Lincoln, Nebraska, mayor proposes recycling solutions

“Businesses, residents and organizations support our call for increased recycling in our community,” Beutler said at a news conference Tuesday, July 12, 2016, the newspaper reports. “We hear their voices and the many others across Lincoln who want us to do more recycling.” 

 

The proposal also bans corrugated cardboard from the landfill beginning April 1, 2017, newspaper in April 2018 and all other paper products in April 2019. 

 

Beutler also proposed increasing the landfill fee by an estimated 85 cents per ton to offset revenue loss. It is estimated that residents will be required to pay roughly this amount each year in addition to increased fees imposed by Lincoln waste haulers, as the newspaper reports that about 1 ton of waste is disposed of annually per capita.

 

“This is a very good day for the people in the startup and entrepreneurial community,” Paul Jarrett, co-founder and CEO of Bulu Box, said at the news conference. “Recycling is not just a business enterprise that boosts the local economy, it’s a culture that helps Lincoln companies like ours recruit top talent.” 

 

The city council will review the proposal Monday, July 18, with a public hearing set for July 25. A council vote is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 1.