New Code means changes to curbside collection
Changes to the Solid Waste Management Code will require
all residential solid waste haulers to offer curbside
residential recycling and volume based pricing to
customers in Johnson County effective at the start of
2012. Also beginning in 2012, yard waste collected
curbside will be required to be composted rather than
disposed of in a landfill. The changes will help to
extend the life of area landfills, promote the use of
recyclable materials, and cut back on future waste
disposal costs.
The following are the key changes in the Solid Waste Code:
- January 1, 2012: Residential trash haulers must offer curbside collection of an unlimited quantity of recyclable material, and haulers must include this in their minimum (base) level of service.
- January 1, 2012: Trash haulers will be prohibited from collecting yard waste with regular trash for disposal in a landfill. Any yard waste collected by haulers must be separately bagged or bundled by the residents and properly composted or mulched for reuse.
- January 1, 2012: Trash haulers must charge their residential customers for trash service based on volume of waste put out at the curb for disposal (commonly known as "volume based" or pay-as-you-throw").
Download the Code of Regulations for Solid Waste Management, 2010
Download the Frequently Asked Questions on the changes to the Code
View a list of licensed residential waste haulers in Johnson County, 2011
The Johnson County Solid Waste Management Plan
Johnson County has a Plan for the future of our solid waste. Most of our trash, or solid waste, is sent to a landfill. Our Plan addresses the challenges we are facing, including the closure no later than 2027 of the privately owned and operated Johnson County Landfill, Inc..
There are four major Plan components that will help increase our volumes of recycling and waste diversion to 42%.
The Solid Waste Management Plan’s purpose is to provide for a county-wide solid waste management system. On December 13, 2007, the Board of County Commissioners adopted the new Johnson County Solid Waste Management Plan, 2007 Edition. Under Kansas law, the County must comprehensively evaluate the adequacy of its existing Solid Waste Management Plan at least every five (5) years as well as complete annual updates to the Plan. The Johnson County Solid Waste Management Committee reviewed the existing Plan and recommended that the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) adopt the new Plan.
These following four strategies are for all of us who live and work in Johnson County:
1. Expand residential recycling and increase participation through education and outreach efforts.
2. Expand commercial recycling to businesses, schools and multi-family dwellings.
3. Restrict yard waste from disposal in the landfill.
4. Implement a pay-as-you-throw fee structure that makes recycling and waste reduction more cost effective than trash.
Click on the links below to read the details of the new Plan.
The Complete Johnson County Solid Waste Management Plan (PDF)
Brochure on the Solid Waste Management Plan: Planning for Our Future
For more information on the County’s Solid Waste Management Committee Click here.
Waste Characterization
In September 2006, the Johnson County Environmental Department retained Engineering Solutions and Design, Inc. (ES&D) to perform a series of waste characterizations -- also referred to waste picks or waste sorts -- at three selected sites within the county. This is their final report. The files are all in a (pdf) format.
Cover, Acknowledgements, Executive Summary and Table of Contents
Appendices Cover and Appendix A
Appendix B1 Cover and Appendix B1A and B1B
Appendix B2 Cover and Appendix B2A and B2B
Appendix C1 Cover and Appendix C1A
Appendix C2 Cover and Appendix C2A
RWBeck Rate Study and Waste Technology Reports
Solid Waste Rate Study, RW Beck for Johnson County Environmental Department, March 2011.