Kansas City has taken hundreds to court for illegal dumping. See how much they paid
Couches on the side of the road, pipes in a vacant lot, tires in a city park. Dumped trash is an eyesore all around Kansas City.
Now the city says it’s doing something about it. Last month, the Kansas City Council passed a resolution to increase fines for illegal dumping, alongside installing cameras on city-owned lots and hiring more dumping investigators.
How big of a problem is illegal dumping in Kansas City? And how many people have been prosecuted for it?
Were people actually charged for dumping before the new resolution?
Kansas City’s 311 system received 23,246 reports of dumping between January 2019 and November 2023, according to Sherae Honeycutt, city spokesperson. Of those reports, 1,053 illegal dumping cases were sent to municipal court.
The defendant was found or pleaded guilty in almost half of those cases. In most of the cases, the defendant had to pay a fine, which came out to $470 on average. Twenty-three individuals went to jail for dumping.
What are the city council’s changes to dumping fines?
The new resolution increases fines for illegal trash dumping to $500-$1,000 for a first offense. Repeat offenders will have to pay $750-$1,000 per offense and either complete community service or spend 48 hours in jail, according to the new rules.
Previously, fines for illegal trash dumping ranged from $1 to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail.
How do I dispose of my household and bulky trash legally?
If you received your trash cart, you can put as many trash bags as fit in the cart, as long as the lid closes and it weighs less than 250 pounds.
Two bags is the limit for those waiting to get a cart. To dispose of additional bags, you can buy trash tags for $2.50 at some KC area hardware stores.
Residents who receive city trash services are also eligible for free bulky pickup. To dispose of large items like furniture and appliances, make an appointment online or by calling 816-513-1313.
How do I report dumping in my neighborhood?
Contact 311 to share information about abandoned trash in Kansas City. You can call 816-513-1313, use the city’s online form or submit a request through the myKCMO app.
The Star’s Ilana Arougheti contributed to this report.
Have more questions about city services in Kansas City? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published June 17, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
