Solid Waste Utility
About Solid Waste
The Solid Waste Utility integrates various programs and services to manage the City of Columbia’s waste stream. Solid Waste handles refuse, recyclables, yard waste and composting for residential, commercial and industrial companies. Solid Waste also provides household hazardous waste disposal for residential customers.
The Solid Waste Utility has regulations on curbside refuse and recycling collection, bulky-item pickup, dual-stream recycling and the disposal of household hazardous waste in order to ensure quality service as well as to protect the environment. Cooperation with the City’s Solid Waste programs will enable us to provide efficient, dependable service.
NOTE: Residential curbside recycling is scheduled to resume on an every-other-week schedule starting March 18. Routes have not changed.
Customers can verify their schedule by entering their address into the Utility’s Recycling Routes map.
Collections will be on your regularly scheduled refuse pickup day. Mixed containers should be in a blue recycling bag, and mixed fibers should be bundled in a box or paper bag.
The route schedule and further details will be announced at a later date.
CoMo Recycle and Trash App
Recycling
Recycling
NOTE: Residential curbside recycling is scheduled to resume on an every-other-week schedule starting March 18. Routes have not changed.
Customers can verify their schedule by entering their address into the Utility’s Recycling Routes map.
Collections will be on your regularly scheduled refuse pickup day. Mixed containers should be in a blue recycling bag, and mixed fibers should be bundled in a box or paper bag.
The route schedule and further details will be announced at a later date.
Recycling and waste diversion evaluation
RRT Design & Construction, a consultant for the City, has completed an extensive evaluation of the City of Columbia’s recycling system.
City of Columbia Utilities and the City Council discussed the consultant’s recommendations at a Jan. 22 work session.
How to recycle
- Residential Curbside Collection
- Multi-Family Homes & Apartments
- Commercial
- Downtown CID
- Drop-Off Centers
- Event Recycling
Recycling provides numerous benefits to our community and environment, including conservation of resources and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. But recycling can be inefficient and costly if it is not done correctly. Contamination — putting the wrong items in the wrong recycling receptacle — makes the system counterproductive. If there are too many different materials mixed together and the bundle can’t be hand sorted efficiently, it ends up being sent to the landfill.
For the Solid Waste Utility’s dual-stream program to work most productively, correct separation in the home, office or community is an essential first step. In Columbia, fibers and containers are collected separately. Whether via curbside collection or at a large bin at an apartment building or a drop-off site, residents are asked to use the appropriate container to keep the streams from commingling.
Containers such as glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans and rigid plastics — plastics you cannot wrap around your fingers — can be recycled in Columbia. Black and dark plastics cannot be accepted at our facility. To ensure glass is recycled, please use the purple glass-only bin at the State Farm Parkway recycling drop-off center. Containers should be lightly rinsed.
Boxes should be flattened. It is not necessary to remove staples, address windows or packing tape from the fibers, but customers should remove plastic wraps and liners.
Plastic bags can be recycled at local grocery and box stores. Please visit our CoMo Recycle & Trash App for tips on disposal of other items.
Residential customers
Residential customers
Commercial customers
Commercial customers
View Commercial Rates on the City’s Rates directory.
For additional information
Solid waste facilities & drop-off centers
Solid waste facilities & drop-off centers
Facilities
- Bioreactor Landfill
- Material Recovery Facility (Recycling)
- Compost & Mulch Operations
- Household Hazardous Waste Collections
Drop-off centers
Solid waste rates
Solid waste rates
Event recycling
Event recycling
Are you organizing an event?
First, you’ll need to submit an Event Application with Special Events.
Once your event is approved, we can help with your recycling needs. Depending on the size and location of your event, the Solid Waste Utility has collapsible recycling bins and recycling bags available at NO COST! We also have an event recycling trailer that can be dropped-off at your event at no cost. Please note that the recycling trailer requires 2-3 parking spaces or a similar-size, grass lawn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are plastic bags recyclable at many retail or grocery stores, but not recyclable with the City?
Plastic bags can only be recycled when they are completely clean and sorted from other materials. Retail and grocery stores can offer collection bins for plastic shopping bags because they are already clean and not mixed with any other materials. Those bags are sent directly to a processing facility (not the City of Columbia). The blue recycling bags that are used in curbside collection often have food and beverage residue stuck to the plastic. This would not be a problem for other materials (e.g. aluminum cans), where contaminants get incinerated before the material begins to melt in a furnace. If a banana peel were mixed with recycled plastic bags, the plastic would just melt around the banana peel and cause issues for processing equipment.
Should caps be removed from glass or plastic bottles?
The caps or lids on glass bottles/jars are made of metal. These are not recyclable and should be disposed as trash. This is different from plastic bottles, where the caps should be left on the container to recycle both items. The plastic bottle and cap are often different types of plastic, but they can no be separated mechanically at the processing facility. The labels can remain attached to glass or plastic containers.
Is there a way to recycle any day of the week?
The City’s Recycling and Yard Waste Drop-off Centers are open 7 days/week and can be used by any resident.
Is aluminum foil recyclable?
No. The aluminum beverage cans that are recyclable in the City of Columbia are considered a different material from aluminum foil. We do not have the space at our recycling facility to separate another material type and it would take a long time for a city with Columbia’s population to collect enough aluminum foil for a shipment. Aluminum foil is often covered in cooking fats, oils, and greases, and sometime include uneaten food. These contaminants would attract wildlife and create an unsafe work environment at our recycling facility, and the volume of waste diverted from our landfill would not be worth the additional costs.
How clean do items need to be for recycling?
Beverage bottles can be rinsed, but it is not necessary – they will be cleaned at the processing facility. Glass jars might require some cleaning to remove sauces, jams, and peanut butter. If there is food residue stuck to the item that is larger than a quarter, it should cleaned or not recycled. The same is true for cardboard pizza boxes. Here are some general guidelines to follow… If the item is losing shape due to grease, it should not be recycled. If the item has uneaten food, it should be emptied into a trash container or compost site and then get recycled. Any cheese or sauce stuck to an item should not amount to more than a quarter in size.
Does it matter if there is no recycling symbol on a plastic item?
No. The City of Columbia recycles all plastics except styrofoam and plastic film/bags. This means that if you can identify those two exceptions, it does not matter what type of plastic you are trying to recycle.
Can the blue recycling bags be recycled?
No. The blue recycling bags cannot be recycled in the City of Columbia. Once the bags arrive at the Material Recovery Facility, two workers break open the bags and place the loose material on a conveyor line to be sorted. The empty plastic bags are set to the side and would then be transported to the landfill.
Can I recycle envelopes with plastic windows or cardboard with packaging tape?
Mail envelopes with a plastic window can be recycled. You might choose to remove the plastic window, but it is not necessary for recycling the paper. Cardboard boxes might contain packaging tape or staples. These also do not need to be removed, but we still request that you fold the boxes, if possible.
Contacts
Search:
Activity & Recreation Center (ARC)
Phone: 573.874.7700opens phone dialer
Address:
1701 W. Ash St.
Columbia, MO 65203
Public Health & Human Services
Phone: 573.817.6441opens phone dialer
Alternate Phone: 573.874.7781opens phone dialer
Fax: 573.874.7756opens phone dialer
Email: Health@CoMo.gov
Address:
1005 W. Worley St
Columbia, Missouri 65203
Title: Mayor
Term Expires: April 2025
Phone: 573.874.7222opens phone dialer
Email: Mayor@CoMo.gov
Address:
City of Columbia, Missouri
701 E Broadway
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, Missouri, 65205
Title: Ward 1 Council Member
Term Expires: April 2026
Phone: 573.864.4978opens phone dialer
Email: Ward1@CoMo.gov
Address:
City of Columbia, Missouri
701 E Broadway
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, Missouri, 65205
Title: Ward 2 Council Member
Term Expires: April 2024
Phone: 573.823.2274opens phone dialer
Email: Ward2@CoMo.gov
Address:
City of Columbia, Missouri
701 E Broadway
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, Missouri, 65205
Title: Ward 3 Council Member
Term Expires: April 2025
Phone: 573.864.4976opens phone dialer
Email: Ward3@CoMo.gov
Address:
City of Columbia, Missouri
701 E Broadway
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, Missouri, 65205
Title: Ward 4 Council Member
Term Expires: April 2025
Phone: 573.999.0897opens phone dialer
Email: Ward4@CoMo.gov
Address:
City of Columbia, Missouri
701 E Broadway
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, Missouri, 65205
Title: Ward 5 Council Member
Term Expires: April 2026
Phone: 573.864.4972opens phone dialer
Email: Ward5@CoMo.gov
Address:
City of Columbia, Missouri
701 E Broadway
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, Missouri, 65205
Title: Ward 6 Council Member
Term Expires: April 2024
Phone: 573.864.4971opens phone dialer
Email: Ward6@CoMo.gov
Address:
City of Columbia, Missouri
701 E Broadway
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, Missouri, 65205
Phone: 573.874.2489opens phone dialer
Email: OCA@CoMo.gov
Address:
1 South 7th Street
P. O. Box 6015
Columbia, MO 65205
Phone: 573.874.2489opens phone dialer
Email: Planning@CoMo.gov
Address:
701 E Broadway
Columbia, Missouri 65201
Title: Engagement and Public Communications Manager
Phone: 573.874.7438opens phone dialer
Email: Sydney.Olsen@CoMo.gov
Address:
600 Big Bear Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65202
Address:
2300 E. Walnut Street
Columbia, MO
Address:
100 N Old 63
Address:
N William St
Columbia, MO
Address:
1905 Hillcrest Dr.
Parks and Recreation Department General Office (aka Gentry Building)
Phone: 573.874.7460opens phone dialer
Fax: 573.874.7640opens phone dialer
Email: ParksAndRec@CoMo.gov
Address:
1 South 7th Street
P. O. Box 6015
Columbia, MO 65205
Phone: 573.817.5024opens phone dialer
Fax: 573.442.8828opens phone dialer
Email: HumanRights@CoMo.gov
Address:
701 E. Broadway, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, MO 65205
Address:
2900 East Nifong Boulevard
Columbia, MO 65201
Title: Constituent Services and Legislative Affairs Administrator
Phone: 573.874.7646opens phone dialer
Email: Stacey.Weidemann@CoMo.gov
Address:
902 Range Line St.
Phone: 573.442.6131opens phone dialer
Address:
2104 Hillcrest Drive,
Columbia, MO 65201
Albert-Oakland Family Aquatic Center
Phone: 573.474.5331opens phone dialer
Alternate Phone: 573.874.7460opens phone dialer
Phone: 573.817.5015opens phone dialer
Address:
5001 E Meyer Industrial Drive, Columbia, MO 65203
Douglass Family Aquatic Center
Phone: 573.442.5019opens phone dialer
Alternate Phone: 573.874.7460opens phone dialer
Title: Information Center Supervisor
Phone: 573.874.7418opens phone dialer
Email: Kerri.Seversen@CoMo.gov
Address:
1201 Paquin St.
Phone: 573.874.7378opens phone dialer
Fax: 573.874.7761opens phone dialer
Email: Business.license@CoMo.Gov
Address:
PO Box 6015, Columbia, MO, 65205
Phone: 573.874.7201opens phone dialer
Fax: 573.875.3159opens phone dialer
Address:
1507 Bus. Loop 70W
Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: 573.474.7878opens phone dialer
Alternate Phone: 573.874.7460opens phone dialer
Title: Community Recreation Manager
Phone: 573.874.6378opens phone dialer
Email: Camren.Cross@CoMo.gov
Phone: 573.874.7244opens phone dialer
Fax: 573.874.7760opens phone dialer
Email: Darcie.Clark@CoMo.gov
Address:
500 E Walnut, Suite 108
Address:
2002 Grindstone Pkwy.
Stephens Lake Beach (Unguarded) and Spraygrounds
Address:
100 Old 63 N.
Molly Thomas Bowden Neighborhood Policing Center
Address:
1204 International Drive,
Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: 573.874.7384opens phone dialer
Fax: 573.874.7757opens phone dialer
Email: Health@CoMo.gov
Address:
1005 W. Worley St.
Phone: 573.874.2489opens phone dialer
Alternate Phone: 573.441.5574opens phone dialer
Email: Info@CoMo.gov
Address:
300 S Providence Rd
Columbia, MO 65203
Title: Parks and Recreation
Phone: 573.874.7460opens phone dialer
Email: ParksandRec@CoMo.gov
Address:
1 South 7th Street
P. O. Box 6015
Columbia, MO 65205
Title: Lieutenant, Professional Standards
Phone: 573.874.7652opens phone dialer
Email: Clinton.Sinclair@CoMo.gov
Title: Assistant City Manager
Phone: 573.874.2489opens phone dialer
Email: Carol.Rhodes@CoMo.gov
Address:
City Hall, Second Floor
701 E Broadway
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, Missouri, 65203
Phone: 573.817.5024opens phone dialer
Email: DisabilityServices@CoMo.gov
Address:
City of Columbia, Law Department
ADA Coordinator
701 East Broadway, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, MO 65205
Title: IT Director
Phone: 573.874.7500opens phone dialer
Email: Cityit1@CoMo.gov
Address:
701 E Broadway
Columbia, Missouri 65201
Address:
1900 Blue Ridge Road
Phone: 573.874.2489opens phone dialer
Email: Cityclerk@CoMo.gov
Address:
701 E Broadway
Columbia MO, 65202
Phone: 573.874.6338opens phone dialer
Email: Cmo@CoMo.gov
Address:
City Hall, Second Floor
701 E Broadway
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, Missouri 65205
Phone: 573.874.7249opens phone dialer
Alternate Phone: 573.874.7356opens phone dialer
Fax: 573.874.7597opens phone dialer
Email: Health@CoMo.gov
Prevention, Disease Intervention & Case Management
Phone: 573.874.7408opens phone dialer
Alternate Phone: 833.402.1458opens phone dialer
Email: SexualHealth@CoMo.gov
Title: Assistant Chief, North Patrol
Phone: 573.874.7407opens phone dialer
Email: Jeremiah.Hunter@CoMo.gov
Title: Assistant Chief, Investigative Operations Support
Email: Lance.Bolinger@CoMo.gov
Phone: 573.817.6430opens phone dialer
Email: HumanServices@CoMo.gov
Address:
1005 W. Worley St.
Columbia, MO 65203
Phone: 573.442.8303opens phone dialer
Address:
500 E Walnut St
Columbia, MO 65201
Phone: 573.874.7346opens phone dialer
Email: Health@CoMo.gov
Address:
1005 W. Worley St.
Columbia, MO 65203
Phone: 573.874.7391opens phone dialer
Alternate Phone: 573.874.7450opens phone dialer
Fax: 573.874.7446opens phone dialer
Email: Fire@CoMo.gov
Address:
201 Orr St
Columbia, MO 65201
Title: Public Health Planning Manager
Phone: 573.874.6331opens phone dialer
Email: Michelle.Shikles@CoMo.gov
Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Phone: 573.874.2489opens phone dialer
Email: Cc_forms@CoMo.gov
Address:
1313 Lakeview
Columbia, MO 65201
Phone: 573.874.7500opens phone dialer
Email: Cityit1@CoMo.gov
Address:
701 E Broadway
Columbia, Missouri 65201
Parkside Drive Yard Waste Drop-off Center
Phone: 573.874.2489opens phone dialer
Address:
Parkside Drive
Phone: 573.874.7223opens phone dialer
Fax: 573.442.8828opens phone dialer
Address:
701 E. Broadway, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, MO 65205
Phone: 573.874.7230opens phone dialer
Fax: 573.874.7531opens phone dialer
Email: MunicipalCourt@CoMo.gov
Address:
600 E. Broadway
Columbia, MO 65203
Title: Prevention and Investigation Manager
Phone: 573.817.6402opens phone dialer
Email: Tracey.Bathe@CoMo.gov
Office of Neighborhood Services
Phone: 573.817.5050opens phone dialer
Alternate Phone: 573.874.7339opens phone dialer
Email: Neighborhood@CoMo.gov
Address:
701 Broadway
Columbia, MO, 65201
Title: Senior Administrative Supervisor (Administration)
Phone: 573.874.7347opens phone dialer
Email: Dana.Vaughn@CoMo.gov
Phone: 573.874.7652opens phone dialer
Email: Policepio@CoMo.gov
Address:
600 E. Walnut Street
Columbia, MO 65201
Title: Administrative Supervisor (Clinical Services)
Phone: 573.874.7357opens phone dialer
Email: Janet.Dutton@CoMo.gov
Capen Park Yard Waste Drop-off Center
Phone: 573.874.2489opens phone dialer
Address:
1600 Capen Park Dr, Columbia, MO 65201
Phone: 573.874.2489opens phone dialer
Email: Pubw@CoMo.gov
Address:
701 E Broadway
Columbia, Missouri 65201
Title: Creative Services and Marketing Manager
Phone: 573.874.7330opens phone dialer
Email: Brian.Adkisson@CoMo.gov
Title: Public Information Specialist
Address:
400 N Providence Rd
Columbia, MO 65203
Phone: 573.874.7380opens phone dialer
Email: UCS@CoMo.gov
Address:
City of Columbia, Utility Customer Service, PO Box 6015, Columbia, MO, 65205
Phone: 573.874.7499opens phone dialer
Fax: 573.874.7546opens phone dialer
Email: Volunteer@CoMo.gov
Address:
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, MO 65205
Title: Transload Operations Supervisor
Phone: 573.441.5561opens phone dialer
Email: David.Dick@CoMo.gov
Title: Accounts Payable Contact Vendors M-Z
Phone: 573.874.7692opens phone dialer
Email: Accountspayable@CoMo.gov
Title: Recreation Services Manager
Phone: 573.874.7572opens phone dialer
Email: Erika.Coffman@CoMo.gov
Central Missouri Humane Society
Phone: 573.443.7387opens phone dialer
Address:
616 Big Bear Blvd.
Columbia, MO 65202
Title: Railroad Operations
Phone: 573.441.5564opens phone dialer
Alternate Phone: 573.864.2171opens phone dialer
Email: Matthew.Sabath@CoMo.gov
Title: Park Planning & Development Superintendent
Phone: 573.874.7203opens phone dialer
Email: Mike.snyder@CoMo.gov
Title: City Manager
Phone: 573.874.2489opens phone dialer
Email: Cmo@CoMo.gov
Address:
City Hall, Second Floor
701 E Broadway
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, Missouri, 65203
Address:
400 N. Providence Rd.
Phone: 573.874.7229opens phone dialer
Fax: 573.874.7533opens phone dialer
Email: CityProsecutor@CoMo.gov
Address:
600 E. Broadway
P. O. Box 6015
Columbia, MO 65205-6015
Title: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Administrator, LGBTQ+ Liaison
Phone: 573.289.5975opens phone dialer
Email: D'andre.thompson@CoMo.gov
Gans Creek Cross Country Course
Address:
3350 E. Gans Road
Title: Public Information Specialist
Phone: 425.209.6344opens phone dialer
Email: Christian.Tabak@CoMo.gov
Title: Entrepreneurship Coordinator
Phone: 573.441.5546opens phone dialer
Alternate Phone: 573.268.5596opens phone dialer
Email: Jay.Sparks@CoMo.gov
Phone: 573.874.2489opens phone dialer
Email: Cc_forms@CoMo.gov
Address:
701 E. Broadway
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, MO 65205
Phone: 573.874.7239opens phone dialer
Email: Planning@CoMo.gov
Address:
701 Broadway
Columbia, MO, 65201
Title: Environmental Education Coordinator
Phone: 573.817.6447opens phone dialer
Email: Michael.heimos@CoMo.gov
Title: Environmental Program Coordinator
Phone: 573.441.5513opens phone dialer
Email: Kevin.carpenter@CoMo.gov
Convention & Visitors Bureau – Special Events
Phone: 573.817.5052opens phone dialer
Email: Specialevents@CoMo.gov
Address:
300 S. Providence Road, Columbia, MO 65203
Phone: 573.874.7488opens phone dialer
Email: HumanServices@CoMo.gov
Address:
1005 W. Worley St.
Columbia, MO 65203
Title: Environmental Health Supervisor
Phone: 573.874.7382opens phone dialer
Email: Chrystal.Smart@CoMo.gov
Phone: 573.817.6430opens phone dialer
Email: SocialServices@CoMo.gov
Address:
1005 W. Worley St.
Columbia, MO 65203
Address:
1615 Business Loop 70 W
Columbia, MO 65202
Address:
3350 Waco Rd
Columbia, MO 65202
Title: Assistant Chief, South Patrol
Phone: 573.874.7607opens phone dialer
Email: Mark.Fitzgerald@CoMo.gov
Phone: 573.442.5019opens phone dialer
Alternate Phone: 573.874.7460opens phone dialer
Address:
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial at Battle Garden
800 W. Stadium Blvd.
Columbia, MO 65203
Title: Parks and Recreation Director
Phone: 573.874.6398opens phone dialer
Email: Gabe.Huffington@CoMo.gov
Phone: 573.874.7474opens phone dialer
Email: Bldg-inspection@CoMo.gov
Address:
701 E Broadway
Columbia, MO, 65201
Address:
Grissum Building, 1313 Lakeview Ave.
Address:
2104 Hillcrest Drive
Press Releases
3/18/2024 – City of Columbia Utilities to resume utility disconnects
2/26/2024 – City of Columbia Water & Light earns Water Fluoridation Quality Award
2/23/2024 – City of Columbia to resume residential curbside recycling collection March 18
2/23/2024 – Road closure scheduled on Garth Avenue beginning Feb. 26
2/19/2024 – Road closure scheduled on Poplar Street beginning Feb. 20