December 2025

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This GivingTuesday, Let Your Generosity Build a Greener Future

By Jadyn Chasek

Have you ever wondered what to do with items sitting in your garage or basement — things that are still full of life but aren’t easily recyclable or landfillable? Maybe you’ve purchased something you only needed for a short period of time, then found yourself unsure of where it should go next. For many people, the answer is yes. And for those moments, it’s essential to have resources in our communities that help us find the right destination for these one-off items.

Take Jamie, for example. After breaking her leg five years ago, her doctors instructed her to use crutches for eight to ten weeks to allow her leg to heal properly. When she recovered, the crutches were stored away in her basement, where they sat untouched for years. It wasn’t until a recycling and rehoming event for durable medical equipment was held in a nearby town that Jamie was able to pass them off to someone facing their own broken leg who could use the equipment she no longer needed.

Events like the one Jamie attended are part of the Nebraska Recycling Council’s ongoing efforts to maximize the economic and environmental benefits of resource recovery. As a result of all four recycling and rehoming events for durable medical equipment, 6.6 tons of materials were successfully diverted from landfills across Nebraska.

This remarkable achievement is made possible because of the individuals and partners who believe in creating positive change in their communities.

This GivingTuesday, you can be part of that change. Join us by supporting initiatives that help build the healthy, resilient, sustainable environment we all want to live in. Your generosity fuels this work — helping keep valuable resources in use, creating solutions where they’re needed most, and making our state and our world a healthier, greener place for everyone.

Your generosity helps support our work — donate today!

Donate Today!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Holiday Waste & Support Local this Holiday Season

By: Carina Olivetti and Grace Barton

The holiday season is a time for celebration, generosity, and—of course—plenty of food and gifts. However, with all the festivities, it can also bring a significant amount of waste. But there’s some good news! It’s easy to reduce waste while still embracing the joy of the holidays. Here are a few simple ways to make your celebrations more sustainable this year by reducing, reusing, and recycling.

Reduce

Shop Local First
Supporting local businesses directly supports local economies and reduces the environmental footprint of mass-produced food, gifts, and decorations. Shopping local can make your holiday gifts and table more meaningful and delicious!
Give the Gift of an Experience
Consider meaningful gifts instead of fast fashion or disposable novelty items. Concert tickets, cooking classes, a spa day, or gift certificates make for great gifts that help to reduce waste around the giving season.
Plan with Purpose
Before heading to the store or local market, take a moment to map out your meals, guest count, and portion sizes. Thoughtful planning helps prevent over-buying and ensures every ingredient has a purpose.

Reuse

Love Your Leftovers
Transform leftovers into creative new dishes to keep meals exciting throughout the week. Soups, grain bowls, casseroles, and frittatas are easy, waste-reducing go-tos. Remind your guests to bring their own reusable containers so they can head home with a little something, too!
Reuse Holiday "Waste"
Holiday "waste" does not always have to end up in the landfill or recycling bin — there are many ways to give these items another purpose. Reusing decorations from previous years, regifting items you won't use, and saving boxes for future gift wrapping are just a few innovative ways to reuse.

Recycle

Donate When Possible
If you find you’ve purchased or received more than your household needs, consider donating unopened food or lightly used items to local food banks or community organizations. Many groups see increased demand during the holidays and welcome any support.
Pay Attention to Recyclability
Wrapping paper with glitter or foil isn’t recyclable, but plain paper is. Be sure to place all recyclable items in the appropriate recycling bin to keep materials out of the landfill.

This season, a few mindful steps can make a big impact. By choosing local and reducing waste, you’ll help create a more sustainable celebration—one that nourishes both your loved ones and your community. For hard-to-recycle materials, use the Nebraska Recycling Guide to find drop-off locations and recommendations.

Lincoln Donation and Upcycling

Foodnet

Matt Talbot Kitchen

The Food Bank of Lincoln

The Good Neighbor Community Center

People’s City Mission

Omaha Donation and Upcycling

No More Empty Pots

Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue, Inc

Project Hope

Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry

Foodbank For The Heartland

Get Involved: Join the Nebraska Recycling Council Board of Directors

By Kimberly Carroll Steward

Are you passionate about sustainable materials management and helping communities across Nebraska reduce waste? The Nebraska Recycling Council invites committed leaders, professionals, and advocates to apply for a position on our Board of Directors.

Why Join the NRC Board?

As a member of the NRC Board, you’ll play an essential role in shaping the future of recycling, composting, and waste reduction across our state. Board members guide the organization’s mission, ensure sound governance, and help advance programs that make a real environmental and economic impact for Nebraska communities.

This is a unique opportunity to:

Lead change statewide: Help influence sustainable materials management and recycling initiatives across Nebraska’s rural and urban communities.
Connect with others who care: Collaborate with professionals from government, business, and nonprofit sectors who share your passion for conservation and community.
Make a tangible impact: Provide strategic input that helps shape education, advocacy, and grant programs designed to build a more resilient, circular economy.
Grow professionally: Strengthen your leadership skills, broaden your network, and gain experience in nonprofit governance and sustainability.

What We Are Looking For

We seek individuals who bring diverse perspectives, expertise, and energy to our work. Ideal candidates may have experience in:

Recycling, composting, or materials management
Environmental education or community engagement
Business, finance, or nonprofit leadership
Public policy or local government
Marketing, communications, or fundraising

You don’t need to be an expert in recycling to make a difference—just someone who believes in the importance of reducing waste and conserving resources for future generations.

Help Us “Waste Nothing”

At NRC, we believe every material and every person has value. Joining our board means joining a statewide network dedicated to creating systems that conserve resources, strengthen local economies, and build a sustainable future for Nebraska. If you’re ready to bring your ideas, leadership, and passion to the table, we’d love to hear from you.

Please submit your interest through our online nomination form.

Nominations will be accepted through the end of this year, with review beginning on January 1, 2026. Self-nomination is welcome and encouraged.

Grant Funding Available to Power Your Recycling Projects

By Grace Barton

Does your organization have a recycling project you’d like to create, expand, or enhance? Apply for a Recycling Equipment Grant to further your recycling efforts! Any Nebraska organization including schools, municipalities and other government entities, nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses are eligible.

Nebraska Recycling Council administers the Recycling Equipment Grant with funding from Nebraska Environmental Trust. For more than 20 years this grant has helped build recycling infrastructure to Nebraska by providing needed equipment to create, expand or enhance recycling programs.

Learn more at our website: https://nrcne.org/recycling-equipment-grants/

If you have any questions, please email grants@nrcne.org or call 402-436-2384.