Schools reimbursed for picnic tables, playground mulch made from scrap rubber

LINCOLN, Neb. — Hayes Center, the Hitchcock County Ag Society and Southern Valley Schools will be reimbursed for picnic tables and playground mulch using recycled rubber from scrap tires.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced Tuesday that the state is awarding $1.71 million to support 100 tire recycling and clean-up projects across the state.

The grants support local efforts to clean up tire piles and conduct scrap tire collections. In addition, funds will be used for partial reimbursement to schools and organizations purchasing playground mulch, synthetic turf fields, running tracks and recycled scrap tire rubber projects.

The Village of Hayes Center will receive $486 for 25 percent reimbursement for three 6-foot-long picnic tables. The Hitchcock County Agricultural Society (Trenton) will be awarded $1,473 for 25 percent reimbursement of eight 8-foot-long picnic tables. Southern Valley Schools (Oxford) will receive $1,938 for 50 percent reimbursement of 8,428 pounds of rubber playground mulch.