The state of Nebraska awarded millions in grants to 126 waste and litter reduction projects, including several initiatives for collecting used electronics and household batteries.
The state’s Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) announced Feb. 11 more than $7 million in grants from its Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive and Litter Reduction and Recycling programs.
The grants will help fund waste and litter reduction projects, recycling programs, and costs to collect scrap tires, household hazardous waste, electronic waste and pharmaceuticals. Public education programs on litter reduction and recycling through a variety of school and community activities also will benefit.
“DWEE is pleased to support local initiatives such as those that help residents properly dispose of various household materials,” said DWEE Planning and Aid Division Administrator Sarah Starostka. “Many of the funded projects provide the added benefit of educating Nebraskans about the importance of reducing the waste we generate, reducing litter, and improving recycling to keep our communities clean and vibrant.”
The Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Grants Program is funded by solid waste landfill fees, annual retail business sales fees, and fees assessed on the sales of new tires.
Last year Nebraska passed the Safe Battery Collection and Recycling Act, the state’s first EPR legislation. The law does not set recycling targets but imposes a battery landfilling ban on Jan. 1, 2028. By that date producers and retailers also must join a battery stewardship organization.
The state will start accepting grant applications for 2027 this June.
City recipients include:
- Keep Chadron Beautiful: $11,700 for electronic waste collection event
- Keep Cass County Beautiful, Murray: $3,111 to hold three e-waste collection events
- Nebraska Loess Hills RC&D Council, Oakland: $4,940 to collect e-waste
- Nucor Vulcraft Nebraska, Norfolk: $14,810 to host a community scrap day that pays higher rates for recyclables and diverts metals and e-waste from landfills
- City of Wayne: $7,866 for annual electronics recycling event, and $6,577 for its community household battery recycling program
