Household Hazardous Waste Facility, Swap & Shop Reopens
(Sedgwick County, Kan.) – This morning, Sedgwick County’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility at 801 Stillwell, Wichita, opened its new and expanded facility to the public. The $1.9 million expansion doubled in size and added parking on the east side. The extra space will provide:
- More room for storage of hazardous waste
- Safer areas for staff to sort materials
- Space for tours and field trips
- Updated staff working areas
- Children’s area in the Swap & Shop area, with books and TV
“Expanding the Household Hazardous Waste facility was important to keep pace with the growing demand in our community,” says Ryan Baty, Chairman of the Board of Sedgwick County Commissioners. “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.”
When HHW first opened in 2002, customers dropped off nearly 400,000 pounds of leftover or unused household chemicals, cleaners and other hazardous materials for safe disposal. That amount increased to almost 1.8 million pounds in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and leveled off to a more typical annual rate around 1.3 million pounds in 2022. Likewise, more customers now use the Swap & Shop, taking home up to 10 free items per month, including paint, varnish, aerosols, pool chemicals, motor oil, cleaning chemicals and much more. In 2023, over 10,000 customers reclaimed 276,089 pounds of products and saved Sedgwick County $80,806 in disposal costs.
For more information, contact the Sedgwick County Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 316-660-7464 or visit https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/environment/household-hazardous-waste-facility/.
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