By This Is Topeka
Residents across multiple Topeka apartment complexes are reporting that their dumpsters have suddenly vanished, with no advance warning — raising alarms that the city’s infamous 2024 trash saga may be making an unwelcome comeback.
It started with a Facebook post Tuesday morning asking why dumpsters were missing from Crown Point Apartments.
“Did Lew not pay the trash company again and they picked em all up?” one resident joked — nervously.
Within minutes, comments poured in:
- Meadowlark tenants: dumpsters gone
- Mt. Vernon: trash cans gone
- Apartments near Fairlawn and Walmart: same issue
- Calls to property offices: no answer
It’s déjà vu with a faint smell of garbage on the wind.
A Familiar Notice
A text message sent to residents at Willow Run and Camelot Village confirms it’s not isolated:
“Due to a change in our trash service, the current provider has picked up the existing dumpsters… A temporary roll-off dumpster will be delivered…”
One roll-off — for entire multi-building complexes.
Maintenance crews are expected to drive from enclosure to enclosure, hauling trash by hand. That’s the plan.
Residents, understandably, are skeptical.
Last Time This Happened…
City inspectors found dumpsters overflowing for weeks across more than 30 properties tied to Eucalyptus-connected ownership — and cited the owner with:
✔ 36 sanitation violations
✔ $60,000+ in fines
✔ more than $9,000 in forced clean-ups
The national headlines embarrassed Topeka and left tenants fighting off rats, stray animals, and freezing piles of waste.
But now? It’s winter again. And the dumpsters are missing again.
“That was their excuse last year,”
— frustrated resident
Who’s Responsible This Time?
Property management hasn’t yet clarified:
- Which trash service ended their contract
- Why dumpsters were removed with no replacements ready
- How long the “temporary” plan lasts
- Whether tenants will be pro-rated for missing services
We’ve requested comment. We’ll update when we hear back.
Tenants Taking It Into Their Own Hands
Advocates are urging residents to report every missing dumpster to the city using SeeClickFix, forcing inspections and timelines:
Topeka must respond to citizen trash complaints.
Don’t assume someone else has already reported it.
This Is Topeka Wants to Hear From You
If you live at any complex experiencing removed dumpsters:
Email us: [email protected]
Send photos of enclosures + notices
Tell us what management has said (if anything)
We’re building a list of locations to track patterns — and accountability.
Because Topeka already lived through Trashpocalypse 2024.
We don’t need the sequel.
