[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6619968,"mediaKeyId","2825720-bdf2709e77e55a08ded5de2d54093677","parentId",2825720,"title","Keep America Beautiful affiliate reports rising volunteer turnout, expands education and cleanup events","audioSeconds",759,"startMs",2570000,"endMs",3329000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2825720-bdf2709e77e55a08ded5de2d54093677&start=2570&end=3329","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2825720-bdf2709e77e55a08ded5de2d54093677/thumbnail_2570000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6619968/Shawnee-County/Kansas/Keep-America-Beautiful-affiliate-reports-rising-volunteer-turnout-expands-education-and-cleanup-events","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619968-444bd1130c38792ecaf32eb543a2e7b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770512571&Signature=WJ9cwsrPAR8n45JXSodyTvMvuguQZqwdQ45GRcKYHJOeMvf~ZMHndovUuyiIwk2n72g4aOL6JcWUIMbfI6OSjjaiRo-0eH1UI~XoqomyY0GkttBcvIh8Jr~S5B2kz7J3Rn3uRfXZ5W93aN-Y~7tB5NbsBxMpYan6CkrQ10YjTHsh85G~2dOOrw6QDeOZv6oLawdvxRowmGAV6qbLP7hwTzm5T5lVAGMZTdsv5l90HFgIjIE5FLedRv-skdTfcdYqCr6YD6Tmp1JBtCSOfqaMB5LRA59YAe0bypOgBlahzW3HHSuLJU5dmjhaAc8g1YS6ubAA79gr1q-S479GT31twg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Shawnee County","date","2025-03-31T15:34:35.647Z","article","Britney, executive director of Keep America Beautiful's local affiliate, updated the Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners on March 31, saying volunteer numbers and community partnerships are increasing and that the group has expanded education and cleanup programming.

\"Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in Topeka and Shawnee County, Kansas by fostering a clean and beautiful environment,\" Britney said, describing the affiliate's focus on litter prevention education, volunteer cleanups and partnerships with public and private organizations.

Britney said the group's volunteer base and event participation are growing. She said last year’s \"Get Down and Get Dirty\" cleanup attracted about 700 volunteers, and this year the affiliate has just over that number with roughly 40 to 45 teams signed up so far. The group also distributed about 500 printed copies of a new recycling directory in the last few months and made the directory available on its website.

She outlined several partnerships and upcoming events: a tree submission to the SLI Festival of Trees for outreach, an Earth Day presence at the zoo’s Party for the Planet, a Pollinatorpalooza booth with seed‑ball activities, a Silver Lake cemetery cleanup on April 12, and additional cleanups coordinated with Omni Circle and the Kaw River Association. Britney said the affiliate also provides cleanup supplies — bags, vests and grabbers — to partner events and emphasizes volunteer safety and focusing cleanup efforts on visible parkways and sidewalks.

On education, Britney pointed commissioners to an \"eco education\" webpage on the group's site (keepshawneybeautiful.org) that includes interactive activities, games and materials about composting, recycling and native plants. She said the affiliate partners with schools for STEM fairs and water‑conservation programs and will collaborate with county staff, including Bill Sutton from Solid Waste, at an upcoming recycling event.

Commissioners thanked Britney for the update; no formal actions or funding decisions were taken during the work session. Britney said she is seeking additional volunteers and board members and welcomed commissioner and community support.

The affiliate uses volunteers across a range of events year‑round, from cemetery cleanups in October to spring and summer park and river‑adjacent cleanups. Britney said the affiliate is working to increase youth involvement and corporate sponsorships and noted a recent sponsorship contact from a Sam's Club manager. She closed by thanking county commissioners for their partnership and inviting the public to sign up for upcoming events.

No votes or motions were recorded related to the presentation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Shawnee County Kansas Commission Work Session 2025/3/31","oneSentenceSummary","Britney, executive director of Keep America Beautiful's local affiliate, told commissioners the group increased volunteer engagement this year, will host its annual \"Get Down and Get Dirty\" cleanup and is promoting an online eco-education resource and a printed recycling directory.","taxTitle","Shawnee County, Kansas","taxId",2886,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6619973,"Shawnee County solid waste director flags recycling uncertainty, outlines repairs and contracts",1243,1289000,2532000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2825720-bdf2709e77e55a08ded5de2d54093677&start=1289&end=2532","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2825720-bdf2709e77e55a08ded5de2d54093677/thumbnail_1289000.jpg","/articles/6619973/Shawnee-County/Kansas/Shawnee-County-solid-waste-director-flags-recycling-uncertainty-outlines-repairs-and-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619973-0f74964d0b1324937ea34cc806bffc18/orig.mp4?Expires=1770512571&Signature=ba6DK1esv3YcslHvfqpCmBNaqh-~XCgzNKJgo0tq6DX3~xy34dDHVRlh2daFQUqY-tQwLQyFdBvknoTuECFPXYOXTzynTZWayRO8fiJME5qh7kWa~3ScNTOiU2MMExfxZHIXaf5m-3bNwaBe1G1SpPdEO815PQSZlshXT5js4qdZwU98nKiTUM15pAEDgRPdY0ZMk6JrEqCc0eJFW4Bzw9lhZnjBfzERmEPKOtjqj~a84TT28al6SobjJfmJz-fq7BdDNOOrCHdIULI1KRzOxcz1I-akWF9bGI6DW0PvNgQXQOyBOQxOdIcYUFjwEw7Z75kor6MqmmsVp2xtU~WvKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Shawnee County commissioners received a March 31 update from Bill Sutton, director of Shawnee County Solid Waste, who said the department is entirely user-fee funded and faces uncertainty in recycling markets as it renegotiates major contracts.

Sutton told the Board of County Commissioners that \"Shawnee County Solid Waste is 100% user fee funded, with no tax payer assistance,\" and described the department's three divisions: refuse, recycling and the household hazardous waste (HHW) program. He said the HHW site on Northeast 46th Street accepts electronic waste and up to five tires per resident per year and that those services are provided free to county residents.

The update matters because contract terms and commodity markets drive the department's costs and customer rates. Sutton said the county collected a little over $18.5 million in revenue in the prior year and is on track to exceed that figure this year. He said county refuse tonnage sent to Rolling Meadows Landfill has been rising year over year, while recycling tonnage has declined since the county began charging $3.50 for curbside recycling in mid‑2020.

Sutton gave specific budget and contract details. He said the current contract with Waste Management for landfill disposal is $38.33 per ton with an annual CPI adjustment and that the county and Waste Management are working to finalize a renegotiated agreement before June 13. He said the county paid roughly $225,000 to Waste Management for recycling processing last year and about $141,000 to Greenpoint for C&D processing. Sutton said his recycling contract is scheduled to end next February and that the person the county previously dealt with in WM recycling, Mr. Gutovich, is no longer with the company.

On operations, Sutton said customer growth required the county to add a trash route, increasing from 16 to 17 routes to reduce very long routes. He described a new smaller vehicle used to service missed stops and narrow locations and noted the HHW facility served just under 9,100 customers last year. Sutton also proposed phased repairs to the HHW site's concrete pads and traffic apron to address wear from increased use.

Sutton raised software and longer-term program issues. He said the county's RouteWare automated dispatch contract (in place since 2020) expires in December and that staff are researching newer, AI-enabled routing and collection systems to bring to the commissioners for review. He said composting remains on the department's long-range plan but is not expected in the next year because contract uncertainty and immediate capital needs take precedence.

When asked about future rates, Sutton said he expects to accommodate the 2025 budget without a rate increase but that 2026 conditions could trigger a modest increase — \"probably around a dollar\" — depending on final contract and commodity outcomes. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about recycling volumes, glass removal from the curbside stream and potential for a more centrally located HHW drop-off; Sutton said relocating HHW had been discussed historically but would require appropriate facilities and permitting and that the department has extended hours and added a monthly Saturday opening to improve access.

No formal actions or votes were taken during the presentation. Sutton said staff and county counsel are continuing contract negotiations and will return with specific proposals for commissioner consideration.

Sutton's presentation also included several operational highlights and figures: the county has seen steady trash tonnage growth to Rolling Meadows Landfill; cardboard has provided a positive commodity revenue stream (Sutton said cardboard yields roughly $5,000 per month); and disposal payments to vendors have increased year over year. He closed by asking for input on HHW facility repairs and confirming the department will provide commissioners with updates on contracts and any recommended rate changes.

The commissioners did not take formal action at the work session; Sutton and county counsel remain in negotiations with Waste Management and will report back to the board.","Bill Sutton, director of Shawnee County Solid Waste, told commissioners the department — entirely user-fee funded — is monitoring recycling market volatility, negotiating contracts with Waste Management and Greenpoint, and plans repairs at the household hazardous waste site while keeping rate increases unlikely this year.","actionData","errors"]

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Keep America Beautiful affiliate reports rising volunteer turnout, expands education and cleanup events

Shawnee County solid waste director flags recycling uncertainty, outlines repairs and contracts