Tempe continues to ramp up its sustainability game, hosting Earth Month events that repurpose what most would consider waste. Over at Kiwanis Park, the city's annual "Zero Waste Days" have reportedly salvaged thousands of pounds from becoming landfill fodder. These events represent a proactive fight against environmental contamination—a noteworthy attempt at reducing the toxic legacy of discarded electronics and other hazardous household items.
The effort to recycle and repurpose the likes of old flip phones, VCRs, and other electronics led to more than 600 cars dropping off over 60,000 pounds of recyclables and trash this past January, ABC15 reported. This is a snapshot of the larger picture, with Tempe's Household Products Collection Center (HPCC) and its Zero Waste events contributing to a monumental recycling tally. "In 2024, the HPCC and our Zero Waste Days collectively recycled more waste than any other year since the HPCC’s opening in 1999," Maegan Pardue, a Tempe spokesperson, told KTAR News.
Jeremy Mikus, Tempe's environmental services manager, highlighted the significance of diverting batteries, paints, poisons, aerosols, and flammables from landfills, illustrating that every saved item is a step towards preserving the integrity of landfills and local waterways. The KTAR News interview painted an impressive figure, revealing that residents recycled 463,628 pounds of household hazardous waste in 2024 alone.
Practical in nature, the HPCC provides a place for locals to unload refuse not suitable for conventional trash systems. Moreover, it operates three days a week and serves both the Tempe and Guadalupe communities. Mikus boasted about the HPCC's 25-plus years of service in helping residents recycle everything from electronic relics to half-empty paint cans, saying, "Tempe is proud to have helped residents recycle their household hazardous waste for over 25 years." Kiwanis Park will soon see another surge of sustainable action with the next Zero Waste Day set for April 26, offering another opportunity for residents to clear their homes of unwanted items responsibly.
For those who couldn't join the recycling rendezvous on Zero Waste Day, Tempe still provides ongoing options for eco-friendly trash disposal. Old tech, hulking appliances, and hazardous relics waiting for a second life can find their way to the HPCC during operational hours, as well as through other environmentally attuned channels across the Valley.
