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April 2026

Save the Date

Fall Conference 2026: Beyond the Bin

Join the Nebraska Recycling Council for the 2026 Annual Fall Conference, Beyond the Bin. Our solution-driven conference will focus on the future of recycling, waste reduction, and circular economy practices. This year’s theme highlights strategies that go beyond the recycling bin, featuring community-driven approaches to reduce waste, recover valuable materials, and address special waste and organics management. Attendees will connect with national industry leaders and local practitioners to exchange ideas, explore best practices, and drive meaningful change across Nebraska and the Midwest.

Early bird registration is open - use code EARLYBIRD26 for 20% off your registration!

Meet our Keynote: Amy Lestition Burke, FASAE, CAE

Amy Lestition Burke, FASAE, CAE is the CEO of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), an association of professionals from across the waste and resource management industry. She is a seasoned association executive with a proven track record of building associations that bring together the interests of members, grow member value, enhance partnership collaboration, and increase revenue development.

Amy previously served as the VP of industry solutions of the Consumer Brands Association, overseeing partnerships and collaborations with companies that support the consumer-packaged goods industry, which included the key areas of supply chain and sustainability. Amy lives in Centreville, VA with her family and enjoys traveling to show her children the world.

Internship Opportunity:

Recycling Data & Conference Outreach Intern

Position Overview

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented intern to support our recycling data collection efforts and assist with sponsor recruitment for an upcoming conference. This position offers hands-on experience in environmental data management, outreach, and event development.

The ideal candidate is comfortable making phone calls, organizing data in spreadsheets, and communicating professionally with community partners and businesses. Experience with GIS software such as ArcGIS is a plus, but not required.

Location: Nebraska Recycling Council | Lincoln, NE 68502
Duration: Summer 2026
Hours: Part-time 10-15 hours/week (Up to 125 Hours Total)
Compensation: $18.00/hour

More Internship Information

New Member Spotlight: National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC) and the Stewardship Action Foundation (SAF)

The Nebraska Recycling Council is excited to welcome and highlight the National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC) and the Stewardship Action Foundation (SAF) to our membership. These two organizations work together to advance a responsible circular economy in the United States.

NSAC is a national 501 (c) (4) nonprofit driving policy leadership, interest holder collaboration, and implementation support for EPR and other circular economy policies and solutions. With a decade of experience negotiating, advancing, and implementing first-in-the-nation laws, NSAC helps policy

move from passage to effective implementation.

SAF, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit and NSAC’s educational affiliate, focuses on public education, outreach, and engagement. SAF works alongside communities, schools, governments, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations to build practical understanding and readiness for circular systems.

Together, NSAC and SAF support more than 120 organizational members and a nationwide network of over 2,700 individuals working to move circular-economy policy from theory to practice. Through national working groups, webinars, forums, and other cross-sector convenings, we create trusted spaces where policymakers, all levels of government, industry leaders, educators, and nonprofits collaborate in pre-competitive environments.

Their work spans packaging, textiles, household hazardous waste, batteries, deposit return systems, labeling, and more. For over a decade, they have translated bold ideas into measurable outcomes, reducing waste, protecting public health and essential workers, strengthening domestic end markets, and building circular systems we can all understand, trust, and participate in.

New Report Released:

Framework for Statewide Organic Materials Management Best Practices (Phase 1)

By Carina Olivetti

The Nebraska Recycling Council is excited to announce the completion of Phase 1 of the Framework for Statewide Organic Materials Management Best Practices, published in December 2025. This report establishes a foundational framework for understanding how organic materials—such as food waste, yard waste, and agricultural organics—are generated and managed across Nebraska.

Using GIS analysis and regional datasets, the project maps organic material “hotspots,” existing composting and anaerobic digestion infrastructure, and opportunities to expand organics diversion statewide. The report estimates that Nebraska landfills dispose of over 387,000 tons of organic material each year, highlighting significant opportunities to reduce methane emissions, extend landfill life, and recover valuable nutrients through composting, anaerobic digestion, and other sustainable solutions.

Phase 1 also introduces a prototype ArcGIS mapping tool designed to help visualize feedstock sources and infrastructure gaps across the state. The findings will support future planning and policy development aligned with Nebraska’s climate and resource recovery goals.

Phase 2 will build on this framework by incorporating updated waste characterization data, greenhouse gas modeling, and identification of potential pilot projects to strengthen Nebraska’s organics management infrastructure.

Read More about Phase 1

This project was funded by the Nebraska Department of Water, Environment, and Energy and developed with contributions from partners including Douglas County Environmental Services, SCS Engineers, and staff from the Nebraska Recycling Council.

Recycling Equipment Grants Now Closed with New Opportunities Ahead

By Grace Barton

Last month, we shared that March would likely be the final month for Recycling Equipment Grant funding. We can now confirm that this is the case. After receiving a number of strong applications, the remaining equipment funds have been fully allocated. The Recycling Equipment Grant program is no longer accepting applications.

Over the years, the program has supported equipment for hundreds of communities and made a meaningful impact across Nebraska. It has been a privilege to work with this program since joining the Nebraska Recycling Council in August, and to connect with so many individuals dedicated to expanding recycling opportunities in their communities.

While this specific program is coming to a close, the Nebraska Recycling Council’s mission to maximize the economic and environmental benefits of resource recovery in Nebraska remains unchanged. We are actively exploring new funding opportunities to support future projects that continue advancing resource recovery across the state.

We also invite you to join us on September 16, 2026, for our Annual Fall Conference, Beyond the Bin. The conference will feature an afternoon breakout session on Recycling Equipment Grants, including speakers from organizations across Nebraska who have benefited from the program.

Learn More!