Kansas City suburbs really, really don't want a new landfill

By Nomin Ujiyediin,

Published November 16, 2023 at 4:00 AM CST

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Suburbs south of Kansas City are leaning on the Missouri General Assembly to help stop a proposed landfill near their community, citing concerns about pollution and property values. A new political action committee is lobbying legislators to pass a law on the issue, even after a similar bill fell short last session.

Subdivisions, restaurants, and retail shops have popped up around Lee’s Summit and Raymore, and single-family homes have spread across what was farmland just a few years ago. But residents along the south edge of Kansas City say a proposed 430-acre landfill could threaten that growth.

Many have organized to block the proposal, claiming a landfill would erode property values and threaten their health. They’re raising money and deploying lobbyists to change a state law, a move that failed in the General Assembly last year.

KCUR's Up To Date host Steve Kraske spoke with Kansas City Beacon statehouse reporter Meg Cunningham to learn more.

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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt, Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.

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