Title
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Recycling Grant Opportunity for Fiscal Year 2025-26 (Ordinance S-52276) - Citywide
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to retroactively apply for, and if awarded, accept and enter into related agreements for disbursement of grant funding from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) through its Recycling Grant Program's Waste Reduction Assistance Grant (WRA). If awarded, grant funding will be used to install a camera system at the 27th Avenue Materials Recovery Facility, pilot an initiative that will help Green Business Leaders design and carry out customized waste reduction projects, and pilot an education, outreach, and collection program for lithium-ion batteries. Further request authorization from the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item, including sub-recipients associated with the projects. The total grant funds applied for will not exceed $185,000.
Report
Summary
The ADEQ Recycling Grant Program promotes recycling and source reduction through public education and information on proper solid waste disposal and includes the WRA category. The WRA supports community initiatives aimed at significantly reducing solid waste output. Funding received is available through the Arizona Solid Waste Recycling Act of 1990 and is derived from landfill disposal fees. More than one project application per applicant may be submitted. Applications will be submitted under the WRA category.
Project 1 - 27th Avenue Materials Recovery Facility Residue Belt Camera Application
The Public Works Department oversees the 27th Avenue Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) which processes and sorts recyclables from the City’s recycling program. Phoenix continually seeks to improve its sorting efficiency, with one key focus being the identification of recyclable materials that are not being captured by the MRF system. Currently, the residue belt carries non-recyclables out of the MRF to be disposed of as trash at the landfill. If the system misses capturing a good recyclable, that also ends up on the residue belt. To better understand and reduce this loss, the Public Works Department is requesting grant funding to add a camera over the residue belt to determine what recyclable materials are not being captured. The information will provide data on the quantity and type of recyclables, which will provide insight and justification for additional fine tuning or improvements to the MRF system. The total grant funds applied for in this application is approximately $55,000.
Project 2 - Local First Arizona Green Business Boot Camp Application
The City of Phoenix Green Business Leader (GBL) program certifies and recognizes businesses within City limits that implement sustainable practices to support Phoenix’s 2050 sustainability goals. Certified businesses gain access to benefits like water efficiency audits, sustainability training, and promotional exposure through the City. Currently, the GBL Program does not provide technical project assistance or project-based incubation support to certified GBLs. To assess whether adding this assistance can drive measurable waste diversion impacts, the Public Works Department is requesting grant funding to launch a pilot program in collaboration with Local First Arizona that will help 10 Phoenix businesses build customized waste reduction project models. Recruitment for the boot camp will prioritize GBL-certified businesses to enhance the existing GBL Program, however, non-certified businesses will also be eligible to participate, creating an opportunity to expand the GBL Program. Participants will leave with actionable waste reduction projects and access to City of Phoenix or Local First Arizona resources to support implementation following the grant period. The total grant funds requested for this application is approximately $40,000.
Project 3 - Lithium-Ion Battery Collection Application
The increasing prevalence of lithium-ion batteries in the solid waste stream poses a fire risk to the City's solid waste collection trucks, transfer stations, material recovery facilities, and landfill when individuals improperly dispose of them. To extend outreach on the proper disposal of lithium-ion batteries, the Public Works Department is requesting grant funding to launch a six-month pilot program which aims to educate residents about responsible battery disposal and provide safe drop-off options for lithium-ion batteries. The total grant funds applied for in this application is approximately $90,000.
The Public Works Department is requesting retroactive authorization to submit grant applications for ADEQ’s Recycling Grant Program’s WRA category due to the short application timeline. If not authorized, the grant applications will be withdrawn. If awarded, funds would be available by early 2026 and would need to be expended by June 30, 2026. The Public Works Department is also requesting authorization to enter into agreements to accept the funding if awarded.
Financial Impact
The Public Works Department is requesting grant funds up to $185,000 and the City's cost would be $0 for the local match.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Ginger Spencer and the Public Works Department.