Recycling Centers in Nebraska: 128 Locations

Recycling in Nebraska

Nebraska has 128 recycling centers across 44 cities, including county drop-off sites, scrap-metal dealers, electronics recyclers, and household hazardous waste facilities. Recycling programs are supported by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE), which awards grants to communities for recycling and litter-reduction initiatives. Nebraska does not have a bottle-deposit law, a statewide mandatory residential recycling requirement, or a state e-waste program; recycling infrastructure is largely organized at the county and city level.

The Omaha and Lincoln metro areas hold most of the state's recycling capacity. Omaha leads with 33 centers and Lincoln lists 25. Regional cities add additional options: Grand Island has 5 centers, and Kearney, Columbus, Norfolk, North Platte, and Hastings each list 4. Many smaller Nebraska communities rely on periodic county collection events for electronics and household hazardous waste.

Nebraska has no statewide electronics landfill ban, and household e-waste may legally be disposed of in a permitted municipal solid waste landfill. However, NDEE regulations do classify certain computer components as hazardous waste when disposed of by businesses, meaning commercial and institutional generators must handle electronics through approved recycling channels. NDEE publishes guidance on proper e-waste management and regularly distributes grant funding — over $1.6 million in recent award cycles — to help local governments build out recycling and litter-reduction infrastructure across the state.

Top Cities by Number of Centers

Omaha 33 Lincoln 25 Grand Island 5 Columbus 4 Hastings 4 Kearney 4 Norfolk 4 North Platte 4

All Cities in Nebraska

Ainsworth 1 center Alda 1 center Ashland 1 center Auburn 1 center Beatrice 1 center Bellevue 2 centers Bennington 1 center Blair 1 center Columbus 4 centers Crete 1 center Fremont 2 centers Gering 2 centers Grand Island 5 centers Gretna 1 center Hastings 4 centers Holdrege 3 centers Kearney 4 centers La Vista 1 center Lexington 1 center Lincoln 25 centers Martell 1 center Mccook 2 centers Minatare 1 center Monroe 1 center Murray 1 center Nebraska City 1 center Norfolk 4 centers North Platte 4 centers Obert 1 center Ogallala 2 centers Omaha 33 centers Oneill 1 center Plattsmouth 1 center Schuyler 1 center Scottsbluff 3 centers Seward 1 center Sidney 1 center South Sioux City 1 center Springfield 1 center Tekamah 1 center Utica 1 center Valentine 1 center West Point 1 center York 1 center

Recycling in Nebraska — FAQ

Does Nebraska have a bottle deposit law?

No. Nebraska does not have a container-deposit or bottle-bill law. Beverage containers are recovered through local curbside and drop-off programs rather than a deposit-return system.

Is there a statewide e-waste law in Nebraska?

No. Nebraska has no state e-waste program and no landfill ban on household electronics. Households may legally dispose of electronics in a permitted municipal landfill, though NDEE strongly encourages recycling. Businesses are required under state hazardous waste rules to manage certain electronics through approved recyclers rather than the general waste stream.

How does Nebraska fund local recycling?

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) awards competitive grants to cities, counties, and nonprofits for recycling programs and litter reduction. Recent grant cycles have distributed over $1.6 million to local programs across the state.

Where are the biggest recycling hubs in Nebraska?

Omaha leads with 33 listed centers, followed by Lincoln with 25. Grand Island, Kearney, Columbus, Norfolk, North Platte, and Hastings each offer 4–5 centers. Outside these cities, drop-off options are primarily through county facilities or periodic community collection events.