The department is constantly striving to strengthen and improve effective waste management practices and recycling efforts across the state. We work with partners across a broad spectrum of public and private entities and agencies at the local, state and federal levels. Together we are making steady progress. Here are some recent success stories related to waste and recycling efforts in Missouri.

Decades-old pesticides with labels falling off containers being removed from the bed of a silver pickup truck at a collection event

Pesticide Collection Program on Track for a Record Year

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Pesticide Collection Program is on track to break its record for the most waste pesticide collected in one year. The pace was set when the single-event record was broken at this year’s first drop-off event March 12. 2022, in Portageville when more than 90,000 pounds of pesticide was collected. 

Street view of the Better Family Life Cultural Center and Museum

Better Family Life Cultural Center and Museum

This site includes a 1904 historic landmark elementary school building and two adjacent properties in a mixed residential/ commercial neighborhood in St. Louis. The department's Brownfields/ Voluntary Cleanup Program (BVCP) staff provided remediation oversight for asbestos-containing material and lead-based paint. The building was transformed into the Better Family Life Cultural, Educational and Business Center.

Street view of the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 36 and DYNALABS buildings

Chouteau Crossing (Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 36 and DYNALABS)

The site is a 6-acre area on Chouteau Ave. in St. Louis’ Lafayette Square and Gate District neighborhood. The site has been developed since 1929, but it was not until 2011 that it was awarded Development of the Year by the city of St. Louis. Chouteau Crossing is now home to two of St. Louis’ highest rated Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified buildings: Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 36 and DYNALABS.

Street view of the Roaster’s Block apartment buildings

Folgers Coffee (Roaster's Block Apartment Complex)

The property was first used in the 1890's for various retail and manufacturing businesses. It was home of the Folgers Coffee Co. for more than seven decades. The meticulously transformed heavy timber, brick and concrete structures on the property are now part of the Roaster’s Block apartment complex. The environmental issues at the site were remediated, with an emphasis on salvage and recycling rather than sending waste to landfills.

Street view of the Missouri State Highway Patrol crime laboratory

Modern Distributing (Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory)

Since 1925, International Harvester Co. used the property for various warehousing and other commercial operations. The site contained two large heating oil underground storage tanks, at least one of which caused contamination to the surrounding soil. The remediated and divided site now houses both the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s crime laboratory and the city of Springfield’s Jordan Valley Community Health Center.

Street view of the North Sarah apartment buildings

North Central Redevelopment (North Sarah Apartments)

Multiple undeveloped lots and vacant and dilapidated buildings have spotted the area along N. Sarah St. in St. Louis for many years. The area was zoned residential with commercial and retail uses. Extensive remediation and removal efforts allowed for redeveloping the site into a multi-family, mixed-use development with residential, community and commercial space.

Beginning construction of the new National Geospatial Intelligence Agency West Campus

North St. Louis (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency West Campus)

Twenty-seven city blocks within a historic neighborhood in St. Louis will be the new home for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency West Campus. An assortment of 551 properties, including a mix of residential and industrial properties dating back to the 1800s, became blighted with contamination from asbestos, household wastes and other contaminants. The 45 million cleanup and $1.7 billion budget to build and furnish the redevelopment project looks to serve as a catalyst for further development in the area.

Street view of the historic post office building, now housing OPO Startups LLC

Post Office Redevelopment (OPO Startups LLC)

A local entrepreneur purchased the 1908 post office building on Main St., with a dream of turning his hometown into a hub for high-tech, high-potential startups. The renovated 10,000-square foot facility was converted into a mix of offices, studio space and co-working space and now anchors the multi-building regional digital startup community in St. Charles.

Street view of the St. Louis Port Authority Industrial Complex, now home to River City Casino

St. Louis Port Authority Industrial Complex (River City Casino & Hotel)

The 80-acre site in Lemay saw heavy industrial activity since the early 1900s. Abandoned for many years, the St. Louis County Economic Development Council and the St. Louis County Port Authority cleaned it up to attract potential developers. Excavating and disposing of tons of contaminated materials and other wastes, and constructing a new thoroughfare, helped render the site eligible for redevelopment into a state-of-the-art gaming and mixed-use complex.

Street view of the former Van Brunt Street Car Barn, now home to the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department's soccer complex

Van Brunt Street Car Barn (9th & Van Brunt Athletic Fields)

The site, located at E. Ninth St. and Van Brunt Blvd. in historic Northeast Kansas City, was previously used for streetcar maintenance, bus maintenance, body shop and fueling facility. The site has since been transformed into a community-gathering place and youth soccer complex, including an all-weather soccer field, amphitheater/ event plaza, walking trail and concessions building with restrooms.