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RODERICK L. BREMBY, SECRETARY |
K A N S A S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT |
KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, GOVERNOR |
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Clean Up of Hazardous Waste and Tires Underway in South Hoisington
Clean up is underway in South Hoisington where illegal dumping has occurred over the past several years. The effort is part of a state program. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and Barton County officials began overseeing the clean up this week. Initial clean up started Tuesday, and is focusing on the collection of household hazardous waste and other hazardous waste. Tire clean up will begin Friday. Contractors will take away hazardous waste and tires collected at the site.
Barton County has signed a contract with KDHE to do the clean up work or to contract it out. Under this program, a participating county will pay 25 percent of the cost of clean up and the KDHE Illegal Dump Program will pay the remaining 75 percent with a maximum up to $10,000 per site. The county will pay any amount exceeding the $10,000 per site limit. Estimated costs for KDHE for the clean up of the multiple sites in South Hoisington will range from $1,000 to $10,000.
"We are pleased this clean up effort is underway and appreciate the county and property owners' efforts in working with us to get it going as well," said Bob Medina, KDHE Illegal Dump Program Manager.
KDHE's Illegal Dump Program, which targets illegal dump sites statewide and works with local authorities to ensure proper clean up, has identified approximately 240 sites statewide since the program began in 2000. The program is funded by the $1 per ton fee collected at landfills and transfer stations.
Financial assistance to other communities wishing to clean up illegal dumps is available. Local governments are required to pay 25 percent of the cost that may be paid with in-kind services such as equipment, labor, and offering available landfill space. Illegal dump sites should be reported to the local government or to Bob Medina, Program Manager of KDHE's Illegal Dump Program at 785-296-6617. Anyone wishing to report illegal dumping may remain anonymous.