Wichita residents could see a shake-up in how their trash gets picked up if a city advisory board's proposal gains traction with the City Council this fall.

The Sustainability Integration Board floated two options at its July 22, meeting: consolidating service so one truck handles each neighborhood, or having the city take over garbage collection entirely. Discussion at the meeting indicated either approach would cut costs for haulers and residents while reducing illegal dumping, according to a KLC Journal report on the session.

The board decided to gather data before making a formal pitch. Members will canvass their own neighborhoods and research how other cities manage trash pickup. Derby was cited as a model worth studying.

Derby's single-hauler example

Here's why. Derby contracts exclusively with Waste Connections, Inc. for all residential trash and recycling under a franchised model. The city's 2026 quarterly rates range from $42.05 for a 35-gallon cart to $55.04 for a 95-gallon cart, with biweekly recycling included, according to Derby's official website. Derby's site states its rates are lower than most in the Wichita area.

No comparable current cost data for Wichita's open-market system was available for comparison.

Illegal dumping a factor

Board members pointed to illegal dumping as one problem a consolidated or city-run system could address. The City Council already raised fines for illegal dumping in September 2025, setting first-offense penalties between $1,000 and $1,500, KWCH reported.

Other board business

Board member Carmaine Ternes presented on a water reclamation project at Botanica. "Botanica has produced a booklet on the reuse of grey water; other businesses are reusing water as well," Ternes said at the July 22 meeting.

Guiseppe Hammer, a local resident transitioning into a career as a community and environmental activist, gave a presentation on energy resilience covering data centers, wind power and plug-in solar technology. The board agreed to share Hammer's slides with District Advisory Boards and City Council.

Staff also announced that a Request for Proposals for a RAMP grant supporting parks and trails has been released, along with a KDHE grant for composting programs.

What's next

The board plans to bring its trash collection recommendation to the City Council in October, including a recycling component. The Sustainability Integration Board, established in September 2021, advises the council on sustainability matters. It currently has five vacancies. Eight members participated July 22, with five in person and three online.