Plan Your 11921 Hardy Recycling Drop-Off Without Bringing the Wrong Load
The Overland Park Recycling Center at 11921 Hardy, Overland Park, KS 66213 is a staffed drop-off facility for many common household recyclables that may not fit conveniently into a curbside routine.
The practical rules matter more than the nearest map pin: use the correct Tuesday-through-Saturday schedule, arrive before the last-entry cutoff, sort materials before you leave home, and route paint, chemicals, propane cylinders, large appliances and other special waste somewhere else.
Quick answer: what should you know before going?
The normal published schedule is Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 AM–4:00 PM, and Saturday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM. Current local facility listings show the last vehicle entry at approximately 3:50 PM, allowing visitors time to unload before closing.
The center is closed on Sunday and Monday under the normal schedule. Holiday, severe-weather, staffing or operational closures can override regular hours, so check the City of Overland Park page before a time-sensitive trip.
Do not use this center for every item with a recycling symbol
The Hardy Street facility takes many paper, container, glass and metal materials, but it is not a household hazardous waste center, landfill, appliance disposal site or universal electronics center. Special items need the correct route.
On this page
Overland Park Recycling Center Quick Facts
| Detail | Current planning information |
|---|---|
| Facility | Overland Park Recycling Center |
| Address | 11921 Hardy, Overland Park, KS 66213 |
| Location clue | Just south of 119th Street between Metcalf and Antioch; the facility is near the fire station. |
| Phone | 913-901-6002 |
| Tuesday–Friday | 7:30 AM–4:00 PM under the normal schedule |
| Saturday | 8:00 AM–4:00 PM under the normal schedule |
| Last entry | Current local facility listings show approximately 3:50 PM |
| Sunday / Monday | Closed under the normal schedule |
| Service type | Residential recycling drop-off |
| Payment for material | No buyback payment is listed for accepted materials |
Overland Park Recycling Center Hours and Last-Entry Rule
Plan around the recycling center’s operating schedule rather than City Hall hours, landfill hours or generic map hours. Recent 2026 reporting continues to describe the center as open Tuesday through Saturday.
Monday
Closed under the normal schedule.
Tuesday
7:30 AM–4:00 PM.
Wednesday
7:30 AM–4:00 PM.
Thursday
7:30 AM–4:00 PM.
Friday
7:30 AM–4:00 PM.
Saturday
8:00 AM–4:00 PM.
Sunday
Closed under the normal schedule.
Holiday
Check the City’s current closure notice before driving.
Aim for earlier than 3:50 PM
Current local listings use a 3:50 PM last-entry time even though the facility closes at 4:00 PM. If you have several sorted materials, arrive earlier so you have enough time to use the correct containers.
Who Can Use the Overland Park Drop-Off Center?
The current Mid-America Regional Council RecycleSpot listing identifies the site as a residential recycling center and says it is free to residents throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area—you do not have to live inside Overland Park city limits.
That regional access distinction is useful because older third-party directories sometimes describe the center as Overland-Park-resident-only. Recent 2026 local reporting also noted substantial use by people who live outside Overland Park.
Overland Park households
Residential use is part of the center’s core purpose.
Other KC metro residents
The current regional RecycleSpot listing says residential users do not have to live in Overland Park.
Business loads
Do not assume the residential drop-off accepts commercial recycling. Businesses should verify a commercial recycling route before loading material.
What Can You Take to the Overland Park Recycling Center?
The current regional material listing includes a wide range of household recyclables. Sort by material before arrival so you can move through the staffed drop-off area efficiently.
Paper & cardboard
Cardboard boxes, paperboard boxes, newspaper, office paper, catalogs, magazines, junk mail, paper bags, paper tubes, paper egg cartons, phone books and selected paper cartons.
Glass containers
Glass bottles, jars, mason jars and certain glass candle or cosmetic jars are currently listed.
Plastic containers
Selected bottles, jars, tubs, cups and buckets are accepted. Shape and plastic type still matter.
Metal
Aluminum cans and foil, steel cans, scrap metal and selected ferrous and non-ferrous metals are listed.
Selected batteries
Rechargeable batteries and lead-acid vehicle batteries are currently included in the regional material listing.
Reusable clothing & books
Wearable clothing, selected accessories and paperback books are among the current listed categories.
Accepted-material lists can change before this article does
For an unusual item, check the City page or the regional RecycleSpot listing before driving. Do not use a recycling symbol alone as proof that an item belongs at Hardy Street.
Plastic Recycling Rules at 11921 Hardy
The center accepts selected household plastic containers, but not every plastic object. The current regional listing includes bottles, jars, tubs, small buckets and specific cup types.
| Plastic item | Current regional listing | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Food and beverage bottles | Accepted types listed | Empty contents and keep containers reasonably clean. |
| Detergent / shampoo bottles | Listed | Empty liquids before drop-off. |
| Plastic jars | Listed | Remove food residue. |
| Tubs | Listed | Empty butter, yogurt, sour cream or similar product. |
| Plastic cups | #1 and #5 cups listed | Discard lids, straws and stirrers unless separately accepted. |
| Buckets | Plastic buckets 5 gallons or smaller listed | Empty contents and verify any former chemical use. |
For more detailed resin-code and unusual-plastic guidance, use the plastic recycling center guide.
Glass: Bottles and Jars Yes, Many Glass-Like Items No
Glass causes confusion because items can look similar while being made for completely different melting temperatures and recycling systems.
| Glass item | Current route at Hardy |
|---|---|
| Glass bottles | Listed for recycling |
| Glass jars / mason jars | Listed for recycling |
| Certain candle / cosmetic jars | Listed |
| TV screens | Not accepted as glass |
| Mirrors | Not accepted |
| Light bulbs | Not accepted in the glass stream |
| Windshield / safety glass | Not accepted |
| Ceramic / china / porcelain | Not accepted |
| Pyrex / Corningware / Corelle | Not accepted |
Do not place a broken mirror or casserole dish in the bottle-glass container
Use the accepted-material list rather than deciding by appearance. Heat-resistant cookware, ceramics, mirrors and safety glass are different from standard bottle-and-jar glass.
Scrap Metal, Cans and Selected Batteries
One reason the Hardy Street center is useful is that it can handle certain materials that do not belong in ordinary curbside mixed recycling.
Aluminum
Aluminum cans, foil, pans and trays are currently listed.
Steel and scrap metal
Tin or steel cans and several ferrous/non-ferrous scrap-metal categories are listed.
Batteries
Current regional information lists lead-acid vehicle batteries and rechargeable batteries from items such as tools, phones and laptops.
Damaged lithium batteries need extra caution
Do not assume a swollen, punctured, burned or otherwise damaged lithium-ion battery belongs in an ordinary battery container. Contact the center or Johnson County hazardous materials program for instructions before transport.
For battery-specific preparation, see the battery recycling guide.
Items You Should Not Assume the Overland Park Center Accepts
Some of the most important trip-planning information is what does not belong at this residential recycling facility.
Compressed gas cylinders
Current regional guidance specifically says fire extinguishers, propane, oxygen, helium and other compressed-gas cylinders are not accepted.
Large appliances
Large appliances are specifically listed as not accepted. Do not arrive with a refrigerator, washer, dryer or similar appliance without another verified route.
Household chemicals
Paint, solvents, pesticides and similar hazardous household material belong in the Johnson County hazardous-materials system, not ordinary recycling bins.
Non-container glass
Mirrors, light bulbs, safety glass, ceramics and heat-resistant cookware are excluded from the normal glass stream.
Unverified electronics
Do not treat Hardy Street as a universal e-waste center. Verify the exact device before bringing computers, televisions or other electronics.
Mixed trash
This is a recycling center, not a general garbage transfer station. Keep household trash out of recycling containers.
Paint, Chemicals and Household Hazardous Waste Go to a Different Facility
Johnson County operates a separate Hazardous Materials Facility at 11231 Mastin St., Overland Park, KS 66210. Household hazardous material drop-off is free to Johnson County residents and requires an appointment.
The county currently lists 913-715-6900 for scheduling help and says the Mastin Street facility is east of U.S. 69 near College Boulevard.
| Material | Hardy recycling center? | Better route |
|---|---|---|
| Latex / oil-based paint | Do not assume | Johnson County Hazardous Materials Facility |
| Solvents / thinners | No ordinary recycling route | County HHW appointment |
| Pesticides / herbicides | No ordinary recycling route | County HHW appointment |
| Gasoline / automotive chemicals | Do not mix with normal recyclables | County HHW program |
| Unknown household chemical | No | Contact Johnson County before transport |
For preparation and safety details, use the site’s household hazardous waste guide.
How to Prepare Your Recycling Before Driving to Hardy Street
Sort the load at home
Separate cardboard, paper, glass, plastics, metals, batteries and reusable clothing so you are not opening bags and making decisions in the traffic area.
Flatten cardboard boxes
Break boxes down before loading the car. Flat cardboard takes less space and is easier to place in the correct container.
Empty food and beverage containers
Remove liquids and obvious food residue. Do not bring containers still filled with product.
Remove obvious non-recyclable parts
Keep plastic bags, trash, food and loose packing materials out of paper and cardboard containers.
Keep batteries separate
Do not bury batteries at the bottom of a mixed box. Ask staff which collection point is appropriate.
Ask staff before guessing
The center is staffed. If your item is unusual, confirm the correct container instead of contaminating a recycling stream.
- Arrive well before the last-entry cutoff if you have several categories.
- Keep glass stable so it does not break inside the vehicle.
- Flatten cardboard.
- Empty containers.
- Separate rechargeable and lead-acid batteries.
- Keep hazardous chemicals out of the load.
- Do not bring compressed-gas cylinders.
- Call first for unusual or oversized items.
Cardboard and Moving Boxes at the Overland Park Center
Cardboard is one of the facility’s core recycling streams. The City’s sustainability reporting has also documented a moving-box reuse area where suitable boxes could be left for or taken by other residents.
Because reuse features can change with space and staffing, call the center before making a special trip solely to pick up moving boxes.
Ordinary shipping boxes
Empty and flatten them before drop-off.
Moving boxes
Reuse clean boxes first when possible, then recycle boxes that are no longer needed.
Large cardboard load
Arrive earlier in the day and make sure your load is residential rather than commercial.
For cardboard-specific preparation, use the cardboard box recycling guide.
Is the Overland Park Recycling Center Free? Does It Pay for Material?
The current regional RecycleSpot listing says the facility is free for residential users in the Kansas City metro area. It also explicitly says the center does not pay for any accepted items.
Residential drop-off
Current regional guidance lists free use for Kansas City metro-area residents.
No buyback payment
Do not arrive expecting payment for aluminum cans, scrap metal, cardboard, batteries or other accepted material.
Drop-off recycling and scrap-metal buyback are different services
If your main goal is receiving a market price for valuable metal, you need a verified commercial scrap buyer rather than a municipal-style residential recycling drop-off.
Busy-Site and Traffic Tips Before You Arrive
The Hardy Street center handles a significant volume of recycling. The City’s 2024 sustainability report said the center collected more than 682 tons of recyclables that year, and a 2026 solid-waste review highlighted high demand and traffic constraints at the site.
Sort before arrival
Pre-sorted loads reduce the amount of time you spend stopped at individual bins.
Leave room to unload
Pack your vehicle so cardboard, glass, metal and paper can be reached without unloading unrelated belongings.
Avoid the closing rush
Do not plan to begin sorting a full vehicle at 3:50 PM. Arrive earlier when you have multiple materials.
If a collection container is full, ask staff
Do not leave recyclable material on the pavement or beside a full bin. Staff can tell you whether another container is available or whether you should return later.
Overland Park Recycling Center Map and Directions
The facility address is 11921 Hardy, Overland Park, KS 66213. Johnson County describes it as just off 119th Street between Metcalf and Antioch.
Official and Regional Sources to Check Before Your Trip
The City controls the facility. Johnson County and the Mid-America Regional Council provide useful regional routing information for special materials and accepted-item searches.
Official City facility page for the Hardy Street recycling center. Johnson County Recycling Centers
County list confirming the Overland Park center and other regional recycling options. RecycleSpot Material Listing
Regional accepted-material, exclusion, access and contact information. Johnson County Hazardous Materials Facility
Appointment-based route for household hazardous waste at 11231 Mastin Street.
Overland Park Drop-Off Recycling Center FAQs
Where is the Overland Park Recycling Center?
The recycling center is at 11921 Hardy, Overland Park, Kansas 66213, just south of 119th Street between Metcalf and Antioch.
What are the Overland Park Recycling Center hours?
The normal schedule is Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Sunday and Monday are normally closed. Check for holiday or operational closures before a special trip.
What time is the last entry?
Current local facility listings show approximately 3:50 PM as the last-entry cutoff so visitors have time to unload before the 4:00 PM closing time. Arrive earlier with a large or multi-material load.
Do I have to live in Overland Park to use the recycling center?
The current Mid-America Regional Council RecycleSpot listing says the residential center is free to Kansas City metro-area residents and that users do not have to live in Overland Park. Call the center if your eligibility situation is unusual.
Does the Overland Park Recycling Center charge a fee?
The current regional listing describes the residential drop-off as free for Kansas City metro residents. Special waste handled through other programs can have different eligibility or fee rules.
Does the center pay for aluminum cans or scrap metal?
No. The current regional listing specifically says the Overland Park Recycling Center does not pay for accepted items. It is a drop-off recycling service, not a scrap buyback business.
Can I recycle cardboard at the Overland Park center?
Yes. Cardboard boxes and paperboard are currently listed. Empty and flatten boxes before arriving and keep loose plastic and packing material out of the cardboard stream.
Does the center accept glass?
Glass bottles and jars are accepted categories. Mirrors, light bulbs, safety glass, ceramics, porcelain, Pyrex, Corningware and similar non-container glass should not be placed into the glass recycling stream.
Can I bring batteries?
The current regional listing includes rechargeable batteries and lead-acid vehicle batteries. For damaged lithium batteries or an unusual battery type, contact the facility or Johnson County hazardous materials program before transporting it.
Can I take paint or chemicals to 11921 Hardy?
Use Johnson County’s separate Hazardous Materials Facility at 11231 Mastin Street for household hazardous waste. Residential drop-off there requires an appointment.
Does the center take propane tanks?
No. The current regional listing specifically says compressed-gas cylinders such as propane, oxygen, helium and fire extinguishers are not accepted at the recycling center.
Is Recycling-Centre.org the official Overland Park recycling website?
No. Recycling-Centre.org is an independent information guide. The City of Overland Park operates the recycling center and controls official hours, closures and facility policies.
Before-You-Go Checklist for 11921 Hardy
- Use the normal Tuesday-through-Saturday schedule, not generic City Hall hours.
- Plan to enter before the approximately 3:50 PM cutoff.
- Check City holiday or weather closure notices.
- Sort cardboard, paper, glass, plastic and metal before leaving home.
- Flatten cardboard boxes.
- Empty food and beverage containers.
- Keep rechargeable or lead-acid batteries separate from loose recycling.
- Do not bring compressed-gas cylinders.
- Do not bring large appliances without another verified route.
- Keep mirrors, bulbs, ceramics and heat-resistant cookware out of bottle glass.
- Use Johnson County HHW for paint, solvents, pesticides and household chemicals.
- Ask staff instead of guessing when an item is unusual.
Sort First, Arrive Before the Cutoff and Keep Special Waste Out
The Overland Park Recycling Center is useful because it accepts several residential materials in one staffed location, including cardboard, paper, selected plastics, glass containers, metals, batteries and reusable items.
The easiest trip starts before you leave home. Sort the vehicle by material, flatten cardboard, empty containers, keep chemicals and gas cylinders out, and arrive comfortably before the closing cutoff.
Independent information guide: Recycling-Centre.org is not the City of Overland Park, Johnson County, Mid-America Regional Council, RecycleSpot or the recycling facility. Hours, accepted materials, access rules and operational conditions can change, so verify current details with the City or facility before a special trip.