For more information, contact:
Carla Felix (402) 471-4223
Amanda Woita (402) 471-4243
Nathanael Urie (402) 471-4245
carla.felix@nebraska.gov
amanda.woita@nebraska.gov
nathanael.urie@nebraska.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2016

LB1101 Solid Waste Management Study Advisory Committee to Meet Dec. 13 in Kearney

The Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) has scheduled the second meeting of the statewide LB1101 Solid Waste Management Study Advisory Committee on December 13th in Kearney. The meeting will begin at 11 a.m. at the Holiday Inn, 110 S. 2nd Ave., and the public is welcome to attend.

The Nebraska Legislature authorized creation of the advisory committee in LB 1101 enacted in 2016. The purpose of the advisory committee is to advise NDEQ in conducting a study to examine the status of solid waste management programs operated by the NDEQ including grant programs that promote alternatives to landfill disposal, such as recycling, composting, and waste reduction. After completion of the study, NDEQ must submit a report to the Legislature by December 15, 2017 making recommendations on modernizing these programs. LB 1101 also authorized the NDEQ to hire a consultant to assist with the study.

“This study will provide the Legislature and NDEQ with a critical evaluation of our solid waste programs,” said NDEQ Director Jim Macy. “I’m looking forward to finding ways our solid waste programs can be more effective and efficient and better serve the State of Nebraska.”

At the first meeting, the committee discussed several issues related to solid waste management programs. One of the primary purposes of the Dec. 13 meeting is for the committee to prioritize the list of issues identified during their first meeting.

The advisory committee represents a broad cross-section of individuals who are experienced in a variety of solid waste management activities and issues (see related Sept. 29 press release).

More information and materials related to the LB1101 process are available on NDEQ’s Solid Waste Management Study web page, at http://DEQ.NE.gov/NDEQProg.nsf/OnWeb/SWMS. Paper copies of the notebooks containing information related to the activities of the committee are available upon request at all NDEQ field offices: 505A Broadway, Suite 200, Scottsbluff; 430 E 2nd St, Chadron; 200 S Silber, North Platte; 1309 2nd St, Holdrege; 601 E Benjamin Ave, Norfolk; 215 Kaufman Ave, Grand Island; and 8801 S 154th St, Suite 5, Omaha. These materials are also available at the NDEQ office in Lincoln at 1200 N St.