for Recycling Initiatives

The City of Tucson has been named the Municipality of the Year by the Arizona Recycling Coalition (AZRC). Each year the AZRC recognizes public and private entities and individuals who have excelled in promoting recycling and waste diversion by educating the public and providing opportunities for communities to reduce and divert materials that might otherwise end up in our landfills.

In 2012, the City of Tucson Environmental Services Department (ES) had another banner year for recycling advancements for the Do More Blue Recycling Program.  Most notably, the City's partnership with ReCommunity, Inc. resulted in the recent opening of a state-of-the-art Materials Recovery Facility creating the opportunity for Tucson to increase the accepted recycling material list to include all plastic containers.  As an incentive to recycle, and to bring attention to the new acceptance of plastics, Tucson launched a popular Recycling Rewards Program, which rewards residential customers for properly recycling.  Tucson also continued its successful Commercial Waste Audits program.  Since September of 2010 more than 350 businesses have been audited with 20% adding recycling to their collection services.

The award was presented to the City on November 15, 2012 at the awards luncheon in Phoenix, during the AZRC’s annual conference.