lincoln.ne.gov

Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department Environmental Public Health Neighborhood Clean Up Grants

The purpose of this program is to promote a cleaner environment in community neighborhoods. Neighborhood Cleanups are designed to assist neighborhoods in getting rid of junk that might otherwise be hard to dispose of. The goal is to create a clean neighborhood year-round, not just a once a year cleanup. Much of what is collected during a cleanup is material that could be set out with your regular trash, including brush or tree branches; however this is an opportunity for neighbors to work together as a team to clean your environment. Please encourage residents to toss as much as possible BEFORE your event.

Neighborhood Association Cleanup Grant projects must incorporate a waste reduction plan in order to receive funding. This means recycling of all items possible rather than disposal. Recycling is an important part of the grant award process. Some of the items that you can list to recycle can be: aluminum, newspapers, magazines, junk mail, steel cans, milk jugs, plastic soda bottles, scrap metal, etc.) and these items should be taken to either a city drop-off site or to one of the recycling businesses in town. City drop-off sites and several recycling businesses are also listed in the Alltel Phone Book blue pages.

When planning your cleanup, please read the Guidelines carefully.

Neighborhood Cleanup Grant Application

GRANT APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY March 1 of each year. Grant applications are mailed to Neighborhood Associations in late January of each year. If you have questions, please contact Harry Heafer at (402) 441-8035 or e-mail hheafer@lincoln.ne.gov. Grant application may be completed on-line on the Keep Lincoln Lancaster County Beautiful website.

Funding

This is a reimbursable grant cleanup project and all paperwork, bills, etc., must be submitted for payment no later than July 31 of each year, to utilize the current fiscal year's money. The Neighborhood Clean Up Grant Expense Report must be used for reimbursements. Please include documentation of expenses with your report (original bills, etc.) The Cleanup Grant Expense Report form and the Final Report Form can be downloaded or will be sent with your grant notification letter. The Final Report Form must be received before any grant money will be paid out. The Final Report form may be completed here. However, the Crant Report form must include any application receipts. Submit itemized receipts with your report within two weeks after completing your clean up project. A minimum two-week processing time is required for reimbursements.

The City of Lincoln is not responsible for late charges due to bills being submitted late. Furthermore, unauthorized expenses or activities that generate expenses exceeding the amount awarded shall be the responsibility of the Neighborhood Association. Guidelines for this grant are important, so please read the Guidelines carefully.

Pictures

Pictures are an important part of this grant process as they are required in the final grant report made to the state. Digital pictures are recommended, however film can be purchased with your grant monies. Take photos to document your efforts! The KLLCB program has a digital camera that may be loaned out.

Equipment rental

If renting equipment (rolloff dumpsters, wood chippers, trailers, etc.) ask the renting company to send the bills directly to the Lincoln & Lancaster County Health Department, Attn: Harry Heafer, 3140 N St. Lincoln, NE 68510. Have the company include the neighborhood association's name on the bill.

Rolloff dumpsters, should be placed on private property, on the right-of-way between the curb and sidewalk, or in a parking lot (get permission first). Rolloffs should NOT be placed on the street nor block the sidewalk. If placing a rolloff in a city park parking lot, you must call the Parks and Recreation Department. Due to budget contraints, no public work trucks or front end loaders may be used.

• Avoid placing rolloffs along a busy street so they don't attract extra debris. Rolloff's should not obstruct a driver's vision at an intersection.
• A one day rental for a rolloff is recommended. The rolloff company should pick them up at the end of the day. Confirm in writing the time they will deliver and pick them up.
• Staff the rolloffs with a volunteer and give that person a list of acceptable items to avoid problems with non-acceptable items being deposited. Provide the volunteer with a list of other rolloff locations in your cleanup area, if needed.
• A list of non-acceptable items for the rolloff (chemicals /unidentified containers or Household Hazardous Waste, tires, batteries, appliances, paint, motor oil, yard waste and brush, concrete, fluorescent light bulbs, household garbage, etc.) should be posted on each rolloff container. Residents should be notified in advance of the project about these non-acceptable items. A poster listing non-acceptable item is available at no cost, or may be downloaded here.

Non-Acceptable items

Chemicals/Unidentified Containers (Household Hazardous Waste)

For a Neighborhood Association clean up individuals should be responsible for their own household hazardous waste materials (solvents, mercury products, pesticides, or items containing PCB's). We do not recommend that any one neighbor collect and save these items for a clean up project. If, however, on the date of a Household Hazardous Waste Collection (HHWC) someone in your neighborhood needs assistance in getting things to a HHWC, volunteers could be used to provide assistance. Additional information is available at HHWC.

The goal of "Brush Coupons" is to distribute coupons to organized neighborhood groups. Free brush load coupons, funded by the Public Works and Utilities Department, is intended for use by neighborhood residents to clean and beautify properties.

1. Options for Neighborhood Groups for brush disposal:
   1. Encourage residents to use normal trash service to dispose of brush.
   2. Contract with private haulers for roll-off boxes or other hauling services through the City's spring cleanup grant.
   3. Stockpile and grind material for use in neighborhood projects through the City's spring cleanup grant.
   4. Provide "Free Brush Load" Coupons to individual residents or contract haulers participating in a neighborhood brush cleanup. Cost of rolloffs or refuse hauler will not be covered by these coupons.
2. Distribution of coupons:
   1. Neighborhood association coordinators must make requests for coupons, two working days in advance, by contacting Keep Lincoln and Lancaster County Beautiful program, Harry Heafer (e-mail) or call (402) 441-8035.
   2. Distribution is made on a "first come, first serve" basis with a maximum of 15 coupons per neighborhood organization per cleanup event.
   3. Typically a total of 400 coupons are available each fiscal year.
3. Use of Coupons:
   1. Coupons will cover landfill gate fees only.
   2. Coupons will provide one free load of BRUSH ONLY with no limit on load size.
   3. Loads must be BRUSH ONLY with no other waste materials or debris present. Loads with other debris will be charged regular landfill gate fees.
   4. Coupons are not intended for use by commercial businesses unless providing hauling services for the neighborhood brush cleanup.
   5. Neighborhood groups are asked to encourage appropriate use of coupons.
   6. Neighborhood groups must document use of coupons by address serviced, if used by individual residents.
4. Continuance of program:
   1. Subject to budget approval.
   2. Increased traffic and inappropriate use of coupons could have a negative impact to continuance of this program.

Clean concrete rubble with no re-bar or wire may be recycled at one of the following businesses as well as asphalt. Please call to make delivery arrangements and confirm their requirements:

- Cather and Sons: 464-2113
- Dobson Bros: 467-3634

Many neighborhoods have had a positive response from the refuse hauler(s) serving their area for these clean up efforts. Some haulers do not charge for their time when they assist, just landfill costs. Confirm costs with your local hauler before completing your application. Be sure expectations are understood by everyone to allow for a smooth cleanup operation (length of time for them to work, cost, etc.).

For a successful cleanup, promote the event in your neighborhood through flyers delivered to each home or in your neighborhood newsletter. The more you promote this clean up effort to your neighborhood, the more successful your cleanup will be. Be sure to recruit volunteers and work as a team.

Click here for more information regarding Flourescent Light Bulbs, Yard Waste, Motor Oil, Paint, Tires, and Batteries.

InterLinc City of Lincoln Departments Category Location Health Environmental Public Health Environmental Quality KLLCB