BY J. B SHAW
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality ( ADEQ ) relaunched the Recycling Grant Program in 2024 with a$ 1 million grant to assist local governments in setting up or expanding recycling initiatives.
Grants were awarded in three important areas: Waste Reduction Assistance, Education, and Recycling Research &, Development. Guided by the Arizona Recycling Advisory Committee ( ARAC )— comprising experts from government, education, business, and nonprofits — grantees were chosen for their innovative waste reduction and public education efforts.
The reemergence of this grant program isn’t really about distributing funds — it’s about empowering communities to rethink waste, embrace sustainability, and create profound climate change. The ADEQ Recycling Grant program is a fantastic new chapter for Arizona, giving businesses and communities the chance to address pressing waste issues while also promoting novel ideas and supporting a spiral economy that keeps resources nearby.
According to ARAC Chair Joe Giudice,” the relaunch of the Arizona Recycling Grant Program has sparked tremendous excitement and showcases our communities ‘ dedication to protecting our wonderful state.” ” The 12 projects we selected are creating jobs, improving recycling access and education, and recovering valuable materials. This is just the start of what can be accomplished up in terms of positive effects.
From a pool of 61 applications, ADE Q’s Arizona Recycling Advisory Committee, along with ADE Q’s director, narrowed down the field to 12 outstanding grant awardees for 2024: Arizona Students Recycling Used Technology ($ 77, 900 ), Borderlands Produce Rescue ($ 139, 661.65 ), Brophy College Preparatory ($ 27, 371.50 ), City of Avondale ($ 64, 000 ), City of Bisbee ($ 133, 000 ), City of Mesa ($ 135, 500 ), City of Sedona ($ 53, 650.02 ), Bold Reuse ($ 208, 000 ), Let’s Go Compost ($ 45, 000 ), Nackard Pepsi ($ 66, 916.83 ), Northern Arizona University Board of Regents ($ 43, 000 ), and Rim Country Senior Center ($ 6, 000 ).
Arizona faces considerable waste challenges, with only 21 % of materials recycled, while over 10 million tons end up in landfills each year, according to The Recycling Partnership. This’ trash’ represents benefit our communities. For every 1, 000 tons of materials recycled, 1.17 jobs are created, and every ton of waste recycled equates to$ 65.23 in wages and$ 9.42 in tax revenue, showcasing both economic and environmental gains by recycling.
ADE Q’s recycling grants help turn these challenges into opportunities, funding innovative projects that reduce waste, create jobs, and support a more sustainable future for Arizona.
The 12 grantees spent more than 640, 000 pounds of waste from landfills during the first six months of funding, created nine new jobs in urban and rural communities, and engaged thousands of students in sustainability education to prepare the future economic leaders of tomorrow.
BUILDING A BETTER Past FOR ARIZONA
These grantees demonstrate that community-driven initiatives can have a major impact as Arizona moves toward a sustainable future. To support nearby businesses and advance the round economy, ADEQ is committed to encouraging recycling innovation and is gearing up for a new round of funding. A new provincial good waste management plan aims to secure funding for innovative waste disposal and fresh product development that helps Arizonan communities.
According to ADEQ Recycling Coordinator J.,” The demand for more funding is it to help businesses develop circular economy solutions for Arizona’s “waste” or as we prefer to call it, “resources.” B. Shaw ( who is also the author of this article ). These grants enable regional organizations to realize their great ideas, creating jobs, and keeping materials at their highest standards. Some of these crucial initiatives would struggle to launch or make significant progress without this kind of funding.
With more funding, ADEQ can continue to support nonprofits, cities, and businesses leading the way in sustainability — growing programs, creating jobs, and reducing landfill waste. The Good Waste Management Plan and the promotion of a vibrant round economy, where waste turns into a resource, are two things that ADEQ is committed to.
Check out our expanded coverage at www. for more information on the 2024 ADEQ Recycling Grant awardees. greenlivingmag.com/ADEQ-2024-grants.  ,
