(KANSAS) Sedgwick County is seeking to work more closely with the city of Wichita in order to develop a landfill, and is thus withdrawing its bid to develop city-owned land near Furley into a disposal facility.

In February, Sedgwick County submitted a bid to develop 795 acres of property which the city purchased eight years ago for a new landfill. But because the county was among several other entities whose bids are under consideration, the county was not permitted to see the other proposals. The other bidders have not yet been made public.

The county wants to move forward on the landfill process so that its communities can begin planning for disposal and recycling. Sedgwick will include a recycling component in its overall landfill plan.

The story of the landfill site dates to 1996, when the city of Wichita spent $4.2 million to purchase the land. But the city cannot develop a landfill without the compliance of the county, which has ultimate control of how the area disposes of 1,700 tons of waste each day. The county now ships waste to landfills in Oklahoma and northeast Kansas.

Wichita is looking to take a share of the county's landfill profits. The county expects to take in at least $23 million a year in landfill fees. The county commission voted in February to construct a local landfill, and have held discussions with the city about potential partnerships for the landfill's operation.

The city's current waste flow is also at issue. About 1,500 tons of trash is hauled each day from Wichita to the Red Carpet Landfill near Meno, Okla. But an appeals court decision could mean that the waste may end up staying in Kansas.

Waste Connections Inc. officials are working to build a landfill in Harper County, Kan. to host the city of Wichita's waste, and expect a decision soon on whether the company can do so. Harper County commissioners had approved zoning for the landfill more than two years ago, but a group of county residents filed suit to block it. The group contended that the landfill would bring unwanted traffic and noise and threaten local waterways. A group of Oklahoma residents filed a nuisance lawsuit over the landfill in federal court in 2002, but that case has been settled. If Waste Connections wins in the current suit, its application process with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment would resume.

The company is seeking to locate a facility in Kansas in order to save on shipping costs. It also currently pays Major County a 25-cent-per-ton host fee.

Last year, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality settled a dispute with Waste Connections where the company agreed to pay a $160,000 fine for taking too much waste at Red Carpet. Waste Connections received the fine for accepting an average of 1,850 tons of waste per day at the facility, though there was no accepted disposal plan. A consent order now permits the company to accept more than 200 tons of waste per day at the facility.

Source: Wichita Eagle

For more information, contact the Sedgwick County Commission, (316) 660-9300, www.sedgwickcounty.org.