Talking trash is his thing. Innovation, customer service earns businessman top award

After 37 years, the landfill of Lee’s Summit reached maximum capacity and the future of waste management in the community shifted.

Instead of taking trash to the landfill, about 1,300 residents each week are now bringing their waste and recycling to Resource Recovery Park.

Rody Taylor, owner of KC Dumpster Company, which operates the Park, said the city of Lee’s Summit partnered with him to continue providing waste services for residents. The arrangement has clearly worked well: This year, the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce named it the top business of the year in the 6 to 20 employee category. Truly the Best Business of the Year winners were honored at a luncheon recently.

“I grew up in Lee’s Summit,” Taylor said. “I’m a hometown boy, and so to be able to live and work in the community I love is an award in itself. But to be recognized in this way is really surprising and it obviously means a lot, not only to me, but to my employees who work so well every day to represent us well.”

Taylor said his company jumped in quickly to provide a valuable service after the landfill closed.

KC Dumpster has a two-year contract with Lee’s Summit at the Resource Recovery Park.

“So far, Resource Recovery Park has been well-received, and we have more residents coming now than they did before as it’s inviting, less intimidating and very convenient,” Taylor said. “We see a lot of people and it meets the need for that part of Jackson County.”

Finding ways to recycle is important to Taylor.

“We take good latex paint dropped off at our household hazardous waste center and mix it.... We put that paint into new 5 gallon buckets and donate it to Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. This not only recycles the paint, but also helps the non-profit.”

Taylor’s team also helps to identify items — like metal, wood, cardboard and brick — that can be diverted from the waste stream.

“We assist customers in putting those materials in separate bins,” Taylor said.

The pilot program has earned the approval of the Lee’s Summit City Council.

“On July 14, the council met and encouraged staff members to make Resource Recovery Park a permanent solution,” Taylor said. “The feedback and response has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Taylor’s vision for the future of the KC Dumpster Company is focused on maintaining quality of service.

“My vision is not geared to dramatic growth, but making sure we take care of the customers,” Taylor said. “We are big believers in that when you take care of people, you do well in the long run.”