Nebraska

Statistics and Rankings

The 16th Nationwide Survey of MSW Management in the United States found that, in 2006, Nebraska [Page 580]had an estimated 2,360,861 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation, placing it 36th in a survey of the 50 states and the capital district. The tonnage of exported and imported MSW tonnage was not reported. Based on the 2006 population of 1,763,765, an estimated 1.34 tons of MSW were generated per person per year (ranking joint 18th). Nebraska landfilled 2,100,347 tons (ranking 35th) in the state's 23 landfills, and it was ranked 20th out of 44 respondent states for number of landfills and was continuing to add capacity as of 2006. Nebraska has no waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities. It recycled 260,514 tons of MSW, placing Nebraska 37th in the ranking of recycled MSW tonnage.

Great Nebraska Trash-Off

The Great Nebraska Trash-Off is an annual event held in April since 2009 in which volunteers clear rubbish from Nebraskan highways. In 1999, 3,756 volunteers in 226 groups cleared 904 miles of highway. At its peak in 2002, 1,908 miles of highway were cleared by 5,950 volunteers in 477 groups. The largest turnout was in 2004 when 6,554 volunteers cleaned 1,852 miles of highway. However, in 2009, volunteer turnout was down to 2,571 with only 720 miles of highway cleared. The Trash-Off is part of the Adopt-A-Highway program, a national scheme that has run in Nebraska since 1990 (having begun in Texas in 1985). Volunteer groups registered for the scheme agree to pick up litter along a section of highway 2–6 miles in length twice a year for two years. The state installs the volunteer group's nameplate at each end of the section and provides trash bags, traffic signs, high-visibility vests, and collected trash disposal. Around 1,379 groups cover one-quarter of Nebraska's 10,000 miles of road.

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