Loup Basin RC&D
801 "S" Street
Ord, NE 68862
Phone: (308) 728-3393
Fax: (308) 728-3903

 

 

SUCCESSES

II. Waste Collections

Loup Basin RC&D Council employees have organized several collections across the 9-County area. These collections assist residents in proper disposal of these dangerous materials. Surface and groundwater contamination is greatly reduced due to the elimination of these pollutants.

A 9-County Household Hazardous Waste Collection was held in September 2000. Satellite sites were organized in eight counties. The materials collected at these sites were then hauled to the main site in St Paul, where the Red Willow County Hazardous Materials Team and other businesses collected the materials. The collection was made possible by a grant administered by Grand Island Clean Community System. Over 23 businesses and counties made financial donations. These donations paid for mileage, food and drinks for the volunteers. Over 100 volunteers from six FFA Chapters, a Young Farmer's group, three Fire Departments, and several single volunteers participated in the collection. Materials collected included 650 car/tractor batteries, 900 gallons of paint, and 400 gallons of other chemicals. Three hundred households participated in the collection.

A Pesticide Collection was held in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture on April 21, 2000. A trailer that was obtained through a grant from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality was used to hold the chemicals. On Thursday, April 26, 2001, the waste chemicals were taken to O'Neill where a Hazardous Materials Team waited to collect them. The Ord collection yielded three 55-gallon drums of chemicals, seven trash bags of insecticide and over 50 containers of unknown substances.

used tire collectionA Used Tire Collection was coordinated by the Loup Basin RC&D Council and held on Friday June 22, 2001. The collection yielded 23 tons of waste tires from Valley County. The collection was funded by a Wozab Foundation grant, which was set up to benefit Valley County residents. Over 70 residents brought in over 800 tires of all sizes. The City of Ord donated the use of their loader and an employee to operate it for the collection. Ten members of the Ord FFA Chapter assisted with the collection.

The Farmstead Cleanups were developed in partnership with three local FFA Chapters and Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. Evaluations were completed, listing what items the farmer wanted to have collected and how much of these items they had. The FFA Chapters farmstead cleanupshelped to collect old hog feeders, waste oil, scrap iron, batteries, and old appliances. The main objective of the project was to increase awareness of outlets for recyclables. Farmers were informed of local businesses and individuals willing to pick up their recyclables. Twelve farms from three towns yielded over 30 tons of appliances, scrap iron, waste oil, junk cars and car/tractor batteries. Approximately 30 volunteers from the three FFA Chapters assisted with the project.

A grant for an 8-County Household Hazardous Waste Collection has been awarded. The main site will be at the Valley County Fairgrounds September 8th from 9 am until 1 PM. There will be 7 satellite sites. The counties and cities once again donated financial assistance. Several businesses are donating food and beverages for the volunteers. Over 150 volunteers are projected to help with the collection sites. Volunteers will assist at all eight sites. The volunteers will be passing out surveys, directing traffic and opening paint cans. Materials collected will include waste oil, paint, car/tractor batteries, acids, banned materials, computers, and pesticides and herbicides.