Recycling Toolkit | Community Resources

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Recycling Toolkit

Community Recycling Resources

Revised On: Oct. 4th, 2024 - 12:22 pm

Revised On: Nov. 27, 2023 - 2:38 p.m.

Following are various recycling programs that can be implemented in your neighborhood.

Curbside Recycling

Curbside recycling allows for all recyclables to be placed in one bin, also known as “commingling” or “single stream.” Outreach, education and adherence to local recycler guidelines (provided by city, private hauler, etc.) are necessary to ensure residents follow recycling procedures and place proper items in collection bins.

Several cities in Arizona use this recycling method either through city services or by contracting with a private waste hauler:

Drop-Off Recycling

For drop-off recycling, collection bins are strategically placed throughout neighborhoods or in a centralized location, providing residents a place to bring their recyclables that is closest to their homes. This method requires motivated citizens and acceptance of liability for those who sometimes use the bins for illegal dumping.

Drop-off recycling has been successfully implemented in rural Arizonan communities that lack the infrastructure for a curbside program, as well as in urban areas that lack a curbside program:

Hub and Spoke Recycling

The hub and spoke recycling model is a system in which materials are collected from various locations, or spokes, and transported to a central facility, or hub, where they are sorted and/or processed. Hub and spoke systems reduce transportation costs and increase overall efficiency of program operations.

The hub and spoke regional recycling model is a sustainable way for communities to offer recycling services to their residents. “Hubs” are centers within communities that have the equipment and capacity to process and store materials to sell to market. “Spokes” collect (typically from mobile drop-off stations) and deliver recyclables to the hub.

Hub and spoke recycling systems provide communities:

  • Increased access to recycling services
  • Reduced recycling transportation costs
  • Economies of scale
  • Revenue to cover operational costs
  • Job creation

In October 2021, ADEQ and Arizona State University (ASU) began work on a project to explore the feasibility of hub and spoke recycling in northeastern Arizona rural communities. The United States Department of Agriculture funded this feasibility project to provide communities with training and technical assistance for building environmentally sound solid waste management practices that attract investment, catalyze rural economic development and improve resident quality of life. 

Upon completion of the feasibility project, ASU presented six scenarios to the Pinetop-Lakeside Town Council, who is pursuing funding to build out their infrastructure to be able to accept recycling from surrounding communities. If another round of feasibility funding is awarded, ASU and ADEQ will be seeking more interested communities during the award period, Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024.

Hub and spoke systems fund their programs in various ways, including grants and residential fees | Learn More >

Hub & Spoke Recycling Resources

If you are interested in seeing hub and spoke recycling in your community, let us know | Call 602-771-5613 or Email >

Recycling Events

Organizing temporary recycling events can help collect large amounts of materials, providing locals with a convenient “one-stop-drop” for items.

Following are types of recycling events to start in your community:

  • E-waste Events provide a means for the public to properly dispose of unwanted electronics. ADEQ has created an E-waste Recycling Event Toolkit that provides best practices, marketing materials, contacts and school curriculum to help communities run their own collection event.
  • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Events allow locals to responsibly dispose of harmful chemicals (e.g., batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze and tires = BOPAT). 
  • Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) Events allows citizens to dispose of FOG, so it can be turned into biodiesel fuel instead of potentially creating clogs in drains, pipes and wastewater treatment centers.
  • Shred Events allow citizens to dispose of confidential documents, keeping their data private and secure, while also recycling the paper.
  • Christmas Tree Collection Events (Treecycling) are typically held a couple weeks following the holidays. Communities provide different drop-off locations for Christmas trees so they can be ground into mulch and used for landscape projects or returned to the community for gardens.
  • Textile Recycling Events allows citizens to donate thier used clothing and fabric for resale or ground up into a material used for insulation.

See the following examples of local recycling events for ideas organizing an event in your community:

Reuse Centers

Reuse centers provide tax benefits for the donor and revenue for the center.

Following are some options for donating used items:

  • Local Donation Centers are often listed on municipal websites and include various profit and non-profit groups.
  • The Freecycle Network promotes reuse and keeps valuable resources out of landfills | Learn More >
  • Treasures 4 Teachers acts as a supply store for Arizona educators, providing teachers with a variety of needed supplies | Learn More >
  • Stardust Building Supplies collects donations of and sells salvaged and gently-used building materials to make home improvement projects more affordable. To further encourage reuse, they pick up and remove usable building materials, appliances and other items for free | Learn More > | Deconstruction Benefits Video >

Outreach Materials

To engage your community in recycling efforts, it's important to develop various outreach materials and tools, in addition to organizing events.

The following are various examples of effective outreach materials to use as inspiration for promoting recycling in your community, school or business.

Templates/Materials
  • EPA’s Standard Recycling Signs | View >
  • Sign Maker Tool | View >
  • Setting Up a Green Week Handout | View >
  • Coloring Book | View >
  • Other Educational Resources (Videos & Posters) | View >
City of Phoenix
Town of Gilbert
  • Gilbert Schools Recycling Guide | View >
  • Recycling Guidance Posters | View >
City of Scottsdale
City of Avondale
City of Tucson
  • Environmental Services Education and Outreach | Learn More >

ADEQ Recycling Coordinator
602-771-5613
Email >