WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Residents dropping off chemicals and cleaners at Sedgwick County’s Household Hazardous Waste facility will see big changes after a $1.9 million expansion added storage space, safety upgrades and a family-friendly Swap & Shop area.
The project doubled the size of the facility and added parking. Inside, staff now have more room to sort materials, along with updated work areas and offices. The expansion also created space for school tours and field trips, and a children’s corner with books and TV in the Swap & Shop.
“By doubling the size, we can better protect both the public and our staff, improve safety protocols and ensure household hazardous waste is handled responsibly for years to come,” Ryan Baty, chairman of the Sedgwick County Commission, said in a statement.
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The facility first opened in 2002, when residents dropped off nearly 400,000 pounds of unused chemicals and cleaners. The county says that number peaked at almost 1.8 million pounds in 2020 during the pandemic and now averages around 1.3 million pounds annually…