PRESS RELEASE
from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy

For more information,contact
Carla Felix (402) 471-4223,
Amanda Woita (402) 471-4243,
Nathanael Urie (402) 471-4245, or
For Immediate Release
January 5, 2016


Over $1.6 Million Awarded to Recycling, Litter Programs

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Director Jim Macy has announced the awarding of $1,635,003 in 54 grants for litter cleanup, recycling, and public education programs and activities. Funds for the Litter Reduction and Recycling Grant Program are generated from a fee charged to certain manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of products that commonly contribute to litter. The program has been providing grants annually since 1979.

“There were many outstanding applications submitted to NDEQ this year,” Macy said. “The grant awards will support many important local efforts to recycle and reduce litter across the state.”

Below is a summary of the three grant categories, and grant awards in each category. Following that summary is a table that lists all projects by city, and provides more details regarding the purpose of each grant.


Recycling Grant Awards
The recycling programs provide an alternative to the disposal of solid waste in Nebraska’s landfills. The programs recycle more than just aluminum, paper, glass, and plastic. Materials such as electronic computer components, paint, aerosol cans, fertilizer, pesticides, pharmaceutical items and household hazardous waste are collected and either reprocessed to be used again or are disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. Recycling efforts that promote the purchase of recycled content products continue to receive priority for funding. NDEQ awarded 24 grants in the recycling category, totaling $916,975.

Cleanup Grant Awards
Cleanup grants provide assistance for programs involving Nebraska residents of all ages who pick up litter and debris along Nebraska's highways, waterways, recreation lands, urban areas, and other public use areas within the state. Not only are the public areas improved through the removal of litter and debris, but also much of the material collected during the cleanups is recycled. The recycling proceeds are often used to benefit the respective programs. NDEQ awarded 12 grants in the cleanup category, totaling $108,483.

Public Education Awards
The Public Education programs educate citizens in the areas of litter reduction, cleanup, and recycling through a variety of individual and community activities. Priority is given to programs that promote markets for recycled materials or purchasing products made from recycled materials. NDEQ awarded 18 grants in the public education category, totaling $609,545.

Attached is a table that lists grantees by city, and provides descriptions of the projects.


2016 Litter Reduction and Recycling Grants, by City
City
Organization
Award Amount
Category
Project Description
Alliance
Keep Alliance Beautiful
$71,423
Recycling
Funding for recycling center expenses for Alliance and Box Butte County.
Alliance
Keep Alliance Beautiful
$49,326
Public Education
Public education activities.
Beatrice
Keep Beatrice Beautiful, Inc.
$8,270
Cleanup
Cleanup of 100 miles of public roads and 60 acres of public land.
Beatrice
Keep Beatrice Beautiful, Inc.
$36,126
Public Education
Public education activities in the Beatrice/Gage County area.
Burwell
Loup Basin RC&D/Keep Loup Basin Beautiful
$1,445
Cleanup
Cleanup of 20 miles of roads and five acres of public land.
Burwell
Loup Basin RC&D/Keep Loup Basin Beautiful
$55,402
Public Education
Public education activities in a 13-county area.
Chadron
Keep Chadron Beautiful
$6,076
Cleanup
Cleanup 100 miles plus some personnel and operating expense.
Chadron
Keep Chadron Beautiful
$39,856
Public Education
Public education activities in Chadron and within a radius of 50 miles.
Chadron
Keep Chadron Beautiful
$7,950
Recycling
One-day electronics collection event.
Columbus
Keep Columbus Beautiful, Inc.
$24,844
Public Education
Public education activities.
Firth
Prairieland Dairy
$47,000
Recycling
Purchase a commercial truck scale to accommodate large semi trucks which bring the majority of material to the facility.
Fremont
Keep Fremont Beautiful, Inc.
$40,180
Public Education
Public education activities.
Grand Island
Grand Island Area Clean Community System
$27,275
Cleanup
Cleanup of 75 miles and 100 acres.
Grand Island
Grand Island Area Clean Community System
$41,593
Public Education
Public education activities.
Grand Island
Nebraska State Fair
$10,000
Recycling
Hire environmental coordinator, supplies and rental of containers, and a ramp and compactor for trash and recyclables for the State Fair.
Imperial
City of Imperial
$15,000
Recycling
Purchase brush chipper to replace 20-year-old chipper. Chips are used as mulch in parks and available at no charge to citizens.
Kimball
Keep Kimball Beautiful
$16,595
Public Education
Public education activities.
Kimball
Keep Kimball Beautiful
$50,000
Recycling
Operating costs for the Kimball County recycling center.
La Vista
City of La Vista
$25,000
Recycling
Purchase brush chipper for the City of LaVista. Wood chips will be used beneficially.
Lexington
Keep Lexington Beautiful
$33,293
Recycling
Purchase a new recycling trailer, repair four existing recycling trailers including new signage. Promote recycling in Lexington.
Lincoln
Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department
$15,000
Cleanup
Cleanup of 320 miles and 300 acres.
Lincoln
Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department
$66,500
Public Education
Public education activities, including household hazardous waste education.
Lincoln
Lincoln Children's Museum
$6,100
Public Education
Halloween event emphasizing recycling and reuse.
Lincoln
Nebraska Farmers Union
$32,650
Recycling
Expand vermicomposting operation partnering with LPS and other institutional entities. Purchase a trailer and conveyor system.
Lincoln
WasteCap Nebraska
$121,725
Recycling
Various education and recycling projects.
Lincoln
Central States Reprocessing
$56,000
Recycling
A truck and three gooseneck trailers to facilitate PVC plastic recycling in the Lincoln and Omaha area.
Louisville
Keep Cass County Beautiful
$1,578
Cleanup
Cleanup of 12 miles and 30 acres plus some supplies.
Louisville
Keep Cass County Beautiful
$37,887
Public Education
Public education activities.
Norfolk
Keep Norfolk Beautiful
$15,160
Public Education
Public education activities in the Norfolk area.
North Platte
Keep North Platte and Lincoln County Beautiful
$14,169
Cleanup
Cleanup of 320 miles plus supplies and operating expenses.
North Platte
Keep North Platte and Lincoln County Beautiful
$62,317
Recycling
Public education expenses for programs in North Platte and Lincoln County.
North Platte
Keep North Platte and Lincoln County Beautiful
$10,000
Recycling
Public education on recycling as well as supplies and expenses for several special events in the city.
North Platte
All Business & Commercial Recycling, LLC
$23,035
Recycling
Carts and a trailer to expand recycling of plastics and paper fiber at schools and businesses.
Ogallala
Keep Keith County Beautiful
$3,000
Cleanup
Cleanup of 60 miles of roads.
Ogallala
Keep Keith County Beautiful
$32,261
Public Education
Public education activities.
Ogallala
PAKS/Horizon Electronic Recycling
$30,500
Recycling
Recycle 250,000 pounds of electronic material.
Ogallala
Keep Keith County Beautiful
$9,500
Recycling
Conduct Spring and Fall household hazardous waste and electronics collection events.
Ogallala
Keep Keith County Beautiful
$55,076
Recycling
Hire a driver and purchase three large recycling containers for use at Lake McConaughy.
Omaha
Keep Omaha Beautiful, Inc.
$18,000
Cleanup
Over 150 cleanups all across the City of Omaha including parks, trails, roadways and stream banks.
Omaha
Keep Omaha Beautiful, Inc.
$62,050
Public Education
Extensive public education activities.
Omaha
Angels on Wheels
$86,400
Recycling
Conduct 33 electronics and white good collection events and either repair or dismantle and recycle what is collected.
Roca
Village of Roca
$10,554
Recycling
Supplies and materials to construct a recycling drop-off area in Roca.
Schuyler
Keep Schuyler Beautiful
$14,832
Public Education
Public education expenses.
Schuyler
Keep Schuyler Beautiful
$36,439
Recycling
Operating expenses for the Colfax County recycling facility.
Scottsbluff
Keep Scottsbluff-Gering Beautiful
$10,000
Cleanup
Cleanup of 160 miles.
Scottsbluff
Keep Scottsbluff-Gering Beautiful
$21,433
Public Education
Public education activities.
Scottsbluff
Keep Scottsbluff-Gering Beautiful
$36,451
Recycling
Promote and facilitate recycling of oil, tires, batteries, traditional recyclables. Conduct a pharmaceuticals collection event, partner with the NRD, cities of Scottsbluff, Gering, and others.
Sidney
Keep Sidney Beautiful
$58,662
Recycling
Promote recycling in the area. Purchase three large recycling containers.
South Sioux City
City of South Sioux City
$3,170
Cleanup
Cleanup of 317 acres park land.
South Sioux City
Keep Northeast Nebraska Beautiful
$27,636
Public Education
Public education activities for this large 11-county Keep Nebraska Beautiful affiliate.
Statewide
Product Stewardship Institute, Inc.
$21,764
Public Education
The Product Stewardship Institute will focus on electronic waste, paint and mercury containing products in commercial buildings during 2016.
Steinauer
Steinauer Community Club
$500
Cleanup
Cleanup of 10 miles of public roads.
Tekamah
Papio Missouri River NRD
$8,000
Recycling
Four electronics collection events.
York
Four Corners Health Department
$20,000
Recycling
Household hazardous waste and electronics collection event for a two-county area.