The City of Joplin and Republic Services are reminding residents inside Joplin city limits about important changes to solid waste services, which will take effect this year. The City of Joplin has renewed its contract with Republic Services for curbside solid waste services for all Joplin residents. The new contract goes into effect October 1, 2026.
“It’s really important that customers pay attention to these changes,” says Chad Weller, Assistant Director of the City of Joplin Public Works Department. “Everyone who takes trash to the curb is impacted by these changes and will need to consider changes to their account and adjust their routines. Failure to make appropriate adjustments to your account, or failure to follow new rules for proper disposal of yard waste, could result in extra charges on your trash bill.”
What’s Included in Base Service?
The new base monthly rate for solid waste (trash) pickup is $17.42/month, which includes:
- One (1) trash cart, which is picked up every week.
- Bulky item pickup (four times per year; contact Republic Services to schedule)
- Yard waste (const included, but you must call Republic Services to sign up)
Multiple Trash Carts
Beginning October 1, Republic Services will only take trash that fits inside your cart and will not collect any extra bags or trash items left outside of your single trash cart.
If you regularly have more trash than you can fit in a single cart, you should consider adding a second trash cart which costs an additional $5.50/month, or consider enrolling in the optional curbside recycling service. Curbside recycling costs an additional $5.26/month and includes one (1) recycling cart.
Extra Trash Carts You Don’t Need (And Don’t Want to Be Billed For)
Residents who have multiple trash carts should contact Republic Services to have any extra or unneeded carts removed. Starting with the November bill, customers will be billed for each extra trash cart on their property. To avoid additional cart charges, Joplin trash customers must submit a removal request to Republic Services by October 1 to remove any extra or unneeded trash carts.
To request any changes to your Republic Services account, complete this form.
If you have difficulty with the online form, call Republic Services at 800.431.1507.
Yard Waste Pickup Option
Yard waste (such as grass clippings, weeds, leaves, and/or small tree limbs or brush) can no longer be accepted in your trash carts when mixed in with solid waste.
Missouri Senate Bill 530 prohibits the disposal of yard waste in landfills. Please do not place yard waste in your trash cart. 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.
Residents wishing to have their yard waste (such as grass clippings, weeds, leaves, and/or small tree limbs or brush) collected curbside must first contact Republic Services to add their address to the pickup schedule. This service will begin in October for customers who are signed up.
Customers opting into this service must buy their own biodegradable bags (such as kraft paper) in which they can place grass clippings or leaves, and bundle tree limbs using biodegradable wrapping (such as compostable twine). Customers are limited to ten (10) bags/bundles per pickup. Compostable/biodegradable bags are available for purchase from multiple local hardware stores.
Residents not wanting to use paper bags may purchase an additional 96-gallon yard waste cart for an additional $5.50 per month. These are distinguishable from trash carts by a large sticker.
Yard waste pickup will be every other week, similar to the curbside recycling program. You will be notified of your yard waste collection day at the time you sign up with Republic Services. Please note, this may be a different day of the week than your trash and recycling services.
Again, to request any changes to your Republic Services account (including signing up for the Yard Waste Pickup Option), complete the form above or call 800.431.1507.
Bulky Item 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 cubic yards of bulky items per pickup, and each home is limited to four pickups per year.
Curbside Recycling Option
Curbside Recycling continues to be available as an optional add-on. Residents 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 per month. An extra recycle cart costs $5.50 per month
Click here to learn more.
How to Request Changes to Your Republic Services Account
To request any changes to your solid waste services, either call Republic Services customer service at 800.431.1507 (Monday – Friday, 7:30 am to 5:00 pm) or visit this page of the Republic Services website and scroll to the bottom of the page in order to complete the online customer service form.
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. City Council considered making recycling mandatory for all residents but opted to keep it as an optional add-on to minimize the rate increase.
Other Solid Waste Services Provided by the City of Joplin
Additional information about solid waste services available to Joplin residents can be viewed here.
- 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 free 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’s free Recycling Center at 1310 W. A Street. Drop-off 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 St. Learn more here.
- Joplin residents can dispose of bulky items and tree limbs at the GFL Joplin Transfer Station (3700 W. 7th Street) for a reduced cost, thanks to a subsidy provided by the City. Residents may drop off up to 2,000 pounds of bulky items, brush, and tree limbs at a discounted rate. To be eligible for subsidized pricing, please bring a copy of your sewer bill and your driver’s license to verify that you are a resident of Joplin.
Republic Services Transfer Station
Joplin residential trash customers may also haul bulky items (no yard waste) to the Republic Services transfer station (1715 E. Front Street in Galena, Kansas). Fees apply.
Please call ahead (620.783.5841) to inquire about acceptable and unacceptable items, holiday schedules, and rules.
Reference:
Cassie Faucett, Public Information Officer
City of Joplin
417.624.0820, ext. 1204
CFaucett@joplinmo.org
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