62 tons of garbage cleared from Kansas riverbank homeless camps in Topeka

TOPEKA (KSNT) - City workers are wrapping up another round of work cleaning up trash from homeless camps on the banks of the Kansas River.

KSNT 27 News reached out to the City of Topeka for an update on the continued enforcement of the new 'no camping' ordinance passed last year. Over the past several weeks, work crews have picked up trash and debris in areas on the north bank of the Kansas River in Topeka.

City spokeswoman Rosie Nichols says nearly 62 tons, or around 124,000 pounds, of trash and debris was collected by workers from March to April in the area east of the Kansas Avenue bridge and north of the river levee.

Workers are set to return on Tuesday, April 30 to clear the area east of the Kansas Avenue bridge and south of the levee. However, Nichols says it may be delayed due to weather.

During the first phase of the abatement process in February, city workers cleared more than 177 tons, or around 355,000 pounds, of trash and debris from an area along the river between the Topeka Boulevard and Kansas Avenue bridges. Under the new city ordinance, people are not allowed to camp within 500 feet of trails or within 50 feet of sidewalks within the 'levee critical zone.'

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