Nebraska State Fair Champions Zero Waste, Achieves 93% Diversion Rate in 2024

The Nebraska State Fair has become a model for zero-waste management, achieving an impressive 93% diversion rate at their 2024 event. Fair officials note that as they continue to work towards becoming a leader in sustainability, hopefully setting a powerful example for how large-scale events can operate without having a dramatically negative impact on their community.

“Zero waste doesn’t only mean recycling. It’s an entire approach to eliminate waste and conserve resources through our vendors, staff and guests of our event,” said Keaton Irwin, Sales Director for the Nebraska State Fair. “We focus heavily on 4 Rs - Refuse, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle which keeps best practices for a waste diversion top of mind for our team all year long.”

Irwin says the 4R’s have incredibly positive impacts, even though the efforts may not always be immediately recognized by each guest.

“When I say we ‘refuse’, I mean refusing certain products that have a history of being littered, damaging property or consumption by animals that may cause them harm, things like that,” said Irwin. “We put out extra signage to help educate and encourage sustainability, we have an area of the Fair that showcases up-cycled creations - damaged products given a new life - we encourage vendors to consider reusable cups and straws and of course we have opportunities to recycle (cans, bottles, cardboard) around every corner.”

To meet zero-waste standards nationally, an organization must achieve at least a 90% diversion rate from landfills. The Nebraska State Fair exceeded this benchmark this year with a 93% diversion rate, 2% higher than 2023.

In 2024, the Nebraska State Fair generated a total of 1,119.394 tons of waste, out of which 1,039.584 tons were diverted from landfills through partnerships with local waste management providers. The Fair’s waste handling included significant amounts of compostable materials, plastics, aluminum, and food waste, illustrating the Fair’s comprehensive approach to zero waste.

Specific breakdown of 2024 totals include:

Plastic/Aluminum Recycling: 3.97 tons
Grease Collection: 5.25 tons
Cardboard Recycling: 6.84 tons
Food Waste: 0.034 tons
Manure/Compostable Materials: 1,023.49 tons
Long-time fair employee and Executive Director, Jaime Parr, says sustainability efforts have been ramped up over the years, though the topic has been a major focus since the event relocated to Grand Island.

“The Staff Team does a good job of keeping sustainability top-of-mind, but in order to achieve those Zero Waste diversion numbers, we must have participation of the guests, vendors, exhibitors, and partners throughout the Fairgrounds.”  said Parr. “Our partners in sustainability are too numerous to list in a brief sound bite – something that cannot be said for every state fair, I’m sure. We are incredibly lucky and thankful for these deep-rooted partnerships that are moving the needle for our environment.”

Parr said recycling partners include O’Neill Wood Resources which supplies exhibitors with natural livestock bedding that is clean coming in and dirty going out, Darling International transports used cooking oil so it can be repurposed, Clean Community Systems ensures enough recycling bins inside buildings, Mid-Nebraska Disposal provides ample roll-off capacity for cardboard and Kramer’s Auto and Iron who assists with their aluminum recycling processes.

Outside of traditional recycling efforts, the fair works closely with organizations like Central Community College to bring sustainability education to the event, something that helps inspire fair guests to participate in day-to-day recycling. Central Community College, who added ‘State Fair exhibition’ to their curriculum for studies in environmental sustainability, brings a number of interactive educational pieces to the fair each year and has them displayed in the Sustainability Pavillion to show guests how items can be repurposed instead of being disposed of.

“Those who have been through our Sustainability Pavilion know that much inspiration can be gleaned from seeing recycled and, in this case, up-cycled products,” said Parr. “Together, with our partners, Nebraska State Fair is proud to bring compelling environmental education to the community all across the fairgrounds, in many forms and fashions.”