Phoenix has scored yet another victory for sustainability with its latest achievement: the Final Four Fan Fest was declared a Zero Waste Event. In a city rapidly becoming synonymous with eco-friendly initiatives, officials have now confirmed that a whopping 94.2% of the waste produced during the four-day basketball extravaganza was diverted from the landfill, as per an announcement on the city's official website. Phoenix prides itself on raising the bar for environmental responsibility, setting a goal for at least 90% waste diversion at major events.
According to the Phoenix Public Works Department, the events generated a total of 54.48 tons of waste, out of which 51.32 tons comprised of compostable food waste and recyclables. The Herculean task of waste collection and sorting fell on the shoulders of hardworking Public Works employees, who, during the Final Four events, collectively hit more than 640,000 steps—a testament to their dedication, covering more than the distance from Phoenix to San Francisco.
The city's Deputy Public Works Director, Lorizelda Stoeller, highlighted the extensive planning that goes into achieving these green milestones. "Achieving this Zero Waste event was a process that started long before the Final Four came to town," she told the city of Phoenix. Stoeller pointed to the strategic bin placement, meticulous collection schedules, and the concerted effort to educate visitors on proper recycling practices as key components to their success.
With continuous shifts worked by about 60 employees to ensure no foul is made on waste handling, crews diligently sorted through waste at the Transfer Station well after the National Championship buzzers went off. Despite this intense focus on sustainability during such a high-profile event, standard waste collection and pick-ups across Phoenix neighborhoods went on interrupted, a testament to the city's commitment to both service and sustainability.
Mayor Kate Gallego expressed her pride in Phoenix's accomplishments in a statement obtained by Phoenix. "I am proud that major Zero Waste events are the standard for Phoenix," said Mayor Gallego. "In 2023, we hosted the greenest Super Bowl Experience on record, so it was only natural for us to follow-up with a Zero Waste Final Four Fan Fest this year. We appreciate visitors' efforts to recycle right and congratulate our Public Works staff on both this amazing accomplishment and continued dedication to putting on sustainable events in Phoenix!" During the downtown events surrounding Super Bowl LVII, the department collected 101 tons of material, with 92.6% successfully diverted from the landfill. Phoenix's Public Works Department has once again proven that with proper planning and public cooperation, sustainability is no Hail Mary, but a win that can be consistently achieved.
