Queen Creek’s Environmental Services Department was recognized for “initiatives to put recycling and sustainability at the forefront of their municipality” according to the Arizona Recycling Coalition’s website. Queen Creek has had a residential trash and recycling service since 2010. The rates for the service have remained the same for 10 years at $16.22 per account, according to a press release. Staff with the Environmental Services Department was honored at the Wednesday, April 5 town council meeting.
Along with its recycling program, the town also provides customers with:
- additional blue recycling carts;
- disposal of household hazardous waste with a free voucher provided through a partnership with the town to the Gilbert HHW Collection Facility;
- and a discounted rate of $10 for customers to take up to 1,000 pounds of materials to the Waste Connections Transfer Station in Apache Junction.
Town residents without trash and recycling curbside services can:
- Dispose of extra recyclable materials at the QC Recycle Center, 22638 S. Ellsworth Road, for free.
- Use the Cooking Oil Recycling Program to safely dispose of used cooking oil and grease at the QC Recycle Center, and Fire Station 2, 24787 S. Sossaman Road. Collected oil and grease are turned into biodiesel fuel. Learn more at gov/CookingOil.
- Participate in QC Recycles events held four times per year to dispose of and recycle materials, including appliances, electronics, scrap metal, latex and water-based paints, prescription drugs, textiles, small furniture, and shredded paper. The next event is on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22.
The town also uses technology and communications to encourage as much recycling as possible and to keep costs low.