.

The City licenses about 10 residential solid waste collection service providers that operate in the City weekly. There is no limit to the number of licensed haulers.

The November election will be an opportunity for citizens to vote on the issue of residential curbside solid waste collection services as outlined in the Ordinance. When exploring this topic and preparing a Request for Proposals, City staff interviewed peer cities in the Kansas City metro area, interviewed current licensed residential service providers in the City, sent surveys to HOAs to obtain input, and hosted public information sessions in each Council district. Citizens have also been provided with the opportunity to comment through the City’s website, public meetings, and at public information sessions.

Yes. Thousands of cities nationwide provide for or contract for solid waste collection services. In the Kansas City metro area, more than 50% of the cities surveyed in the eight-county surrounding area provide for or contract for solid waste collection services.

Yes. The City worked toward a City-wide solid waste collection service in 2011. However, the effort did not come to fruition.

No. This initiative has nothing to do with the services offered at Resource Recovery Park.