Background

The “Queen City of the Ozarks,” Springfield, MO, is the birthplace of the famous Route 66, and is the third-largest city in the state behind Kansas City and St. Louis with 162,191 residents. Springfield’s curbside recycling program has been going strong since the early 1990s — impressive for a city of this size — but it is a small network of drop-off recycling facilities that allows residents to recycle an impressive number of materials. The city has placed a high level of importance on recycling, having created an online portal (link below) that includes information about the local programs and ways to prep recyclables and avoid buying products with wasteful packaging.

Materials recycled

Paper Dry newspapers and inserts may be collected in paper bags and placed in the recycling bin. Plastics Accepted items include clear plastic containers numbered 1 or 2 (rinsed; no lids or rings; flattened, if possible). Some local waste haulers also accepted colored #2 containers. Metals Aluminum cans and tin/steel cans are accepted at the curb. All items must be emptied and rinsed and crushed, if possible. Glass Glass food and beverage containers (emptied and rinsed; no lids) are accepted.

Frequency

Curbside recycling pick-up details depend on which hauler is servicing the address. Contact a Springfield hauler for specific pick-up dates and times.

Other programs

Springfield is home to three drop-off recycling centers that accept yard waste, aluminum, glass, cardboard, paper, plastic (all resin types) and tin items:

• Franklin Avenue recycling center, 731 N. Franklin Ave., open Tuesday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April through November)
• Lone Pine recycling center, 3020 S. Lone Pine Ave., open Tuesday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April through November); and Sundays (first in April through third in May, from 1 to 5 p.m., and first in November through first in December, from 1 to 5 p.m.)
• Yard Waste recycling center, off Farm Road 164, open Tuesday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April through November); and Sundays (first in April through third in May, from 1 to 5 p.m., and first in November through first in December, from 1 to 5 p.m.)

The Household Chemical Collection Center, 1226 W. Nichols St., is available via appointment only for Springfield and surrounding Greene County residents to drop off household hazardous waste items. Hours are Tuesdays, from 7 to 10 a.m.; Thursdays, from 3 to 6 p.m.; the first two Saturdays in April, from 9 a.m. to noon; and the first two Saturdays in November, from 9 a.m. to noon. Call 417.864.2000 to schedule an appointment.

More information

Visit the City of Springfield Recycling website for more recycling program info.