Waste

Reduce Waste and Recover Resources (Especially Food Waste)

Minimize waste generation and divert waste from our landfill by reducing, recycling, or composting.

• Read the Waste Reduction Guide for tips on how to reduce your impact on water, transportation, and waste.
• Help keep your community free of litter by participating in Keep Lincoln & Lancaster County Beautiful (KLLCB) volunteer opportunities and clean-up grants for individuals, groups, or neighborhood associations and counties. Or consider volunteering through the City of Lincoln's Adopt a Trail Program.
• HazToGo – Lincoln's Hazardous Waste Center serves Lincoln and Lancaster County as a safe, environmentally responsible location for toxic chemicals and hazardous waste. There is no cost to customers and some very small businesses may qualify for a reduced-cost hazardous waste disposal.
• Keep Nebraska Beautiful's Materials Exchange Program is a free service helping Nebraskan Businesses reduce landfill impact through reuse and recycling matches. Based on material type, potential match partners are connected so they can reduce purchase and disposal costs together.
• Learn where and how to recycle using the following resources:
  • In Lincoln, all Garbage and Recycling Collectors must offer curbside recycling. Alternatively, household recyclables can be sorted at home and taken to a recyclables collection site. Use the interactive Recyclables Collection Site Map to find a location closest to you.
  • Use the What Bin Does It Go In? recycling tool to find where to take specific items for proper recycling and disposal. Search by the names of different items like batteries, latex paint, egg cartons, and more!
  • Through the Hefty ReNew Program, hard-to-recycle plastics, like Styrofoam, chip bags, or straws, can be collected separately in orange Hefty recycling bags purchased at Walmart or Target. Once full, place the orange bag in your curbside recycling bin. The bags are then taken to Omaha and recycled into plastic lumber. Call your recycling collector to see if they offer pick-up of the Hefty Energy Bag.
• Prevent food waste using the following tips:
  • Before heading to the store, check your refrigerator and pantry. Note items that are oldest and should be used first following the ‘first in, first out' rule. Search the USDA's MyPlate Kitchen for recipes with specific ingredients you want to use.
  • Understand food product dates, such as “best if, sell by, use-by" by referring to the USDA's Food Production Dating website. These labels describe the period when food is of the best quality rather than serving as indicators of safety.
  • Learn how to optimally store different fruits and vegetables for longer freshness. Did you know that bananas should be stored separately from other produce since they can cause ripening? Use Save the Food's interactive storage guide, Store It, and don't miss out on other tools like meal planning resources or recipes for using scraps or food past its prime.
  • Explore the EPA Preventing Wasted Food at Home webpage to discover the benefits of preventing food waste, tips for preventing waste, additional resources, and more. Or read the Nebraska Extensions article on preventing food waste.
• If you do produce food waste, consider using the following options as opposed to sending food waste to the landfill.
  • Feed hungry people. Donate to food banks, such as the Food Bank of Lincoln, or other charitable organizations. Before donating, check with the organization to see what types of donations they accept, their current needs, or other guidelines. Since it is not always practical to donate small quantities of produce, consider utilizing one of the other listed options.
    • Businesses can donate their food under the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 1996. The act provides limited liability protection for persons who make good-faith donations to nonprofits that serve needy individuals. Donations are often also eligible for enhanced tax deductions. Start by reaching out to a nonprofit that accepts food donations, such as the Food Bank of Lincoln. Donated food must be stored, prepared, packaged, displayed, and labeled in accordance with law. Visit the USDA's Donating website for more guidance.
  • Feed animals. Some food waste can be safely fed to animals, such as chickens. Be sure to follow any regulations and guidelines regarding animal feed.
  • Composting. Organic materials such as leaves, grass and food waste can be composted to create nutrient-rich soil for gardening and agriculture. Start your own compost by joining a composting demonstration offered by the Master Gardeners, review Nebraska Extension's other resources regarding garden compost, or the EPA's guidelines on composting at home. Alternatively, consider using an organics waste collection service.

Buy Smarter

Clothes and other consumer goods are often discarded after little use due to changing fashion trends. Extend the life cycle of existing products by purchasing second-hand items, sharing tools, or repairing broken items rather than throwing them away. Buying second-hand can help save money and keep items out of the landfill.

• Lincoln has a variety of thrift and consignment stores where you can find items. Save money and keep items out of the landfill.
• Visit the monthly fixit events held by the Lincoln Repair Cafe. They repair small appliances and machines, furniture, clothing and household linens, sharpen scissors and tools, and repair jewelry for free. Donations are accepted.