Dive summary:
- In order to reach its goal of 40% waste diversion by 2020, Phoenix is planning to overhaul its entire waste management system.
- With a current rate of 13% diversion, Phoenix has a lot of work ahead; officials plan to use aggressive outreach, education and possible economic incentives to bridge the gap in recycling.
- Earth911 and Citizen Group, a branding and advertising agency, will partner with the city and help develop a plan for communication and public education.
From the article:
Earth911 will identify gaps in recycling availability and residents’ knowledge of how to recycle, and will use its expertise in recycling data to define a communications strategy, which could include mobile applications and the use of data about common consumer products.
The Public Works Department, which has nearly 400,000 customers, also aims to revamp the way waste is handled by the city, including diversion of organic waste to composting, improving collection services, and reducing illegal dumping and mishandling of household hazardous waste. It is planning inventive reuse of closed landfills for projects such as parks. ...
