Lincoln, Nebraska, hauler accused of dumping recyclables in landfill

A Lincoln, Nebraska, waste hauler is accused of dumping recyclables into a landfill, a report by the Lincoln Journal Star says. A photo of Husker Refuse Services surfaced showing a truck allegedly dumping recyclables collected from customers into the city landfill.

Nancy Clark, environmental health supervisor for the city’s health department, said in the report that the complaint is the first under a new recycling ordinance that prohibits trash haulers from collecting recyclables and dumping them in the landfill.

The photo was posted on a Facebook page titled Bad Business Lincoln, the report says. TJay Schejbal, an employee of Paragon Sanitation & Recycling, said he saw the truck, which showed Husker Refuse signage, while unloading his own truck at the landfill. Schejbal says in the report that there was no waste mixed in with the recyclables, causing him to believe the truck was dumping collected recyclables into the landfill.

The city will send a notice that there is a complaint to Husker Refuse, and landfill staff will watch for violations, the report says. The notification, Clark says in the report, lets the hauler know there is a violation and usually stops the issue. If it persists, the city will take further steps, including referring the case to the law department for a misdemeanor prosecution.