Southern Nebraska Register
Catholic Social Services
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS) Hastings received the Waste Diversion Service of the Year Award from the Nebraska Recycling Council (NRC).
The award was presented Sept. 16 at the NRC’s 2026 annual fall conference, “Beyond the Bin,” in Lincoln. The award recognized CSS for its innovative and measurable approach to waste reduction, including reuse and recycling efforts that keep materials out of landfills.
“We are honored to receive this award,” said Jonathan Kiehl, CSS Hastings regional director. “Being recognized for a service that not only keeps waste out of landfills, but also helps fund our various programs, is a great reflection of how CSS is working to bring more Hope in the Good Life to those we serve.”
Through its Hastings-based R3 Program: Regift, Resell and Recycle, CSS collects donated clothing, textiles and household goods and determines the best use for each item. Usable items are distributed to families in need or sold at affordable prices through the St. Joseph Gift & Thrift Store. Damaged or unusable textiles are baled and sold for recycling. The program serves 14 counties across south-central Nebraska, providing rural residents with convenient ways to donate reusable goods while helping reduce the amount of usable material sent to landfills. Strategically placed donation bins make it easier for residents to participate in waste diversion without traveling long distances.
“Rather than treating donated goods as waste, the R3 Program looks at each item as a resource,” Kiehl said. “It can support a family in need, provide an affordable item to someone in the community, generate revenue to sustain our charitable services, or be responsibly recycled.”
The R3 model combines environmental stewardship with community service, giving donated items a second life while helping sustain CSS programs that serve individuals and families throughout southern Nebraska.
CSS is headquartered in Lincoln with outreach centers in Hastings, Auburn, and Imperial. Learn more at csshope.org.
