Category: Consumer news

Dumpster Days planned March 18-19

Dumpster Days will be from 8 a.m. to noon March 18 and 19 in the parking lot at 424 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo from Unified Government)

Dumpster Days will be held on March 18 and 19 to help Wyandotte County residents recycle electronics waste and dispose of unwanted bulky items.

According to a Unified Government Public Works spokesman, the event will be held from 8 a.m. to noon March 18 and 19 in the parking lot at 424 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.

“As we work to beautify and abate trash and curtail illegal dumping in Wyandotte County, I am proud to support the continued efforts of our Unified Government staff in providing the services and resources that will facilitate a clean, safe, and resilient Wyandotte County – Kansas City, Kansas,” Mayor Tyrone Garner said in a news release.

Visitors will need to show proof of Wyandotte County residency with something displaying their name and address, like a driver’s license or utility bill.

Items accepted include electronics recycling, mattresses, furniture, refrigerators, general appliances, fixtures, microwaves, freezers, televisions, and more. For televisions, computer screens, flat screens, or monitors, the following fees are charged:

• CRT Computer Screens, $10
• LCD/Flat Screen TVs $20
• CRT TVs, $40

The fees must be paid in cash only, and exact change is required.

Items that cannot be accepted include:
• All household hazardous waste
• Paint
• Yard waste
• Batteries
• Storm debris
• Food waste
• Glass and plastics recycling
• Tires
• Construction demolition material
• Any item from businesses, nonprofits, or other commercial entities

These items will be turned away at the event, according to the spokesman.

For yard waste, storm debris, and glass or paper recycling, residents may use the Recycling and Yard Waste Center at 3241 Park Drive, Kansas City, Kansas, at no charge. The Recycling and Yard Waste Center is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, except on holidays.

Household hazardous waste may be taken to the HHW Center at 2443 S. 88th St., Kansas City, Kansas. The HHW is open on April 23, May 21, June 18, July 16, Aug. 20, Sept. 17, and Oct. 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

  • Information from Unified Government

Trash pickup delayed on Thursday

Residential trash pickup and recycling will be delayed on Thursday, March 10, according to an announcement from the Unified Government.

Waste Management will not pick up trash and recycling on March 10. A winter storm, with snow, is in Thursday’s forecast.

Trash and recycling will be delayed by one day the rest of the week.

Those whose normal trash day is Thursday should place their items at the curb or street edge on Friday, March 11, according to the announcement.

Those whose normal trash day is Friday should place their items at the curb or street edge on Saturday, March 12.

If trash and recycling services are delayed further, more information will follow, according to the UG.

For more information about solid waste management, including frequently asked questions, visit wycokck.org/Waste.

To report a service issue, dial 3-1-1 or visit mywyco.wycokck.org.

  • Story from Unified Government public works

Telephone scams targeting BPU customers

The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities is warning customers to be aware of scams that tell residents their utilities will be shut off immediately, according to a BPU spokesman.

Multiple reports have been made about calls stating if payment is not made, services will be shut off within 30 minutes, the spokesman stated. The caller claims to represent a local utility, and sometimes uses caller ID spoofing equipment to convince victims the call is from a real customer service number, according to the spokesman.

The caller tries to get the customer to provide a credit card number or other personal information, telling the customer a check has bounced or he or she has a past due bill, according to the spokesman.

Imposters will often ask customers to use a prepaid card for payment, according to the spokesman.

BPU will never ask a customer to purchase a prepaid debit card, gift card or any form of cryptocurrency, the BPU spokesman stated.

BPU never asks for payment over the phone or threatens to disconnect utilities due to non-payment, according to the spokesman.

Customers who suspect they are being targeted by a scam need to hang up right away and call the BPU Customer Service Department at 913-573- 9190, the BPU spokesman stated.

If they feel they have been a victim of a scam, customers are asked to work with their local law enforcement agency to report the crime, according to BPU.

Although BPU sometimes uses pre-recorded messages to notify customers about future dates for possible disconnection, they do not cold-call customers to demand immediate payment, the spokesman stated.

BPU offered these tips for customers to protect themselves if they are unsure about a call, email, or visit from a utility representative:

• Never give credit or debit card, Social Security, ATM, checking or savings account numbers to anyone who comes to your door, calls, texts, or sends an email asking for information regarding your utility bill. Verify the request is authentic by either asking to see company identification or calling the BPU Customer Service Department.

• Be suspicious if you receive an email regarding your utility bill if you have not requested online communications from BPU.

• Never provide personal information via email or click any suspicious links or attachments.

BPU said electric customers have been targeted by scammers using a variety of such scam attempts for a number of years in several states besides Kansas, including Nebraska; Alabama; Arkansas; Connecticut; the District of Columbia; Florida; Louisiana; Maryland; Massachusetts; Mississippi; Missouri; New Jersey; New York; Oklahoma; Texas; Wisconsin; and New Mexico.

  • Story from BPU