Lincoln opens ‘Good to Go’ reuse store for hazardous materials, residents shop for free – KOLN | Nebraska Local News, Weather, Sports | Lincoln, NE

Report on the ‘Good to Go’ Hazardous Waste Reuse Initiative in Lincoln, Nebraska

Introduction

On Thursday, city officials in Lincoln, Nebraska, led by Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, inaugurated a new hazardous waste reuse facility named “Good to Go.” This initiative, a collaborative effort between the City of Lincoln, the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, and the Nebraska Environmental Trust, is designed to mitigate the environmental impact of household hazardous waste. The facility directly supports several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting responsible consumption, creating sustainable communities, and protecting public health.

Initiative Overview

The “Good to Go” reuse store, located at 5101 North 48th Street, operates in tandem with the city’s existing hazardous waste collection center, “Haz-to-Go.” The program’s primary function is to divert usable household products from landfills. Instead of being disposed of, items dropped off at the collection center that remain in their original packaging and are safe for reuse are made available to the community at no cost. This model transforms waste into a resource, aligning with circular economy principles and advancing local sustainability efforts.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The “Good to Go” initiative makes significant contributions to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with a primary focus on the following goals:

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The program directly addresses Target 12.5, which aims to substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse. By salvaging usable products, the store extends their lifecycle and prevents the need for new production, embodying the core principles of responsible consumption. It also supports Target 12.4 by ensuring the environmentally sound management of chemical and hazardous wastes.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: This initiative is a practical application of Target 11.6, which calls for reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, particularly concerning municipal waste management. By diverting hazardous materials from the local landfill, the city actively improves its waste management systems and reduces pollution.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: A key objective of the program is to prevent toxic materials from contaminating the environment. As stated by Kerry Kernen, Director of the Lincoln Health Department, improper disposal can lead to hazardous substances leaching into soil, water sources, and the air. This preventative action protects community health and preserves the quality of local water resources.

Projected Impact and Operational Details

The implementation of reuse stores at hazardous waste facilities has demonstrated measurable success. According to the health department, similar programs have resulted in a 10 percent increase in the volume of hazardous material diverted from landfills. This data suggests a positive outlook for Lincoln’s environmental performance.

Operational Schedule

1. Location: 5101 North 48th Street
2. Inaugural Day: Friday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
3. Regular Hours: Wednesdays, Fridays, and the third Saturday of each month, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article connects to this goal by highlighting the health risks associated with improper disposal of hazardous waste. The initiative aims to prevent toxic materials from contaminating the environment, which directly impacts human health. The involvement of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department underscores this connection, as their director states, “we don’t want that going into the landfill because it could go up into the air, it could go down into the soil, could leach into water sources,” all of which are pathways for human exposure to harmful substances.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• This goal is addressed through the program’s effort to protect water sources. The article explicitly mentions the risk of hazardous waste “leach[ing] into water sources.” By diverting these materials from the landfill, the “Good to Go” store directly contributes to preventing water pollution and maintaining the quality of local water resources.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The initiative is a city-led project in Lincoln, Nebraska, aimed at improving municipal waste management. It represents a concrete action by a city to reduce its adverse environmental impact, making the community safer and more sustainable. The partnership between the Mayor, the city, and the local health department is a clear example of creating sustainable urban infrastructure.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• This is the most central SDG to the article. The “Good to Go” reuse store is a direct implementation of sustainable consumption and production patterns. It focuses on waste reduction through reuse, which is a key principle of a circular economy. The program encourages the community to give a second life to products that would otherwise be discarded, thereby “substantially reduc[ing] waste generation.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
  • The article supports this target by describing an initiative designed to prevent “really toxic materials” from entering the landfill, where they could contaminate “the air,” “the soil,” and “water sources,” thus reducing potential illnesses from environmental contamination.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.
  • The program’s core function is to divert household hazardous waste and prevent it from “leach[ing] into water sources,” which directly aligns with the goal of minimizing the release of hazardous chemicals to improve water quality.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
  • The “Good to Go” store is a city-level initiative focused on improving the management of a specific, challenging waste stream—household hazardous waste. By creating a system to “divert that from the landfill,” the city is actively working to reduce its environmental footprint.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
  • The article describes a system for the “environmentally sound management” of household hazardous waste, ensuring it is disposed of safely or reused rather than being released into the environment.
• Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
  • The initiative is a prime example of reuse. The article states the store “saves products in their original packaging that have plenty of life left in them and offers them to the community for free,” directly contributing to the reduction of waste generation.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Yes, the article provides a specific, quantifiable indicator that can be used to measure the success of this type of program.
• Indicator: The article states, “The health department said waste facilities that implement reuse stores saw a 10 percent increase in recycled hazardous material.”
• Explanation: This percentage serves as a direct measure of the program’s effectiveness in diverting waste from landfills. It can be used to track progress towards several targets:
  • For Target 12.5 (reduce waste generation), this indicator shows a measurable increase in material being reused/recycled rather than discarded.
  • For Target 11.6 (reduce environmental impact of cities), this metric quantifies the improvement in the city’s waste management system.
  • For Targets 3.9, 6.3, and 12.4, this increase in properly managed hazardous material implies a corresponding reduction in the volume of toxic substances being released into the air, soil, and water, thus contributing to better health and environmental outcomes.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: 1011now.com