Sedgwick County Commissioners received an annual report on solid waste collections and recycling efforts in the county for 2025.
Over 153 thousand trash carts collected over 454 thousand tons of trash last year, an almost 15 percent increase from 2024. Part of that increase was due to Waste Collections' buy-out of Air Capital Waste, who had been hauling their trash to Butler County. Nearly 48 thousand recycling carts collected over 16 thousand tons of recycling material, a 20 percent increase.
Meanwhile, the Household Hazardous Waste facility collected nearly 1 million pounds of materials, like old paint and chemicals. Susan Erlenwein, Director of Environmental Resources, explained that there are several items the facility doesn't take, including illegal drugs, grenades and body parts.
The county recycled 1,946 Christmas trees and in late April and early May, over 381 thousand pounds of e-waste were collected.
In related news, Commissioners approved a motion to keep solid waste fees flat for 2027. Those fees will generate $2.2 million, which combined with other fees will help fund next year's solid waste budget.
