County receives $351K household hazardous waste grant

Thursday, February 11, 2021

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Red Willow County shares a portion of $6.68 million in Waste and Litter Reduction, Recycling and Scrap Tire Grants, according to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.

The county will receive $351,514 for the county’s Household Hazardous Waste program, to provide Central and Southwest Nebraska residents is a safe, reliable means to recycle or dispose of household hazardous waste. The program expects to collect 200,000 pounds of household hazardous waste in 2021.

Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive funds are generated by a fee on solid waste disposed of in landfills, an annual retail business sales fee, and a fee assessed on the sale of new tires.  Grants are provided to local integrated waste management projects and can include recycling systems, household hazardous waste collections, and composting.  For 2021, 31 projects totaling $3,067,101 were funded under the Business Fee and Disposal Fee categories.

Also included in the Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive program are Scrap Tire funds, which are generated from a $1 fee on new tires purchased in Nebraska.  In 2021, 60 grants totaling $1,535,068 were awarded.  These grants will fund 13 scrap tire cleanup events across Nebraska.  Enough funding was awarded to clean up up 3,925 tons of scrap tires.  Funds will also be used to partially reimburse the cost of many products made from recycled scrap tires, such as artificial turf football, soccer, baseball, and softball fields, athletic running tracks, and playground surfacing.

Litter Reduction and Recycling funds are generated from a fee charged to certain manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of products that commonly contribute to litter.  The program has provided grants annually since 1979.  In 2021, 53 litter grants totaling $2,084,200 were awarded in the public education, cleanup, and recycling categories.  Public education programs educate citizens on litter reduction and recycling through a variety of school and community activities.  Cleanup grants provide funding for 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, but also much of the material collected is recycled.  Recycling programs provide an alternative to the disposal of solid waste in Nebraska’s landfills.  Priority is given to programs that promote markets for recycled materials or purchasing products made from recycled materials.

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