Wichita Dillon's locations are ending their recycling program because of an increase in illegal dumping.
Dillon's and the local trash and recycling company Waste Connections have partnered to provide single-stream recycling bins outside of stores for at least 10 years. But this weekend, the bins were removed from 10 Wichita and Derby Dillon's locations, according to Tiffanie Bauder with Waste Connections. And it wasn't without reason.
"We've had a lot of situations where we've had to clean up piles," Bauder says. "We'll have furniture, air conditioning units, tires, those type of things. And it's just been kind of increasing."
She says the improper use of the bins raised concerns of safety and sanitation for the Dillon's employees cleaning up the mess, which often included trash.
Dillon's spokesperson Sheila Lowrie says the store has worked out a deal with Waste Connections to make curbside single-stream recycling pick-up free for new residential customers for six months. The program is not available outside of city limits. Items that qualify for single-stream recycling include aluminum cans, glass containers, newspapers and certain plastics.
Sedgwick County's recycling guide also outlines companies and nonprofits that accept certain recyclable materials.
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