Tim and  Kalene Sanders are bringing  Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions’ eco-friendly kitchen services to eastern Kansas, opening new territories that stretch from Wichita and Topeka to Lawrence and beyond. For Tim, an entrepreneur with decades of experience in technology and infrastructure,  Filta offered an opportunity to build something new that could outlast him and provide long-term value to his family and community. “We've been looking for a new type of business to transition into as we get older,” Tim said. “Something that could run with our kids potentially involved, and that could scale beyond the limitations of selling our time by the hour.” The Sanders were drawn to Filta for several key reasons: a protected territory, a unique service with little direct competition and a business model rooted in sustainability. For a tight-knit area like Lawrence, where the couple lives, those community-focused values go a long way. “The opportunity came up through an email," said Tim. "I'd been considering franchises, but this one caught my attention because of the environmental aspects to it."  Their franchise territory spans a broad area of Kansas, encompassing college towns and major institutions in Lawrence, Topeka, Manhattan, Fort Riley, Emporia and Wichita. With universities, hospitals and other large foodservice clients as targets, the Sanders see a major opportunity to promote kitchen sustainability and safety. Tim is particularly focused on targeting institutions that already understand the importance of sustainability or are learning quickly. “The hospitals, the universities, the sororities — those that have that awareness of sustainability,” he said. In addition to the environmental benefits, Filta’s service also addresses a serious operational issue: how commercial kitchens handle used cooking oil. Tim believes many kitchens overlook the hidden risks of outdated disposal practices. “Why would they even hesitate?” he said. For Tim, the goal is to offer restaurant operators a smarter, safer alternative, one that protects staff, reduces liability, and aligns with increasingly high expectations around cleanliness and safety. Kalene will be involved in the day-to-day operations, along with her and Tim’s son-in-law. The Sanderses are hoping to grow the business into a multi-unit operation in the future. For Tim, the excitement lies in what’s ahead. "I believe there are growth opportunities in the expansion into services beyond fryer maintenance, particularly the cleaning aspect,” he said. “This is an area I think people are paying more attention to, and it offers significant growth potential even with existing customers.”  As Filta enters these Kansas communities, the Sanderses hope to change how restaurants think about fryer oil — not just as a cost to be managed, but as a place where safety, sustainability, and long-term savings intersect. While the concept is new to the region, Tim is ready to roll up his sleeves and lead by example. “It’s a new market that hasn’t had this service before," Tim said. "But I take a lot of pride in this. I’m the son of an ironworker. It’s never been beneath me to work with my hands and do manual work because that’s how I was raised. My father took pride in what he did, and I believe a big part of this is taking pride in your work, no matter what it is.” To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit  https://1851franchise.com/filta/info .