“If you want to live in a nicer city, if you want to help the environment, if you want to save tax dollars, it is really very simple… and it is in your hands…Don’t Trash Wichita,” said Mayor Bob Knight. “I’m asking for the citizens of this community for their help,” he said.

But for those who continue to litter, illegally dump bulky trash or vandalize, they may pay a bigger price. Tomorrow, the Wichita City Council will consider ordinance changes to significantly strengthen penalties for littering, illegal dumping and vandalism offenses. These new amendments consist of these main elements and increase mandatory penalties:

• Littering violations would require a $100 fine for First Offense and $250 for Second Offense.
• Illegal Dumping penalties would be $250 for First Offense with possible jail time and $500 for Second Offense with possible jail time.
• Bulk Illegal Dumping violations would receive a $500 fine for First Offense with possible jail time and $1,000 for Second Offense with mandatory 5 days in jail. Fines are doubled for dumping certain large items such as furniture, appliances, and tires.
• All ordinances give Municipal Court Judges the authority to grant community service in lieu of fines.
• Amendments to Graffiti ordinances allow for the imposition of community service.

More than $1.6-million dollars a year in direct costs to taxpayers because of littering, illegal trash dumping and vandalism. It is a waste of money because the biggest share of it can be avoided. The Mayor asked that the citizens and businesses of Wichita do pitch in to help out. Ideas on helping included:

• Pick up after yourself.
• Organize a clean-up effort in your neighborhood.
• Pick up one piece of litter or trash from a public place, like a sidewalk or parking lot, as you go about your daily routine. If everyone picked up just one piece of trash, it would add up to hundreds of thousands of pieces of litter picked up and disposed every week.
• Dispose cigarette butts and chewing gum in the can, not on sidewalks or streets.
• Businesses could start a daily litter patrol.
• The park and recreation department is working on an “Adopt-A-Park” program. Citizens, organizations and businesses are encouraged to Adopt-A-Park.
• Report major violators who are illegally dumping tires or furniture by calling the Wichita/Sedgwick County Environmental Health Division at 268-8351 or by sending an email.

Today’s initiative was put together with a snazzy new theme--Don’t Trash Wichita--that featured hard-hitting graphics. A media campaign to remind people of this project will begin soon, kicking off with edgy billboards supplied by sponsor Eller Media. Other sponsors of this program are all Wichita-area Wendy’s and Davis Moore.