Excelsior Springs continues to grapple with the problem of unreliable trash service. Since Republic Waste Management, the city’s contracted trash service provider, consolidated all collection routes to Tuesdays earlier this year, residents have been voicing frustration over inconsistent pickups.
Numerous homes across the city continue to report their trash remains uncollected each week, leaving bins overflowing and citizens angry. In an email from Tyler Riordan of Republic Services to Birdsong, the frequent misses were attributed to driver absences due to illness, leading to unfamiliarity with route sequencing. Riordan’s excuse seems implausible, as trash pickup has been an ongoing issue since early August, as we previously reported.
During a city council work session on December 1st, Public Works Director Chad Birdsong advised council members that residents should promptly report any missed pickups to his office, stating this would enable them to alert Republic Waste Management for a follow-up collection the next day. However, residents find themselves caught in a confusing bureaucratic loop — when reaching out to Public Works, some residents are reporting that they are being redirected to report the issue directly to Republic.
If it’s any consolation, the problem doesn’t seem to be exclusive to Excelsior Springs. Reports from communities across the region indicate that several areas serviced by Republic are facing similar challenges. In October, the Kansas City Star reported that citizens of Johnson County, Kansas, have also been facing ongoing issues with trash collection, with multiple reports of weeks-long delays and insufficient communication from Republic Services.
Some municipalities have even imposed fines on Republic for its failure to collect trash and recyclables. Despite these measures, the situation hasn’t improved, as customers still encounter frequent lapses in trash pickup services. Similarly, Republic customers around Springfield, MO, have faced the same frustrations as reported by KY3 News.
As bins continue to overflow and frustrations mount, the need for a prompt and effective solution becomes ever more critical. Both city leaders and Republic Services are under increasing pressure to address these service disruptions and restore the reliable trash collection that residents of Excelsior Springs expect and deserve.
Citizens who experience missed pick-ups should contact Excelsior Springs Public Works and Republic Services.
Excelsior Springs Public Works
103 E. Water St.
Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
(816)630-0755
Republic Services
1220 S Brookside Ave
Independence, MO 64052
(816) 254-1470
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