LLCHD Awarded $1.3 Million Grant for HazToGo Expansion

Published on April 07, 2023

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) today announced it has been awarded an $1.3 million grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust to expand the facility and operations at HazToGo, Lincoln’s Hazardous Waste Center, 5101 N. 48th St.

The funds will be used to establish an onsite store that offers usable household products to the public at no cost.

“HazToGo already offers valuable services to residents and small businesses including weekly drive-through household hazardous waste collections and several annual waste collection events,” said Brock Hanisch, Environmental Health Supervisor for LLCHD. “The reuse initiative will provide convenient and safe access to usable products, help further protect the public’s health and environment, and reduce waste disposal costs.”

Under the expansion, staff will inspect household products brought to HazToGo. Items in their original containers that can be safely used will be routed to the onsite store. Examples include partially used or unopened containers of automotive fluids, home cleaning products, non-pesticide yard items, and oil-based paint and stains.

Hanisch said that the expansion will benefit the community by attracting new users to HazToGo who would have otherwise purchased new household products and sent the remaining unused materials to the landfill.

“Household hazardous waste facilities that have incorporated reuse have seen a 10% or more increase of collected material diverted from the landfill, decreasing the cost of waste disposal,” Hanisch said. “This expansion is the next logical step to enhancing sustainable waste management within the community and part of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Plan.”

Hanisch said the next phase of the project will be to design the addition to the HazToGo building that will include the reuse store. Following that step, the project will go through the bidding process and then the Health Department can proceed with construction.

The household hazardous waste program is part of the LLCHD and is partially funded by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. The Health Department has operated a household hazardous waste program for over 30 years, with the HazToGo facility opening in 2017. HazToGo serves the community as a safe, environmentally responsible and convenient option for household hazardous waste collection.

Around 3,500 households and small businesses throughout Lancaster County participate in HazToGo annually. An average of 125,000 pounds of household hazardous waste was diverted from Lincoln’s Bluff Road Landfill in 2021-2022.

HazToGo is open year-round at no cost to Lincoln and Lancaster County residents. Center hours are Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the third Saturday each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information and a list of items accepted at the facility, visit HazToGo.com or call 402-441-8021. 

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