FAQs • Casa Grande, AZ • CivicEngage

Why is the city suspending the recycling program?: The cost of recycling programs for municipalities has increased substantially after China, the largest buyer of recycled materials, announced it was limiting imports due to environmental concerns. You can read more about the effect China's new policy is having on the U.S. recycling market here and here. As a result, it's becoming too expensive to collect, transport, and process recycled materials that have little or no market value.

▼
Public Works - Recycling

1. While the program is suspended, are there other locations where I can take recyclable materials?: Alternative Recycling Locations

2. Will the recycling program be reinstated?: The city has been in discussions with potential vendors who may be able to provide recycling services in the future. We are also working to find other potential processors and end users for these materials.

City workers will not be collecting the blue recycling bins after the last scheduled recycling pick up. You may keep the blue bins or bring them to:

Public Works North Operations Center
3181 N Lear Avenue
Casa Grande, AZ 85122

If a customer keeps their blue bin, recycling materials will not be picked up after a customer's last recycling pickup date.

4. If we kept the recycling program, how much more would I pay?: Keeping the recycling program would have added about $3 a month to all trash and sewer bills regardless of whether a customer took part in the recycling program.

5. How many customers use the recycling program?: About 26% of customers take part in the city's recycling program.

6. How much more would the recycling program cost the city?: In 2018, a vendor paid the city $18 a ton for our recycled materials. Our lowest bid this year would have required the city to pay a vendor $67 per ton for recycled materials, plus cover the cost of transportation and a fine of $50 a ton if a load was contaminated with non-recyclable material.

7. Why is the city suspending the recycling program?: The cost of recycling programs for municipalities has increased substantially after China, the largest buyer of recycled materials, announced it was limiting imports due to environmental concerns. You can read more about the effect China's new policy is having on the U.S. recycling market here and here. As a result, it's becoming too expensive to collect, transport, and process recycled materials that have little or no market value.

8. When will the program be suspended?: Recycling pickups will be suspended as of July 1, 2019. Notices of the last pickup date will be placed in the blue recycling bins prior to the last pickup.

9. What is the status of the city’s recycling program?: The city is suspending the current recycling program until a more effective, efficient, and economically viable means of recycling is found to replace the current program.