Sustainable Shopping at Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska
March 11, 2025
At Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska, sustainability is more than a buzzword—it’s a commitment. Beginning March 1, 2025, we’re excited to roll out a new Sustainable Shopping Bag Policy at the following locations in Grand Island:
- Grand Island North 2130 N Diers Ave (Opening March 7!)
- Grand Island South - 1808 S Locust Street
- Grand Island Outlet - 1729 S Lincoln Ave
This initiative is just the start, with additional stores possibly joining the effort as our sustainability program expands.
What’s Changing?
No Single-Use Plastic Bags
In an effort to reduce waste, single-use plastic bags will no longer be available in these locations. Instead, we’re offering:
- Large Reusable Totes for Purchase: Sturdy and long-lasting, these totes are perfect for carrying your Goodwill finds. The totes are priced $1.49.
- Donated Reusable Totes: A limited supply of donated reusable totes will be available for customers who are unable to purchase one.
- Box Options: Customers can also use boxes in good condition, free of charge, to carry their purchases.
If you have single-use plastic bags at home, we encourage you to recycle them at a local facility to help reduce environmental impact.
What About Your Personal Bags?
For security purposes, we recommend leaving large backpacks or other large bags with items already in them at the sales counter upon entry. Of course, we welcome you to bring your empty totes with you as you shop!
Why This Matters
Goodwill Industries has long been an environmental pioneer. Through our "reduce, reuse, repurpose" philosophy, we help communities extend the life of usable items, diverting millions of pounds from landfills annually. In 2024,Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska we:
- 10,656,261 pounds of donated goods collected from 189,667 donors!
- 3,668,787 pounds recycled
- 455,911 retail store shoppers
- 33,114 pounds of e-waste diverted through Dell Reconnect
Our Dell Reconnect program, a partnership with Dell, offers free electronics recycling at over 2,000 Goodwill locations nationwide, keeping more than 600 million pounds of electronics out of landfills.
Together for a Sustainable Future
When you shop or donate at Goodwill, you’re not only giving items a second life—you’re also contributing to the economic health of our communities. In 2024 alone, we helped 875 people get jobs and supported over 1,500 individuals in achieving greater independence.
Thank you for being a part of our mission. Let’s work together to empower lives, sustain futures, and protect our planet!
For more information, contact Audrey DeFrank at adefrank@goodwillne.org or 308-384-7896.