In 1991, the city of Phoenix introduced single-stream recycling to residents, making it convenient for residents to divert recyclable materials from the landfill. Twenty-five years later, and now offering recycling collection services to more than 390,000 households, the Phoenix Public Works would like to re-educate and refresh residents’ minds on recycling right. Phoenix Public Works launches the “Top 10 in the Bin” campaign in partnership with Keep America Beautiful. The campaign lists the top 10 materials that should always be placed in the blue recycling bin: plastic bottles with caps on, beverage cans, mail, food boxes, paper, plastic jugs, food jars, beverage glass bottles, food cans and cardboard. The campaign message is clear, brief and easier to remember. “We are excited to launch this new recycling campaign and to work with the community to recycle more and recycle right! We’ve had a strong recycling program over the past 25 years but there’s more we can do,” said Ginger Spencer, assistant Public Works director, who oversees all the solid waste collection and disposal operations. “Top 10 in the Bin is a national model that makes recycling clearer and easier for residents to recycle.”
For this campaign, Phoenix Public Works produced the “Top 10 in the Bin” video, a public service announcement in English and Spanish that will be promoted through their social media channels and through PHX TV, cable channel 11. Additionally, tips and reminders about recycling will be included in the monthly newsletter included in customers’ city services bill; sponsored ads on Facebook; and various community presentations will help spread the word about the importance of recycling and recycling right. Aside from the top 10 materials recyclable materials, the campaign also emphasizes the top three items that should never be placed in the blue recycling bin: plastic bags and wraps, electronics, and clothing or textiles. These materials can be recycled, but not in Phoenix’s recycling program. Residents are asked to bring clean plastic bags and wraps to the nearest grocery store; electronics can be dropped off at one of the nine household hazardous waste and electronics collection event hosted by the city at different locations; and clothing and other textiles should be donated to resale shops. Recycling is important and one of the easiest ways to divert waste. Ensuring the recyclable materials are not contaminated by non-recyclable materials is equally important.
Phoenix has a goal of increasing its waste diversion rate to 40 percent by 2020. Reimagine Phoenix, the city’s sustainability initiative launched in 2013, has already jumpstarted new solid waste programs and projects that could assist in reaching that goal, including the implementation of a pay-as-you-throw program, as well as a green organics curbside collection.
To view the “Top 10 in the Bin” video or more information, visit: http://phoenix.gov/publicworks/residential-recycling.