The city of Phoenix will soon unveil new programs designed to increase the number of residents that partake in recycling. Lucas Mariacher, the zero-waste coordinator for the Phoenix Public Works Department, said the city is thinking of new ways to reduce waste.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of textiles 鈥� like our clothing 鈥� which is a problem,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o we鈥檙e going to create a textile-recycling program.鈥�
But that鈥檚 not the only idea on the board. 鈥淲e have a compost facility opening up,鈥� Mariacher said. 鈥淎bout 25 to 30 percent of what鈥檚 in our waste stream is compostable materials.鈥�
The city is also implementing a program called聽RecycleBank 聽that offers incentives to residents. 鈥淚f you sign up online, you get points based on what you鈥檙e recycling curbside,鈥� Mariacher said. 鈥淵ou also get points for reading articles and taking actions online. Then you can use those points in local restaurants, or for local gift cards, or even national rewards.鈥�
Phoenix hopes to have about 40 percent of the city participating in recycling programs by 2040. It still has a long way to go to meet that goal.
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