FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 14, 2007
WasteCap Nebraska Hold Awards Luncheon, Announces New Programs
WasteCap Nebraska held their annual membership meeting and awards luncheon at Windsor Stables in Lincoln, Nebraska. The luncheon, held on October 23rd, featured keynote speaker, John Ikerd, awarded member businesses for their outstanding participation in recycling, and was a kickoff to new WasteCap Nebraska programs.
Keynote speaker John Ikerd, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri, Columbia, is a nationally known expert in sustainable agriculture. Dr. Ikerd is author of Sustainable Capitalism, A Return to Common Sense, Small Farms are Real Farms, and Crisis and Opportunity: Sustainability in American Agriculture. "One of the most effective means for reducing future energy use is to turn energy wastes into energy resources through recycling. Waste is simply potentially useful energy that we don’t yet now how to use. Recycling turns wasted energy into useful energy, reducing our reliance on declining fossil energy and enhancing long run sustainability," said Dr. Ikerd. He also stressed the long term economic benefits of recycling as well as the social aspects related to recycling and sustainability.
At the luncheon, WasteCap Nebraska recognized member businesses who have been active participants in the EPA's WasteWise program and those who have been members for 10 years or more. WasteCap also presented awards to those businesses that have demonstrated their environmental excellence. Of those businesses, Lincoln Public Schools received the Green Business Award, which goes to the business that not only recycles and participates in waste reduction activities, but also includes sustainable design standards in their projects and is striving for water and energy conservation within their daily activities. Cornhusker Bank was the recipient of the Continued Excellence in Recycling Award, which goes to the business that has taken strides to continually improve their waste reduction and recycling program. Square D received the Member of the Year Award, which is presented to the business that has shown great dedication in their environmental program. Square D exemplifies the WasteCap Nebraska business membership by striving to improve waste reduction, resource conservation and recycling programs, utilizing WasteCap's Master Agreements for recycling services and supporting WasteCap through attending special events and utilizing WasteCap's services.
Before adjourning the luncheon, WasteCap Nebraska director, Carrie Hakenkamp announced new WasteCap programs. The Employee Curbside Recycling Program is a unique opportunity to offer discounted home curbside recycling services to any employee of a WasteCap Nebraska member-business in the Recycling Enterprises service area. Employees of a WasteCap member business can sign up for the service at their place of employment and begin receiving the discounted home recycling. WasteCap Nebraska is also partnering with Collective Good Recycling to recycle cell phones and with the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation to recycle all types of rechargeable batteries. These programs allow businesses to serve as collection sites for old cell phones and rechargeable batteries generated either by the business or by their employees. Implementation is simple with the placement of a collection box in the business, and pre-paid mailing labels are provided to ship the boxes when they are full. The America Recycles Day program for businesses allows employees to pledge to increase their recycling at work and home. Pledge boxes are available to all businesses who wish to participate with the business competition running from October 29 until November 9. All pledges will be entered into the local drawings for prizes including a computer system, one year of internet access, an iPhone, free curbside recycling for one year, and Nebraska Lottery tickets. Please contact WasteCap Nebraska at
WasteCap Nebraska is a non-profit organization that provides confidential, non-regulatory waste reduction and recycling services to Nebraska businesses. WasteCap offers on-site assessments, employee training, workshops and product recycling research as well as recycling contract management services.