Here's Looking at You, New Year |
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Getting through 2020 has required us to change direction and become flexible in ways that we had not imagined before. Nebraska Recycling Council (NRC) is looking forward to going into 2021 with the adaptability and resilience of 2020, and the vision to be the authority in sustainable materials management in Nebraska--for a future where all materials and resources are reserved for their highest and best use and landfills are the last resort.
In November 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled an ambitious National Recycling Goal to increase the U.S. recycling rate to 50% by 2030. For decades, state recycling organizations around the country have been working on the same objectives outlined in the EPA's draft national recycling strategy. Now, our collective commitments and actions will be unified for a common goal to guide investments and commitments across the entire recycling system. The EPA outlined three key objectives in the National Recycling Strategy, including: reducing contamination, making our recycling processing systems more efficient, and strengthening the economic markets for recycled materials. NRC embraces the EPA's National Recycling Goal, its objectives, and the strategies to get to a 50% recycling rate by 2030.
In addition to aligning our work with the National Recycling Strategy, NRC's focus for 2021 includes:
- Expand recycling opportunities for agricultural plastics
- Develop regional glass recycling programs
- Provide statewide electronics recycling collection events
- Advance the compost industry in Nebraska
- Facilitate recycling market development
- Invest in rural and regional recycling systems
Also, NRC will continue to offer education, networking opportunities, technical assistance, community and business assistance, advocacy, and the recycling equipment grant program. We look forward to working with you and hopefully being able to meet in person sometime in 2021 as we fulfill our mission to maximize the economic and environmental benefits of resource recovery in Nebraska. Our intention is providing assistance and resources to protect Nebraska’s good life for future generations.
Best wishes for the New Year,
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Heather Creevan
Executive Director
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NRC Board of Directors Update |
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When one door closes, another one opens. It is with gratitude for his service and a bit of sadness we share that Gene Hanlon, longtime board member and valued friend of NRC, is stepping down from our Board of Directors after 30+ years of service. At the same time, we are happy to welcome Willa DiConstanzo to the Board of Directors.
Gene Hanlon was a huge part of the framework of the Nebraska State Recycling Association (NSRA) and WasteCap Nebraska, and helped steer the merger of those two organizations for the Nebraska Recycling Council. He holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska and worked as Recycling Coordinator for the City of Lincoln from 1987 until his retirement in 2018. He has served on the boards of the Nebraska Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America, NSRA, WasteCap Nebraska, and the Nebraska Recycling Council. He is married to his wife LaVonne and has two wonderful sons.
Willa DiCostanzo is currently the Waste Diversion Coordinator for the City of Lincoln. She has a degree in Environmental Studies and English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has worked for the City of Lincoln for nearly eight years in a variety of positions. Most recently, Willa worked at the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department as an Environmental Educator for the Keep Lincoln and Lancaster County Beautiful program as well as the Toxics Reduction Program for Household Hazardous Waste. She is the treasurer of Lincoln Earth Day and is actively engaged throughout the Lincoln and Lancaster County community.
Please join us in thanking Gene for his service to NRC and welcoming Willa to the Board of Directors. Thank you both for the support you provide in our important work.
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NRC has developed a listserv to support Nebraska Recycling Center Operators and Professionals. This is a network of Nebraska recycling center staff and stakeholders to exchange information, ask questions, and receive support on topics such as recycling market trends, pricing, and brokers; grants and budgeting; community engagement and education; and general recycling program support.
If you manage a recycling program or operate a recycling center and would like to join the listserv, send an email to [email protected] with a request to join and information about your recycling program.
Nebraska Recycling Operators February Meeting: Centennial Recycling
Mark your calendars for our first Recycling Center Operators call this year. We will host six virtual opportunities to chat with other recycling center professionals and each will have a broker or end market representative to meet and learn from.
Our first meeting will be February 18th at 3:00pm CST/2:00pm MST with a representative from Centennial Recycling, a broker based out of Colorado. Jaime Gormley will describe their services, how they set rates, commodity returns, and a forecast for the year ahead.
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Five organizations were recently awarded grants valued at $66,955.00 through the Recycling Equipment Grant Program administered by NRC with funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust. The grant assists with the costs of new and refurbished equipment and is critical in expanding recycling options in communities.
Star City Recycling in Lincoln, NE was awarded $20,000 to support the purchase of two box trucks, a forklift, and new signage as part of their strategy to increase recycling in Lincoln and expand their service to include electronics recycling.
GoodLife Growers in Omaha, NE was awarded $5,875 to support the purchase of a replacement compost screener. GoodLife Growers removes several tons of horse manure from the landfill and provides composting education to residents of Washington County.
Plastilite in Omaha, NE was awarded $20,000 for a new thermal densifier to increase the recycling of expanded polystyrene (often used as packaging foam) in Nebraska. Plastilite is the only EPS recycler that allows for public drop offs and is expanding their drop off site to increase the amount they can collect.
Horizon Biofuels in Fremont, NE was awarded $20,000 for repairs to the grinding system that breaks down scrap lumber to be pelletized for fuel and animal bedding.
Callaway Public Schools in Custer County was awarded $1,080 to purchase recycling containers for the classroom and for public events in the community, sharing the equipment with the village board.
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Recycle Your Christmas Tree with Scouting 4 Trees
Forklift Safety Training
Online | Fri, Jan 15th | 8:30-11:30 AM CST | REGISTER
Recycling Markets in 2021
Thurs, Jan 28th | 1-2:30 PM CST | REGISTER
Strategies for Collecting Residential Food Waste
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Two Tecumseh City Council members, and three student volunteers from Johnson County Central Schools assisted with a contamination sort at Tecumseh’s Recycling Center on Friday afternoon, November 20.
The City of Lincoln wants your help to keep your holiday festivities and the recycling process smoother by recycling correctly and even using some of your homemade items to reuse.
The new covered 96-gallon carts for trash and recycling replace the 18-gallon green bins that had been used for Omaha's curbside recycling.
A new city department will be added next spring to handle garbage collection in Beatrice.
FCC Environmental Services, Omaha’s new curbside waste hauler, will soon begin taking recyclables to multiple processing companies until the city can secure a long-term contract with a single processor.
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Available Position:
President and CEO
Keep Nebraska Beautiful
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Keep Nebraska Beautiful is hiring for the position of President and CEO.
The President serves as the chief administrative Officer of the Corporation. The President shall have general supervision over the activities and operations of the Corporation and works with and for the Board of Directors to implement organizational policies, procedures, and programs as approved. APPLY
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