Contact: Jessica Johnson, Marketing Services Director
: JJJohnson@wichita.gov
: (316) 268-4351

“If you want to live in a nicer city, if you want to help the environment, if you want to save tax dollars, it is really very simple... and it is in your hands... Don’t Trash Wichita,” said Council Member Carl Brewer.

This year's effort continues with the original plans, but also includes a new amendment allows the City of Wichita a new method to remove inoperable vehicles from private property. Owners of inoperable vehicles will receive notice by certified mail and will have 10 days to remove inoperable or junk vehicles. The city will contact wrecking companies to remove these vehicles. Costs for the removal of these vehicles will be assessed to property owners for payment. Currently, the City has nearly 300 vehicles scheduled for removal.

This is an additional amendment to the last year’s ordinance passed by the Wichita City Council passed to significantly strengthen penalties for littering, illegal dumping and vandalism offenses. Those amendments consisted of these main elements and increase mandatory penalties:

• Littering violations require a $100 fine for First Offense and $250 for Second Offense.

• Illegal Dumping penalties are $250 for First Offense with possible jail time and $500 for Second Offense with possible jail time.

• Bulk Illegal Dumping violations is a $500 fine for First Offense with possible jail time and $1,000 for Second Offense with mandatory 5 days in jail. Fines are doubled for dumping certain large items such as furniture, appliances, and tires.

• All ordinances give Municipal Court Judges the authority to grant community service in lieu of fines.

• Amendments to Graffiti ordinances allow for the imposition of community service.

More than $1.6-million dollars a year in direct costs to taxpayers because of littering, illegal trash dumping and vandalism. It is a waste of money because the biggest share of it can be avoided. The City has asked that the citizens and businesses of Wichita do pitch in to help out. Ideas on helping included:

• Pick up after yourself.

• Organize a clean-up effort in your neighborhood.

• Pick up one piece of litter or trash from a public place, like a sidewalk or parking lot, as you go about your daily routine. If everyone picked up just one piece of trash, it would add up to hundreds of thousands of pieces of litter picked up and disposed every week.

• Dispose cigarette butts and chewing gum in the can, not on sidewalks or streets.

• Citizens, organizations and businesses are encouraged to Adopt-A-Park.

Report violations by using the City’s Neighborhood Action Line at 529-9999. If you see someone illegally dumping, call 911. For additional program information and continual updates, visit our website at www.wichita.gov.