Kansas Equipment Exchange of Assistive Technology for Kansans and its Lawrence site at Independence Inc. are being honored by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for pollution-prevention efforts.

The equipment-exchange program has collected 1,800 devices worth more than $1.9 million since March 2003. The items – wheelchairs, hospital beds, shower chairs and others – otherwise might have been sent for a landfill, but instead were refurbished and passed along to others at no cost.

The Parsons-based program has five sites statewide, including one handled by Independence Inc.

Equipment is collected, refurbished and reassigned by the Assistive Technology for Kansans Program, coordinated by the Kansas University Center on Disabilities at Parsons.

Also receiving an award through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s recognition program: Lawrence’s municipal biosolids program.