In 2013, the Phoenix City Council established a goal to achieve a 40 percent waste diversion rate for the city by the year 2020 and zero waste by 2050. The Phoenix Public Works Department, responsible for the garbage and recycling collection services for nearly 400,000 households, took on this challenge. In 2017, a study revealed the city diversion rate to be 30 percent. With only two years remaining to reach the goal, the department is looking for additional educational methods to increase recycling in the home.
In order to reach this goal, the Public Works Department needs to entice Phoenix residents to change their consumer behavior, the type of items they buy, how they use them and how they are disposed of. Meeting these diversion goals is challenging. However, citizens can have a serious impact by reducing waste and participating in Phoenix's recycling programs correctly. These findings presented an opportunity for the city of Phoenix to better educate residents about not only recycling, but about waste reduction and practicing a zero waste lifestyle.
To continue moving forward with waste diversion goals, the Phoenix Public Works department launched a speaker series April 12, 2018 to encourage residents to learn about and practice a zero waste lifestyle. The inaugural Phx2Zero event inspired Phoenix residents to live simply, reduce, reuse and recycle in their everyday lives. The event keynote was hosted by Bea Johnson, a zero waste expert who has launched a global movement inspiring thousands of people to live simply and take a stance against needless waste generation and disposal. Over one-hundred attendees showed up to hear her speak along with many members of the Public Works Department. Staff intends to hold this type of event in the future with similar speakers focused on solving waste-related challenges in the industry. The goal of this event is to help residents get on board with waste reduction and assist Phoenix in reaching its long-term zero waste goal.
