What is the solid waste fee?
Since 2000, Sedgwick County has imposed solid waste fees to provide partial funding for the programs outlined in the Solid Waste Plan. This fee is charged per unit of land and varies according to property classifications. These classifications are designed to identify the waste-generating trends in the categories of businesses, dwellings and parcels of land. This fee is collected within the annual property tax bill.
Why are the solid waste fees changing?
In 2023 the Board of County Commissioners expressed a desire for the solid waste fee to be more equitable, where those generating larger quantities of waste would contribute more to the proper disposal and management of said waste.
How are the solid waste fees changing?
The property classifications have been reworked to better represent the waste-generating capabilities of a particular category of property.
| 2023 | 2024 |
| Rate Type | Examples | Units | Rate Type | Examples | Units | |
| Base Residential | Single Family, Duplex, Tripex, Quadpex, Condos | 231,752 | Base Residential | Single Family, Duplex, Tripex, Quadpex, Condos | 197,827 | |
| Tier 1 | Golf courses, cemeteries, postal services, libraries, fitness clubs | 2,450 | High Density Residential | Apartments, Hotels/Motels |
43,855 | |
| Tier 2 | Automatic car washes, auto service centers, bowling alleys, animal shelters, kennel/boarding services | 12,844 | High Density Residential w/Additional Use | Hotels/Motels w/ Bar/Restaurant, Assisted Living Facilities | 3,153 | |
| Tier 3 | Grocery stores, supermarkets, bakeries, schools, universities, auto dealerships | 1,482 | Tier 1 | Banks, Communication, Broadcasting | 1,455 | |
| Tier 4 | Hotel/motels, fast food restaurants, hospitals, manufacturing | 2,597 | Tier 2 | Restaurants, Manufacturing, Warehouses | 10,859 | |
| Tier 5 | Super regional shopping centers |
9 | Tier 3 | Retail, Fast Food, Elementary/Middle Schools | 4,733 | |
| Tier 4 | Universities, Malls, Entertainment | 1,017 | ||||
| Tier 5 | Hospitals | 24 |
| Total of 251,134 units for 2023 | Total of 262,923 units for 2024 |
Additionally, the fee for each tier has been adjusted. Overall, most residential properties will see a decrease in solid waste fees, while many commercial properties will see an increase.
| Rate Type | Fee per units | Rate Type | Fee per unit | |
| Residential | $8.38 | Base Residential | $5.00 | |
| Tier 1 | $5.53 | High Density Residential | $4.00 | |
| Tier 2 | $7.11 | High Density Residential with Additional Use | $6.25 | |
| Tier 3 | $8.89 | Tier 1 | $15.63 | |
| Tier 4 | $10.67 | Tier 2 | $31.25 | |
| Tier 5 | $7.11 | Tier 3 | $62.50 | |
| Tier 4 | $250.00 | |||
| Tier 5 | $500.00 | |||
What will be funded by the solid waste fees?
Planned programs for 2025 include:
- Bulky waste coupon program for residents to dispose of up to 1,000 pounds of waste for free at the transfer station
- Waste tire collection event
- A new coupon program for mattresses and box springs
- MedSafe dropbox expansion to additional small city police stations
- Christmas tree recycling program
- Five household hazardous waste remote collection events
- Continued partnerships with townships where Environmental Resources funds the removal of illegally dumped materials
- Special cleanup program for MABCD and the Department of Aging
- Special cleanup events
- Storm cleanup as needed
| Estimated Expenditures | 2022 Actual | 2023 Actual | 2024 Revised Budget | Current 2024 Estimates | 2025 Requested Budget*** | Current 2025 Estimates |
| Household Hazardous Waste | $760,047 | $990,030 | $1,289,305 | $1,354,746 | $1,290,975 | $1,397,260 |
| Waste Minimization | $188,754 | $188,195 | $234,511 | $184,292 | $229,733 | $192,222 |
| Special Projects* | $331,044 | $407,940 | $496,000 | $419,088 | $496,000 | $430,632 |
| Solid Waste Enforcement** | $99,603 | $99,813 | $110,843 | $110,383 | $111,620 | $115,483 |
| Solid Waste Project Management** | $182,900 | $184,036 | $237,712 | $215,218 | $237,931 | $224,912 |
| TOTAL | $1,562,348 | $1,879,014 | $2,368,371 | $2,283,727 | $2,366,259 | $2,360,509 |
*No personnel in this fund center, only personnel costs are related to OT for Sheriff Officers to cover traffic flow/security
**These fund centers are mostly personnel, small budgets for contractuals & commodities
***Requested budget does not include updated benefit rates for 2025 or updated fleet and admin charges for 2025
What can property owners do to lower their solid waste fees?
The solid waste fee is charged per parcel/unit, and many properties across Sedgwick County are comprised of multiple parcels. Consolidating these into a single parcel will reduce the fee charged. The Sedgwick County Clerk’s Office will be publishing resources later in the summer of 2024 to assist property owners who wish to investigate this option further.