The Trash Problem in Kansas City
With the World Cup less than 60 days away, the Kansas City metropolitan area is facing familiar concerns over trash on roads and highways. Over the past few years, KMBC 9 Investigates has focused on Kansas City’s trash problem through its “Dirty Kansas City” series, highlighting cleanup efforts and long-term solutions. However, with hundreds of thousands of residents expected in town this spring, problems with litter remain.
Marsha Ramsey, a Kansas City, Missouri resident, has noticed a lot of trash on the streets. She recently showed KMBC 9 Investigates piles of trash at 16th and Washington in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Trash bags, liquor bottles, an office chair, and beer cans were scattered across the street. “It’s like no one cares,” she said.
Ramsey has been in contact with KMBC since 2023, when she forwarded pictures to city, state, and federal officials of trash, discarded orange barricades, and broken curbs. While city and state leaders emphasize cleanup efforts, they also need help from the public to secure loose items and stop illegal dumping.
City Efforts and Challenges
Kansas City, Missouri leaders have mentioned that tougher illegal dumping fines are helping with some of the effort. However, problem spots still remain. MoDOT contractors, for instance, often pick up the same amount of trash every two weeks. This issue will require long-term solutions beyond the World Cup.
Ramsey, who has long advocated for cleaner streets, expressed disappointment with the city’s readiness for the global event. “I don’t see any changes at all,” she said. “And I’m really disappointed in our city and our state that in two months we’re going to host four countries that are impeccably clean countries.”
Police Enforcement and Improvements
The Kansas City Police Department continues enforcement efforts. Officer Matt Phelps, from the commercial vehicle enforcement unit, noted that he sees trash along Kansas City’s highways every day. He mentioned some improvements by haulers after KMBC 9’s investigative reports exposed trash companies spilling debris onto highways. In 2023, KCPD stepped up enforcement on commercial vehicles spilling trash.
“I absolutely think it got better after the first story aired,” Phelps said. “We brought attention to it.” He noted that some companies have improved their tarping systems and compliance with commercial vehicle laws. However, he acknowledged that the issue with other haulers and private citizens not securing loads is still evident.
“We’re still seeing way too much trash on the road,” he said. Phelps identifies trucks with unsecured loads weekly, which contribute to the litter problem. On a recent ride along with KMBC, he cited a trash hauler for a piece of plastic flapping in the wind that could fall out, along with not securing the dumpster on the back of his truck.
Phelps emphasized the need for collective action. “It’s really going to take everybody coming together,” he said. “There’s still quite a few companies that are either willfully disregarding the rules or just need to get educated.”
MoDOT’s Challenges and Innovations
MoDOT notes a drop in labor hours and tries innovative solutions. Missouri Department of Transportation State Maintenance Director Darin Hamelink highlighted labor shortages as a major challenge in litter cleanup efforts, not only in Kansas City but statewide. “From a DOT standpoint, I think hands down it’s just labor,” Hamelink said.
He pointed to a 92% drop in work hours from inmates on work release since 2018, citing COVID-19 and fewer eligible inmates after marijuana legalization as contributing factors. Kansas does not rely on maintenance work from incarcerated individuals. Hamelink said MoDOT’s Kansas City district relied on seven inmates cleaning up roads as late as 2019, but that number has dropped to zero.
“When you lose, say, 300,000 labor hours from inmates that used to pick trash, they used to keep our interstates looking pretty darn nice,” he said. Last year, MoDOT spent about $13 million on litter cleanup, $5 million on sweeping, and $1 million on homeless camp cleanup. Already this year, MoDOT has spent $7.7 million on litter cleanup.
Hamelink said he did not think throwing more money at trash cleanup will solve the problem. MoDOT is trying to increase its education through media, social media, and other public awareness campaigns. “We’ve got to win the hearts and minds of all the drivers of Missouri and all the visitors to our state,” he said. “If we don’t do that, this is a war we cannot win.”
MoDOT is also exploring new innovations, such as trash vacuums, to streamline cleanup efforts. In Kansas City, the agency has also focused on clearing trees that trap litter, while private contractors continue their cleanup operations. Leaders are also supporting statewide legislation that would trigger tougher penalties for unsecure loads.
Marsha Ramsey’s Continued Fight
Marsha Ramsey remains committed to change as she walks along the dead-end street littered with cans and trash bags near the Kaufmann Center at 16th and Washington. “I’m not going to give up,” she said. “I’m not going to give up on this city.”
She expressed concern about the impression Kansas City might leave on visitors during the World Cup. “I believe they’re going to think it’s a very hospitable city, very kind. The people are very pleasant, but I think they’re going to leave really surprised at how unkept the city is and the state.”
In Missouri, if you would like to sponsor a highway cleanup with your group, business, or organization, MoDOT has that program here. Kansas continues its Adopt a Highway program. You can find out more about that program, here.