SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has presented the City of Lincoln, Nebraska with a check for Recycling Education and Outreach Grant. The $1.7 million ceremonial check was handed over to Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird by EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. Also present in the event was Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Director Liz Elliott.

The city aims to utilize the grant money to form three focus groups to engage minorities, new Americans, and low-income individuals living in Lincoln’s 14 underserved census tracts, including college students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The groups will use evidence-based messaging to boost recycling access and diversion of food waste. The outreach materials will be developed in a variety of methods and languages.

McCollister noted that the grant will have positive impacts on Lincoln’s overburdened communities for generations to come. The community will have multiple positive impacts by reducing barriers to recycling, she added.

The grant is expected to help the City of Lincoln to promote sound, sustainable waste management practices, thereby extending the life of landfills and saving taxpayer dollars. Incidentally, the city aims to reduce the amount of recyclable materials in landfills by 80% by 2040.