Nebraska DEQ announces grant recipients

Pat Rice, acting director for the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), has announced slightly more than $2 million has been awarded in the form of 51 grants for litter cleanup, recycling and public education programs and activities. Funds for Litter Reduction and Recycling Grant Program are generated from a fee charged to certain manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of products that commonly contribute to litter, the Nebraska DEQ says. The program has been providing grants annually since 1979.

The grant money was broken down into three categories.

The Recycling Grant Awards is used to assist recipients in providing an alternative to the disposal of solid waste in landfills. Recycling efforts that promote the purchase of recycled-content products receive priority for funding. The following Recycling Grant Awards were made for 2014:

The Cleanup Grant Awards have been designed to assist cleanup programs using state residents to pick up litter and debris along Nebraska's highways, waterways, recreation lands, urban areas and other public use areas. Additionally, much of the material collected during the cleanups is recycled. The following is a list of Cleanup Grant Awards for 2014:

Public Education Awards target programs that educate citizens on reducing and cleaning up litter and recycling through a variety of individual and community activities. Priority is given to programs that promote markets for recycled materials or purchasing products made from recycled materials. The following is a list of Public Education Awards for 2014: