Author: Michelle Dehaven

Join the Women of Wichita State (WWSU) for a lunch-and-learn event 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. March 23 at the Marcus Welcome Center. Panelists will include the following:

• Dr. Alicia Martinez Newell, assistant vice president of Student Affairs
• Dr. Jessica Provines, assistant vice president of wellness and chief psychologist Student Wellness Center
• Alicia Sanchez, assistant dean of students and director of Diversity and Inclusion
• Heather Stafford, director of Student Health Services

The Environmental Finance Center at Wichita State University (EFC) conducted the Wichita Litter Study and has published a detailed report. The study engaged local citizen scientists to collect and document litter in 12 municipal parks.

In total, 1,765 pieces of litter were categorized during the collection events. 47% of the litter collected was plastic, with 75% of that plastic generated from the food and beverage industry. The data collected in this study tells us that Wichita’s litter is comparable in quantity and type to other communities who have done similar studies, opening opportunities to borrow, share and test ideas to find the practices that work best for Wichita to reduce litter in our community.

Recommendations for prevention and reduction of litter include continued research into long-term solid waste management adjustments, adaptations to landscaping and maintenance plans and community and business outreach and education.

For more information, contact Michelle DeHaven at michelle.dehaven@wichita.edu.

Would you, your friends, your family or your organization like to be citizen scientists? The WSU Environmental Finance Center (EFC) is seeking volunteers to help with litter collection as part of the Wichita Litter Study. Volunteers will collect, count, categorize and record litter gathered in 12 identified locations around Wichita. 

The purpose of this study is to determine the types, amounts and potential sources of trash that can clutter up Wichita’s greenspaces and make their way into our waterways. Volunteers will clean targeted areas within the identified parks, while also categorizing the trash and collecting other important data. The EFC will then analyze the data and develop a report to share with city leaders and the community to help inform future programs to prevent and reduce litter in Wichita.   

Clean-up events are scheduled on both weekdays and weekends in June and July, and last approximately two hours. Trash bags, grabbers, buckets and other equipment will be provided.