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Lincoln, NE Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Hauler duty
Must offer recycling to all customers
Collection frequency
At least once per week
Customer notice
At least twice per calendar year
Container rule
No plastic bags for outdoor recyclables
Enforcement
Lincoln Health Director

Summary

Licensed waste haulers in Lincoln must offer recycling service to every residential and commercial customer, collect recyclables at least weekly, and notify customers twice a year that the service exists.

Each licensed waste hauler shall offer recycling services to all residential and commercial customers... Each licensed waste hauler must notify each of their customers of the availability of recycling services at least two times each calendar year. At a minimum, recycling services offered shall include collection and removal of all recyclables at least once per week.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Lincoln Municipal Code § 8.32.115 requires every licensed waste hauler to offer recycling to all customers, either directly or through a contracted recycling collector, with pickup at least once a week and a customer notice mailed or delivered at least twice yearly. Once recyclables are separated at the source, § 8.32.136 bars haulers from dumping them back into a landfill with regular trash. Receptacles for recyclables must be durable, tight-fitting, water- and fly-tight under § 8.32.225, and plastic bags cannot be used for outdoor recyclable storage. Homeowners themselves are not required to participate, § 8.32.205 expressly states no owner duty to arrange separate recycling pickup, so the mandate falls on the licensed hauler, not the resident.

Violations & Fines

Health Director enforces; violating any duty under Chapter 8.32 is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in county jail and/or a fine, with mandatory minimums of $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second, and $500 for a third and each thereafter (§ 8.32.260).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is recycling mandatory for Lincoln homeowners?
No. The city requires haulers to offer recycling to every customer, but § 8.32.205 states no owner has a duty to arrange separate recycling collection: participation by households is voluntary.
Can a hauler mix recyclables with regular trash?
No. Under § 8.32.136, recyclables separated at the source by a licensed recycling collector or waste hauler cannot be comingled with waste or dumped in a landfill.
What container must I use for recyclables?
Receptacles must be durable, tight-fitting, water-tight and fly-tight per § 8.32.225. Plastic bags are not allowed for storing recyclables outside.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Lincoln

Collection ScheduleSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsIllegal DumpingHeavy RestrictionsYard Waste CollectionSome RestrictionsDumpster RulesSome RestrictionsBin Placement RulesSome RestrictionsPickup Rules & SchedulesSome RestrictionsRecycling RequirementsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Curb Color RulesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet Groomer RulesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Wildlife Rescue PermitsSignificant Restrictions

All Lincoln rules

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