By Josh Funk
Senior Reporter
Gov. Ben Nelson has big plans for
Nebraska’s garbage.
Tuesday Nelson announced that
he wants to develop a use for the more
than 300,000 tons of waste materials
Nebraskans recycled in 1996.
The goal is to develop a market
for recyclables here in Nebraska as
the number of collection sites and the
amount collected continues to
increase.
This new program will work to
improve the entire recycling process
from start to finish. Mainly, though, it
will focus on developing an industry
to make products made from recycled
materials, said Pat Langan, a
Department of Economic
Deyejppmept Recycling Economic
Develpprnentadvocate. ^
. . . Creating a demand for, recycled
products will stimulate the entire
recycling loop, Langan said.
“We want businesses to start
using more recycled content piouucu*
- even 5 or 10 percent recycled con
tent would make a difference,”
Langan said.
Nelson hopes to build on the recy
cling companies already in it:
state such as Sandhill Plastics
in Kearney, which pro-^d^T^
duces plastic sheeting
from milk jugs.
Omaha is
currently con
sidering build
ing a paper
pulp mill that
would turn
junk mail into,
paper towels,
Langan said\Vl
Any
new indys-. K f &
tries attract
ed to the %
state would
bring economic
development and
new jobs, he said.
Recycling plants
have a regional draw,
Langan said, attracting
business from surrounding
states. And, an accomplished
in-state recycling industry would
lower the cost of recycling fcr
Nebraskans.
Along with the
new recycling
I
industry program, Nelson announced
Nebraska’s membership in the
Environmental Protection Agency’s
WasteWi$e program.
Nebraska is one of only a few
states that have joined the program,
which was originally designed for
businesses.
WasteWi$e focuses on three
areas: preventing waste, collecting
recyclable goods and buying more
recycled content products, said State
Recycling Coordinator Steve Danahy.
In the voluntary program, the
state will set goals in those three
areas, Danahy said.
WasteWi$e offers help and advice
to program partners as an incentive to
change.
Both programs are in the early
stages, and a lot of work needs to be
done, Langan said.
“We’re making strides, but we
have a long ways to go.”
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Ecology Now sponsors activities
'■ Earth Day celebrations
featuring music will be
held in the greenspace.
From, Staff Reports
UNL students can partake in a
worldwide event today, as millions
of people around the globe prepare
to celebrate the 28^ anniversary of
Earth Day.
Ecology Now will sponsor an
all-day celebration on the green
space in front of the Nebraska
Union from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Michelle Haddix, project coor
dinator, said the event is designed
to educate students about environ
mental issues in society.
Earth Day events include musi
cal performances, as well as food
and games. The bands playing
include Nub, Pablo’s Triangle and
Ripple Effect. Acoustic guitar acts
Chris Sayers, Larry Everman,
Jumpin’ Kate, Luck of Aelea and
Shanti will also play. A drum circle
will start at 2 p.m.
Open Harvest and the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s
VEGGIN group will sell food. The
Student Operations Services
Advisory Board will have a
“Smash the Can” game where par
ticipants can attempt to smash a
can with a mallet.
The day also will include infor
mational booths to answer any
questions students may have.
Student organizations, such as
UNL’s Wildlife Club, Amnesty
International and Outdoor
Adventures will have booths. Local
businesses will participate to help
promote the day too, she said.
Haddix said the event also will
include a number of guest speak
ers. Among them will be a repre
sentative of U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey,
who will speak about environmen
tal issues in government.
The event gives students the
chance to participate in an impor
tant event that takes place in nearly
150 nations worldwide.
Haddix said: “A lot of times
people forget how important the
environment is.”
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11
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