Merriam residents will have one trash hauler beginning Monday, Nov. 2, ending years of choosing among multiple providers.

GFL Environmental, a Canada-based company, begins citywide residential trash, recycling and yard waste collection under a five-year contract with the city, according to the Johnson County Post. The contract runs through Dec. 31, 2030.

The Merriam City Council approved the switch in April 2025, following discussions that began in 2024. The city appears to be the first in Kansas to make this move under the Organized Collection Service Act, a 2011 state law governing transitions in solid waste collection.

Residents cannot opt out. The service is mandatory for all households, according to the city's website.

New pickup schedule

Trash, recycling and yard waste will all be collected on the same day each week. The schedule is based on location:

  • Monday: North of Johnson Drive to 47th Street
  • Tuesday: Between Johnson Drive and Shawnee Mission Parkway
  • Wednesday: South of Shawnee Mission Parkway to 75th Street

The city's website notes "a discrepancy in the trash collection day information for residents between Johnson Drive and 55th Street." Efforts to fix that issue are underway.

Bins must be at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day. GFL observes three holidays: New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. If a pickup day falls on or after one of those holidays, collection shifts one day later that week.

What residents get

Each household receives a 95-gallon trash bin and a 95-gallon recycling bin. GFL has been delivering bins since Oct. 12, according to the city's website. Previous haulers are collecting their own bins on each customer's last pickup day before Nov. 1.

Residents who want a smaller 65-gallon bin can contact GFL customer service starting Jan. 4, 2027, at (816) 380-5595.

The service also includes up to 10 yard waste bags per week and up to three bulk items on the first collection day of each month. Residents who cannot bring bins to the curb can request house-side pickup at no extra charge.

What it costs

For November and December 2026, residents will pay $44.52 total, or $22.26 per month. The charge will appear on Johnson County property tax bills, which arrive twice a year, according to the city's website.

The full-year cost for 2027 is $274.44, or $22.87 per month. Annual costs rise roughly $8 each year after that:

  • 2028: $282.06
  • 2029: $289.86
  • 2030: $297.90

The city council in July chose annual increases over a flat rate for the contract's full length. The Johnson County Post reported that decision was meant to avoid potential "sticker shock" when the contract comes up for renewal in 2031.

Residents who pay property taxes through a mortgage may see their lender adjust monthly payments to cover the new line item, according to the city's website. The city's Residential Property Tax Rebate Program does not apply to the solid waste fee.

The city estimates the switch from five haulers to one will save $127,000 to $163,000 per year on residential road maintenance by reducing truck wear on streets. Residents with service questions can reach GFL at (816) 380-5595.