Phoenix approves recycling awareness contract

An article by KJZZ, Tempe, Arizona, reports that the Phoenix City Council voted Wednesday, June 22, 2016, in approval of a public outreach contract for $10 million with Recyclebank, Philadelphia, to encourage residents to recycle.

Under the terms of the contract, Recyclebank, which offers points and incentives to community members for recycling, will be required to reduce the amount of recyclables disposed of as trash from 13.7 percent to 8.7 percent in the first year, according to the article.

Although the council voted largely in favor of the contract with Recyclebank, some members expressed concern over the cost.

“If the public wants to understand why they’re paying huge water bills, high taxes, it’s because of things like this,” Councilman Sal DiCiccio said in the meeting. 

City Manager Ed Zuercher countered that the contract could save taxpayers money, according to the article.

“It avoids landfilling fees that we have to pay and it creates revenue to the city by being sold on the recycling market,” Zuercher said. “So I just want to clarify it’s not about feeling good, it’s actually a solid business decision.”