New Omaha Garden Park (NOGP) is thrilled to announce its 40 acre community garden to local families and groups, making it the newest and largest Community garden in the Metro. Omaha including cities across the United States continue to recognize the growing benefits of urban agriculture. Land owner, Curt Hofer, has given the thumbs up [...]

Recycling Equipment Grants Available The Nebraska State Recycling Association has grant funds available now for municipalities, other government entities, non-profits and recycling companies who wish to purchase recycling equipment.  Interested parties should go to www.recyclenebraska.org and call Deb Rost at 402-933-3059 in Omaha for more information. Grants may fund the purchase of recycling trailers, carts, [...]

Grants Still Available for Electronic Waste Collection Events Up to $8,000 is available to any community or organization, particularly “underserved” areas of Nebraska, for electronic waste collection events.  A complete manual with instructions on how to run an event is available HERE. This is a turn-key operation for electronic waste collection events.  We have already [...]

Lincoln Riding High in National Bicycling Challenge May 1 – August 31 LINCOLN, NEBR – In its first year, the Lincoln Bicycle Commuter Challenge is a local effort organized under the national Get Up & Ride National Bike Challenge to encourage people to bike more for transportation and recreation.  Riders can register and begin tallying [...]

The Federal Green Challenge, an internal federal government competition, is hosting a series of webinars that are open to all. The first line (web address) is where one registers for the webinars. One need only register once for all the webinars. Note, these webinars are good for folks interested in the concept, not just FGC=types. [...]

Electronics Recycling Alliance to Hold “Earth Day, All Day” Electronic Collection Events in Omaha April 21st After several months of planning and organizing, a new coalition of nonprofit organizations is launching its first event in two locations in Omaha on Earth Day, Saturday, April 21st.  Businesses and households may bring anything with a cord or [...]

Come visit us at our booth on Saturday, April 21 for Omaha Earth Day. The 22nd Annual Earth Day Omaha, the city’s largest ecological showcase and celebration, will take place Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Elmwood Park. The free event features exhibit booths, children’s activities, demonstrations and short speaker sessions, [...]

Several WasteCap- funded e-Scrap Collection Events have been scheduled in Northeast Nebraska, thanks to the hard work of Denise Trine, director of PrairieLand RC&D in Madison, Nebraska.  One collection event was held in Pilger on March 30th, two events were held on April 5th in Tilden and Petersburg and another in Albion on April 7th. [...]

Tired of receiving endless amounts of junk mail?  Download the free PaperKarma app, take a picture of the junk mail, and then send it. They will contact the company and get you off the mailing list in no time! “Eliminating junk mail in a snap” http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/headlines2.html?id=1331739797&headline=Take+photo+and+send+it+to+this+anti-junk+mail+group

REGISTRATION DEADLINE REMINDER Lincoln Green Team Roundtable- Registration Deadline April 6 What:              A peer to peer lunch hour networking meeting for green team members, facilities and human resource managers, CEOs, business owners and individuals Topics:            Join the discussion about what the City of Lincoln and employers can do to remove barriers to non-automobile commutes to work; [...]

LINCOLN, NE – Cycle Works is the corporate sponsor for the bi-monthly Green Team Roundtable in Lincoln on Wednesday, April 11th.  The Roundtable will feature presentations on employee commuting programs and upcoming bicycle commuter opportunities in Lincoln.  Kaplan University will provide the meeting room on their campus at 1821 K Street in Lincoln.  This informal [...]

Lincoln Earth Day is Coming! Join us Sunday, April 22 for the following events: Morning: Fun Run at Wilderness Park Afternoon: Festival at Antelope Park Evening: Native Seed Planting at Pioneers Park Nature Center Night: Celebration at the Rococo Theatre These events are made possible by community support! Please go to www.lincolnearthday.org to get involved [...]

Mayor Chris Beutler today announced two new developments to insure the Pinnacle Bank Arena will be designed, constructed and operated as one of the most environmentally sensitive civic facilities in the country through its sustainable features, high-efficiency systems and use of environmentally responsible materials. The City of Lincoln has joined the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) [...]

Thursday, January 26, 2012 Recycled Batteries – Where do they go? Modern electronics could not function without batteries, from sophisticated internal rechargeable cells to the single-use batteries in your emergency flashlight. Besides stored electrons, these batteries also contain complex compounds that can be harmful to the environment. Fortunately, many of these materials are also valuable [...]

Just a Bulb? By John Atkeison How can a little compact fluorescent lamp be controversial? It’s just a light bulb, right? There are a few issues that are important, some more than others, and some that have come up only now that compact fluorescents are very common. Many of these are relevant to tubular fluorescents [...]

Most of us are familiar with the waste hierarchy of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Reduce waste first, reuse materials when possible and recycle as the last resort before landfilling. Occasionally, one business’ waste will become another’s resource when such an exchange is convenient and cost effective for both parties. These informal exchanges work well, but [...]

Ever feel like you would like to discuss important issues of our time, but need a framework and materials for having these discussions?  WasteCap Nebraska is now offering guided discussion courses on a variety of topics related to sustainability for a nominal fee. The first two course offerings are “Sustainable Systems at Work”, a five-session [...]

In a recent article in Waste & Recycling News, a survey on land use ranked landfills at number one in the “most opposed development” category. More than 3 of 4 people surveyed opposed the building of landfills, outpacing power plants, quarries, casinos, and Wal-Marts. With so much public opposition, is it any wonder that municipalities [...]

Register Description: Environmental Leader presents: How to Manage Environmental Risks in a Sustainable Manner   With Olin Chlor Alkali and SAP discussing how to take an enterprise-based approach toward environmental and safety management obligations   Event Date: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 8am Pacific/11am Eastern As with any technology-driven field, there have never been so [...]

Key Points Digital billboards are growing in popularity for outdoor advertising. A computer controls their changing images, while LED lights create the vivid display. Digital displays use a substantial amount of energy and concerns have arisen over their distraction to drivers. Billboards have a long history, first appearing in the 19th century. Early billboards, such [...]

  Enjoy the Autumn Tallgrass Prairie Teach Youth About the Prairie Become a Volunteer Discovery Leader!!   This September and October, Spring Creek Prairie will be hosting half of the Lincoln Public Schools fourth-graders in the Prairie Immersion Program. This program teaches fourth-graders about the native ecosystem of eastern Nebraska–tallgrass prairie. We are looking for [...]

USDA Rural Development Awards Funding to 18 Nebraska Recipients to Assist With Energy Needs   Lincoln, Neb., August 17, 2011— Eighteen Nebraska recipients have been selected  in the first round of the Rural Energy for America Program to receive $127,077 in loans and grants.  Funds will be used to make energy efficiency improvements that will [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      For More Information Contact: August 22, 2011                                                                                         Jerry Loos, 402.471.3356 Michaela Meismer, 402.471.3347 NEBRASKA SCHOOLS TO GET FREE ENERGY USE ASSESSMENTS Nebraska Energy Office Will Fund Analysis, Ranking and More LINCOLN – Public schools across the state have an opportunity to receive free energy use assessments to identify opportunities for [...]

Ray Anderson, the founder of Interface, Inc. and a widely recognized leader in sustainable business, died yesterday after a long battle with cancer. He was 77. Anderson was one of the most vocal proponents of environmentalism’s role in business. He founded Interface, a producer of free-lay carpet tiles, in 1973, and it grew to be [...]

LPlan 2040 is the ongoing major public process and planning effort to create the latest version of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan and the Long Range Transportation Plan. The Comprehensive Plan goes through a major update every ten years. The last major update resulted in the 2025 Lincoln-Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan and was adopted in [...]

WasteCap staff received a delightful treat on Wednesday, August 3, 2011.  Julie Diegel and Chanté Bauer attended a presentation by climatologist James Hansen at Creighton University in Omaha.  His talk was entitled “Halting Human-Made Climate Change: The Case for Young People and Nature”.  Even though this session was open to the public as part of [...]

Taken from the Indigo Bridge Facebook Event Page. Indigo Bridge Books is hosting a film series, which will take place on three dates throughout the summer: June 30, July 14, and July 28 at 7:30 p.m. The films will focus on agriculture, sustainability and the environment. The theme “Tread Lightly” is a reminder to consider [...]

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Release date: 03/14/2011 Contact Information: Stacy Kika, kika.stacy@epa.gov, 202-564-0906, 202-564-4355 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing a list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the greatest number of energy-efficient buildings that earned EPA’s Energy Star certification in 2010. The list of 25 cities is headed by Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; San Francisco; [...]

The triple arrowed logo has become the ubiquitous symbol for recycling around the world, but did you know the design originally started as a money-making idea for a Chicago-based packaging company? Or that the logo was created as part of a design contest to mark the first official Earth Day? It’s probably one of the [...]

The Nebraska State Recycling Association has grant funds available for municipalities, non-profits and recycling companies who wish to purchase recycling equipment.  Interested parties should go to www.recyclenebraska.org and call Deb Rost at 402-933-3059 in Omaha for more information. Grants may fund the purchase of recycling trailers, carts, dumpsters, balers, forklifts, trucks and more. The Recycling [...]

Date : 4/21/2010 Round Rock, Texas Reconnect – a partnership between Dell and Goodwill Industries International that lets consumers drop off used computers for no-cost recycling— is getting its game on with support from Microsoft. Dell and Goodwill® announced today that in addition to collecting PCs and computer accessories, the 1,900-plus Goodwill locations participating in [...]

Do you know of an individual, organization, or business that deserves recognition for the work they are doing to help protect the environment?  Maybe it’s the business down the street or the organization a co-worker is involved in or the teacher at your child’s school—OR maybe it’s you!  We want to inform the community of [...]

Free GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool Available Now The Web-based tool should help government and industry personnel identify and prioritize cost-effective, sustainable strategies for small projects that do not normally engage workplace consultants or designers. Feb 11, 2011 Noblis, in collaboration with CTG Energetics and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), has announced the release of [...]

Rural Development Awards $8,000 to Pawnee City Nebraska Ag Connection – 03/11/2011 USDA Rural Development has announced that the City of Pawnee City will receive a grant of $8,000 that, leveraged with $6,555 from the City, will purchase and install a multi-bin recycling trailer for the community. “This is like a dream come true! The [...]

Published Thursday February 24, 2011 The business of the environment By Erin Golden WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER At Physicians Mutual Insurance Co., the changes started small. More than two years ago, company officials began reminding employees to turn off the lights when they left an empty room. Then a switch from Styrofoam to reusable takeout containers [...]

Your WasteCap staff was busy in 4th quarter 2010. We performed over 600 business outreach calls. Discussions ranged from membership, assessments, Finishing Technology Certification, green team development, Partners in Pollution Prevention opportunities, and basic technical assistance. As a member you are our top priority. If you would like more information on any of WasteCap’s programs [...]

The Nebraska Environmental Trust provided funds for WasteCap Nebraska to create a network of collection sites across Nebraska for fluorescent lamps and provide grant funds for electronic waste collection events in underserved communities. In the fourth quarter of 2010, WasteCap staff traveled to Northeast Nebraska to establish relationships and create new collection site locations for [...]

In 2008, WasteCap Nebraska received a grant award from the Nebraska Environmental Trust to address the continuing problem of electronic waste. This program concluded in third quarter of 2010 after supporting 12 collection events in as many communities, and diverting 138,946 pounds of electronic waste from Nebraska landfills. WasteCap designed a program to offer small [...]

The Green Ambassadors program is in full swing. WasteCap has Ambassadors working in Lincoln and Omaha. Now is the time to call and schedule your Green Ambassadors presentation. Green Ambassadors give presentations on product stewardship. Your group will learn what product stewardship means, whose responsibility it is, and ways to implement a product stewardship program [...]

The highlight of 4th quarter 2010 was the successful application and completion of a Department of Labor Worker Training Program Grant for WasteCap Nebraska’s Finishing Technology Certification class. This grant was applied for by the Nebraska City Area Economic Development Corporation in conjunction with WasteCap Nebraska. It covered 100% of class tuition. As a result, [...]

At the 2010 Sustainable Business Awards, it was announced that WasteCap would officially carry individual memberships. These memberships are for any individual who would like to be a part of WasteCap’s mission, whether their employer is a member or not. WasteCap has provided three types of memberships: Student Memberships ($10), Annual Memberships ($25) and Lifetime [...]

Green Ambassadors Hiring Throughout Nebraska The Green Ambassadors program was originally an internship; however, we have opened the opportunity to any qualified individual living in Nebraska.  This means anyone wishing to spread the word about product stewardship now has an opportunity to work with WasteCap Nebraska. This position is part time, allowing you freedom and [...]

WasteCap Nebraska announced six winners for their 2010 Sustainable Business Awards luncheon. Each award winner has excelled in being environmentally sustainable and making being “green” a part of company culture. The awards were given on October 14th, at the 2010 WasteCap Nebraska Sustainable Business Awards held at the Lincoln Country Club over the lunch hour. [...]

WasteCap would like to take a minute to introduce you to a few of our new members this year. Each company will be a great addition to the WasteCap Nebraska member base. Schrock Innovations Computer Company Schrock Innovations Computer Company provides award-winning computer repair service, but you may not know that Schrock also does its [...]

City of Lincoln Recycling Coordinator Gene Hanlon today reported that the Special Olympics competition venues, opening and closing ceremonies at the Devaney Center and Olympic Town activities at Pershing Center diverted 52 percent of the generated waste from the city landfill.  The City’s Recycling office and Keep Lincoln and Lancaster County Beautiful worked with the [...]

Are you a positive, self-motivated person? Do you enjoy networking with a variety of people? Do you possess strong communication skills, both verbal and written? Do you enjoy critical thinking? Are you passionate about the environment? If you answered yes, we may have the opportunity for you!  We offer a fun, flexible work environment, paid [...]