Some Overland Park residents who arrange their own trash collection pay more than twice as much as households in a sampled homeowners association, according to the city’s Solid Waste Study. The city is seeking feedback on a potential citywide collection system intended to address differences in cost and service.

A virtual community meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 4 p.m. An in-person meeting will follow Thursday, Oct. 29, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Tomahawk Ridge Community Center, 11902 Lowell Ave.

The proposal would replace the city's current open-market system, in which 18 licensed haulers operate across Overland Park. Some neighborhoods have three or more haulers running routes every week. Residents without an HOA can pay $30 to $44 per month, while one sampled HOA neighborhood pays as low as $18.51, according to the city's Solid Waste Study, as reported by the Johnson County Post in May.

The plan is not finalized. The city said the community meetings give residents a chance to learn more and share their thoughts before the plan is completed. Separately, the City Council will hold a second public hearing and consider adopting the plan in early 2027.

Even after adoption, a state-required 18-month waiting period must pass before a new system can launch. The earliest service could begin is January 2029.

What the study found

The city's Solid Waste Study outlined four frameworks ranging from fully city-run to city-contracted, with projected monthly household costs between roughly $22 and $26, the Johnson County Post reported. All four projected rates fall below what non-HOA residents pay under the current system. Some are higher or comparable to existing HOA rates.

A fully city-run option would require tens of millions in startup costs, while a city-contracted model would cost roughly $90,000 to launch, the study found.

The Overland Park City Council voted 11-0 in May to set a public hearing and begin the state-required process under the Kansas Organized Solid Waste Collection Service Act.

HOA opt-out question looms

Some scenarios would require every household to participate. Others would let HOAs opt out.

Craig Wilson, representing the Apple Valley Estates HOA in northern Overland Park, urged the council at the May meeting to preserve the opt-out option. "The most important thing to our residents is great and consistent service, and our price is less," Wilson said, as reported by the Johnson County Post.

Councilmember Logan Heley backed a city-run system at the same meeting, pointing to Olathe's model. Councilmember Chris Newlin leaned toward a city-contracted approach, saying universal participation would maximize the city's negotiating power.

What comes next

The city said it has already met with trash haulers to plan a successful procurement process. The plan will detail procedures, consider economic impact to haulers and aim to maximize efficiency.

Neighboring Johnson County cities including Olathe, Prairie Village and Mission already offer city-provided or city-contracted trash collection, according to the city announcement. Merriam started a similar process in 2024.

Residents can attend the Oct. 26 community meetings to ask questions and provide feedback before the City Council takes up the plan in early 2027.