photo by: Journal-World

The west side of the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St.

Following a public hearing on Wednesday, Douglas County commissioners will consider adopting the new Solid Waste Management Plan.

Douglas and Jefferson counties have prepared a joint, regional Solid Waste Management Plan – which guides the management of solid waste generated within the two-county region as population trends, service expectations, and market conditions continue to evolve. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment requires the plan to be updated every five years.

The two counties rely on the same primary disposal site, the Republic/Hamm Landfill in Jefferson County. According to the report, the demand to utilize the large available capacity at Republic/Hamm is anticipated to increase over the next several years – especially since many Kansas City area landfills are expected to close ahead of it, as the Journal-World reported.

The proposed plan being considered on Wednesday was prepared by the firm Burns & McDonnell. The plan outlines several recommendations within a timeline spanning over the next 10 years to implement them.

Some of those recommendations include: supporting cities to update building codes to include space for trash and diversion activities and explore interlocal agreements for unincorporated residents to utilize municipal yard waste drop-off programs. In addition, it’s recommended to develop an education and outreach plan to promote awareness and participation in available residential curbside, commercial, and drop-off disposal and diversion options.

The report says Douglas and Jefferson counties could rely on the Republic/Hamm Landfill for anywhere from 20 to 80 more years of landfill capacity. The report said in 2024, Douglas County generated approximately 112,200 tons of material for disposal or diversion.

In August, the Douglas County Food Policy Council asked leaders to look beyond traditional waste streams and consider the role of organic waste in building a more sustainable food system. It could also reduce the amount of waste being dumped into the landfill.

Of all the material for disposal and diversion in 2024 from Douglas County, 21,800 tons – or 19.4% – was organic waste, specifically yard waste or brush. Recent data from the City of Lawrence’s Solid Waste Master Planning waste assessment also shows that nearly 40% of the material being thrown away is organic.

IN OTHER BUSINESS, COMMISSIONERS WILL:

• Hold a work session to discuss the evolution of Heartland Community Health Center’s psychiatry and medication services. Since 2018, Heartland’s psychiatric care model has changed significantly in response to growing demand, workforce shortages, difficulties recruiting providers and changes in reimbursement and outside funding.

• Consider a temporary business use permit request from Bell’s Turf to allow a landscaping business and related activity to continue operating at 1307 East 1200 Road through Dec. 31, 2027. The property was acquired by nonprofit Tenants to Homeowners in 2022, and it is slated for future annexation into the City of Lawrence and development as affordable housing, according to a memo in the agenda. The landscaping business provides services for TTH properties.

Since the property owner is planning to apply for a voluntary annexation into the City of Lawrence in the near future, a temporary business use permit may be more appropriate than a conditional use permit or rezoning to a commercial or industrial district, the memo said.

• Consider authorizing the purchase of a precast concrete culvert in the amount of $128,424 for a culvert replacement project on North 1190 Road, west of the town of Clinton. This work is scheduled for Spring 2027.

The County Commission will hold a work session at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Douglas County Commission meeting room at 1100 Massachusetts St. The business meeting will follow at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will also be available via Zoom.