Waste - Intro

Solid waste: How do we manage it?

When we think about how to manage our “solid waste,” (more commonly known as trash), people often first think of disposal options. However, when possible, our first thoughts should instead focus on:

Waste reduction -- Producing less trash in the first place;
Reuse -- Finding another use for something so it doesn’t become trash; and
Recycling – Sending materials to processors so it can be made into new products.

Recycling
Recycling is an important component of waste management in Nebraska. Based on estimates provided by the Nebraska State Recycling Association (NSRA), the annual average volume of recycling over a five-year period (2000 to 2004), was about 25%, when compared to the annual tons of waste going to landfills over that same time period. The chart below includes statewide estimates from NSRA for glass, metals, plastics and paper. Yard waste volumes are based on national estimates.

Recycling activities in Nebraska, annual averages from 2000 to 2004

Recycling or Disposal Option	Volume (in tons, averaging 2000-2004)	Percentage of waste generated
Glass, recycled	6,000	0.2%
Metals, recycled	51,000	2.0%
Plastics, recycled	4,000	0.2%
Paper, recycled	321,000	13.0%
Composted yard waste*	246,000*	10.0%*
Percent recycled or composted*	628,000	25.4%
Waste sent to landfills	1,848,000	74.6%
Total volume	2,476,000
All volumes are listed in tons. * Rough estimate, based on national estimates of yard waste volume

NDEQ provides a variety of waste grants that provide communities, businesses and individuals support for their efforts to reduce waste. To find out more about the types of awards that are available, go to the Financial/Distribution of Aid portion of this web site.

Disposal
Most of the household waste that is generated in Nebraska is disposed of at landfills. From Sept. 30, 2005 to Oct. 1, 2006, Nebraskans disposed of approximately 2.06 million tons of waste at the state’s 23 permitted landfills. Click here to view map of solid waste management facilities and quarterly landfill disposal statistics. In addition to these municipal solid waste landfills, the state also regulates several other types of facilities that manage solid waste. They include:

Transfer stations – Some areas in Nebraska are a considerable distance from the nearest landfill. Transfer stations are a more local, temporary storage area for the waste. Periodically, the waste is moved from these locations to be disposed of at a landfill. Nebraska has 37 permitted transfer stations across the state.
Material recovery facilities – At materials recovery facilities, waste is sorted out, in order to remove recyclables before the waste is sent on for landfill disposal. The recyclable items are then transported to a recycler for processing. There are six permitted materials recovery facilities in the state.
Compost sites – Composting involves taking organic matter, such as leaves, grass clippings, some food items, and sludge from wastewater treatment plants, and promoting biodegredation, or the natural decay and breakdown of these items. The end result is a useful product – a mulch that makes soil more fertile. Although permitting is only necessary for large compost operations (there are eight in Nebraska), composting by individuals occurs all across the state.
Construction and Demolition landfills – These facilities are permitted to take material that is a result of construction and demolition activities, such as concrete, steel and other metals, bricks, wood, sheet rock, and other miscellaneous construction items. There are 21 permitted construction and demolition landfills in Nebraska.

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