The Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee today recommended City Council approval of contracts to two local companies who will partner with the city of Phoenix to divert and recycle mattresses and food waste. In March, the Public Works Department issued the Transforming Trash into Resources request for proposal (RFP) to identify new partners to help the city reach its goal of increasing its waste diversion rate to 40 percent by the year 2020. Public Works received eight proposals and two companies were deemed the most successful – Goodwill of Central Arizona and Recycled City, LLC. “By practicing waste reduction and recycling, we reduce the need for more landfills, save money and conserve our resources,” said Councilwoman Thelda Williams, who chairs the City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. “Taking what once was a problem for our landfills and turning it into something that protects our environment and creates new jobs is a great win.”
Goodwill of Central Arizona will provide mattress diversion services for the city. At least twice a week, Goodwill will transport mattresses from the transfer stations to its Phoenix facility, where the mattresses will be disassembled. The mattresses’ components of steel, wood, foam, and fabric will be sold and manufactured into new products. This new partnership is expected to create 10 to 15 new jobs during the first year of the contract, 15 to 20 jobs in the second year, and 20 to 25 jobs in the third year. Each year the city receives an estimated 56,000 mattresses, which equals to approximately 1,680 tons. Recycled City, LLC will provide a pilot food waste diversion program that will divert nearly 20 tons of food waste. Under the pilot program, Recycled City will collect and transport food waste from Phoenix City Hall, Calvin Goode building and Phoenix Fire Station #1 to local composting facilities. Based on the success of this pilot program, additional city-owned properties may be added to the contract to increase the volume of food waste diverted from the landfill. Phoenix has plans underway to build a composting facility at the 27th Avenue Transfer Station. When it becomes operational, Recycled City will have the option to transport the food waste they have collected from the city buildings, other businesses and residential areas to the city-owned composting facility.
Phoenix Public Works will continue to issue RFPs that will help divert its most problematic materials from the landfill, such as palm fronds and plastics. Future RFPs will also target businesses with market-ready processes for waste to liquid fuel, gaseous fuel and electricity technologies. The RFPs are results of a Call for Innovators issued early this year that requested information that would allow the city to identify the best uses for the materials deposited by Phoenix residents in their trash and recycling bins, and to understand business opportunities involving the city’s waste feedstock. Public Works will seek approval to award the waste diversion contracts from City Council next month.
For more information, visit www.phoenix.gov.