City of Joplin Renews Contract with Republic Services

Joplin residents will experience some changes to curbside solid waste collection beginning this fall after the City of Joplin renewed its contract with Republic Services earlier this week.

The contract, which takes effect on October 1, 2026, include some new pieces, including an option for routine tree limb and foliage pickup and changes to the bulky items pickup process. The changes are listed below:

• New Biweekly Yard Waste Pickup Option – Residents must have their grass clippings, leaves, and/or tree limbs bundled in biodegradable paper bag containers/wrapping (such as kraft paper) and are limited to ten (10) bundles per pickup. The cost for this new biweekly pickup is $3 and will automatically be included in the cost of every resident’s trash bill. While the cost is automatically included, residents must contact Republic Services to add their address to the pickup schedule. This change is required to minimize the amount of biodegradable materials taken to landfills, which should only be receiving non-recyclable and non-biodegradable waste. You will be notified of your yard waste collection day at the time you sign up with Republic Services. Please note that this may be a different day of the week than your trash and recycling services.
  • With this new addition of biweekly yard and brush pickup, the City encourages residents to avoid placing grass clippings, leaves, weeds, or tree limbs in their trash receptacles.
• Provided Receptacles – All solid waste (trash) must be placed inside the Republic Services-provided trash receptacle. The solid waste pickup frequency for Joplin residents will remain the same; the contents of trash carts will be collected once a week. All households receive one trash cart at no charge and a second cart can be added for $5.50 per month. The new monthly rate for solid waste pickup is $17.42 per month.
• Bulky Items – The bulky items pickup process is changing. Starting October 1, residents must call Republic Services to schedule the pickup of bulky items such as mattresses and other items that do not fit in a trash receptacle. Residents are limited to four (4) cubic yards of bulky items per pickup, and each home is limited to four (4) pickups per year. The cost of bulky items pickup is included in the price of solid waste (trash pickup). There is no extra fee, but residents must contact Republic Services to schedule these pickups.
• Recycling – Curbside Recycling continues to be available as an optional add-on. Homeowners can sign up with Republic Services to have a recycling cart delivered to their home, which will be picked up biweekly. The new monthly rate for recycling pickup is $5.26. Click here to learn more.
• Fees – Administrative fees for the City of Joplin will remain the same, at $0.55 per billing cycle This fee covers the cost of billing and collecting for trash service.

To get on the schedule for new yard waste pickup, to opt into recycling pickup, to schedule a bulky items pickup, or to learn more about any of their services, click here.

What to Expect on Your October Bill

To summarize, the new base bill for each resident will be $17.42 per month and includes:

• Trash (weekly)
• Yard waste and brush (biweekly; must sign up to begin receiving this service)
• Bulky items pickup (four [4] times per year; must call to schedule your bulky item pickups)
• City Administrative Fee

Those opting in for the biweekly recycling pickup will pay a total bill of $22.92 per month. Those opting in for one additional trash cart but no recycling will pay a total bill of $22.92 per month.

Why is the Cost of Solid Waste Services Going Up?

After an open bid process and thorough review of three competitive bids submitted by qualified solid waste disposal companies, Republic Services was found to be the lowest and best bidder. Council considered making recycling mandatory for all residents but opted to keep it as an optional add-on to minimize the rate increase.

Reminders About Other Solid Waste Services Provided by the City of Joplin

• Residents with larger or more frequent tree limb drop-off needs can still use the free Tree Limb Dropoff site at 1701 N. Schifferdecker on designated weekends. Learn more here.
• Those needing to dispose of more grass clippings or leaves can use the City’s Compost Facility located at the Turkey Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant at 3457 West Eddy Lane. Learn more here.
• Those wishing to recycle at no cost may haul recyclables and household hazardous waste to the City of Joplin’s Recycling Center at 1310 W. A Street. Dropoff of most items at these facilities is free of charge. There is a $10 fee for TVs or computer monitors dropped off at the Recycling Center. This fee can be paid by check or money order, or it can be paid in advance at the finance department on the third floor of City Hall, 602 S. Main Street. Learn more here.

Reference:

Cassie Faucett, Public Information Officer
City of Joplin
417.624.0820, ext. 1204
CFaucett@joplinmo.org