Topeka Residents Offered Free Disposal for Spring Cleanup Projects

In recognition of the Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup, and in celebration of Earth Day the following services will be offered to residents of Shawnee County, free of charge (except where noted) on Saturday, April 24. 

April 24—Earth Day Events

Rolling Meadows Recycling and Disposal Facility will offer a free landfill day on April 24, 2010, sponsored by Waste Management of Kansas, Inc.  The landfill located at 7351 N.W. Highway 75 will be open from 7 a.m. to Noon.  To be eligible for free disposal all loads must be covered, contain no tires, hazardous waste items or appliances that contain Freon.  The free disposal of trash is available for individual Shawnee County residents only, no businesses.  For more information contact:   246-0305.

The City of Topeka Yard Materials Recycling Facility will also be open the same day for free disposal of yard waste for all Topeka residents.  The hours will be 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. at I-70 and MacVicar.  They will accept trees, limbs, leaves and grass.  All loads should be covered or secured.  The free day is available to all of Shawnee County except for businesses.  For more information contact 368-3700.

Extreme Recycling has announced they will accept electronic waste except large appliances, smoke detectors and thermostats.  There is a $15 fee for  televisions and $10 for monitors.  They will receive the materials at 7215 S. Topeka Blvd. Bldg. 3C from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm.  For questions on this event or other electronic materials they accept for recycling, please contact them at 785-267-1700.

 As part of Bridgestone’s One Team One Planet Program, there will be a tire Amnesty for Shawnee County residents only, at Expert Tire, 3701 S. Topeka, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. – 4 tires per household.  They will also accept residential do-it-yourself oil.   

Other Great American Cleanup events include: 

Shawnee County Household Hazardous Waste Special Collection Event – sponsored by Shawnee County Recycling--Saturday, April 3 and May 1 from 9:00 AM – Noon.  Collection of wastes such as household cleaners, pesticides, paint & similar products will be collected free of charge.  Open to Shawnee County residents, households only, no business.  Just East of Topeka Blvd. & 46^th Street.  For questions call 286-4381.

Tulip Time Festival—April 10-26—A City and Countywide celebration of tulips.  Featured sites include:  Ted Ensley Gardens, 3650 SE West Edge Road; Old Prairie Town and Botanical Garden, 1^st and Clay; Doran Rock Garden, 601 SW Gage; Downtown Kansas Avenue and Matrot Castle, 6424 SW Huntoon.  Participants:  Shawnee County, The City of Topeka, Matrot Castle and Keep America Beautiful-Topeka/Shawnee County.

Project Takeover/Makeover— April 10 and 24.  A cleanup of 19 local NIA’s will be held.

Hands On Topeka—April 11—from noon to 4:00 p.m. Local United Methodist Churches will collaborate for a cleanup of Topeka and Shawnee County parks.

TARC Industries, 1800 SW 42^nd, will offer free document destruction April 19-23, and May 17-21 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Keep America Beautiful-Topeka/Shawnee County, Wellpoint Associations, and College Prep Academy of Topeka—April 24—A T.A.G. Team (Topekans Against Graffiti) graffiti effort will be held from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.  Volunteers meet at the Law Enforcement Center, 320 S. Kansas, to paint over graffiti, patrol for graffiti and plant a test garden.

KAB Shunga Mural Project—May 8--Artists and volunteers paint a mural along the Shunga Trail.

KAB Friends of Ted Ensley Gardens—May 22--Volunteers will meet staff of Shawnee County Parks and Recreation to assist in installing gardens.  Meet at 9:00 a.m. at 37^th and West Edge Road.

Adopt-A-Piece of History at the Topeka Cemetery-- May 15, Participants will mow, trim and do general cleanup from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help prepare the cemetery for Memorial Day.  Individuals are asked to provide their own equipment. 

Advantage Metals in partnership with the Keep American Beautiful-Topeka/Shawnee County program is continuing their sponsorship of an aluminum can recycling project through May 31st.  The Keep America Beautiful Program will provide free bags and stickers so that an additional five-cent bonus over market price on each pound of cans recycled will be paid.  Bags and stickers can be obtained at Advantage Metals, 1628 NW Gordon.

For additional information, please call Philicia McKee, at Keep America Beautiful-Topeka/Shawnee County at 235-0845 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it