The Sedgwick County Sheriff says inmates are wasting too much toilet paper, so he’s reduced their supply.

Sheriff Jeff Easter is limiting inmates to one roll a week. He says that will cut the amount his office is spending on toilet paper from $100,000 to $50,000 a year.

Inmates are allowed to buy extra toilet paper. Exceptions will be made for those who are indigent, or inmates who are sick.

Easter says inmates plug toilets and cover vents and doors with the toilet paper to absorb the smell when they are illegally smoking tobacco or marijuana.

Several inmates wrote letters to The Wichita Eagle complaining about the rationing, saying it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.