Master of Science in Environmental and Resource Management graduate student Annie Grimshaw from Al Brown’sERM 593: Applied Project conducted research to gauge the feasibility of a scaled-up green waste collection program. The research explores possible disposal options for the City of Peoria and the processes and costs associated with a municipal green waste recycling program. The report provides an overview of the benefits and challenges of green waste composting, followed by three case studies of peer community green waste programs. The case studies emphasize the importance of public-private partnerships when implementing a green waste program, largely due to its cost-saving benefits.

Following the case studies, the report details the process of converting green waste into the soil to demonstrate to Peoria the composting services companies can provide. A cost-benefit analysis details the net saving of diverting green waste from landfills. While private companies will likely charge more than expected for green waste, there are long-term savings in reducing transportation costs for a municipal collection program. Recommendations are provided to highlight how Peoria can successfully scale a green waste collection program. The goal of this report is for Peoria to use the information provided to identify a trustworthy partnership. The names and information about private green waste processing vendors are provided to the City of Peoria to consider in its green waste efforts. A City-wide green waste recycling program should increase community involvement and create a more sustainable city.

Students in ERM 401/501 and EGR 427 Hazardous Waste Management spent the Spring 2019 semester researching compliance standards and regulatory requirements for better AST management, as well as identifying best practices to help Glendale’s staff develop an effective and efficient operations and maintenance (O&M) program for their approximately 135 ASTs.

For many years, China purchased much of the United States’ processed recyclable materials. However, when Operation National Sword was passed by China in January 2018, significant restrictions were placed on imported recyclables. Because most raw recycled materials exported by America were highly contaminated and did not meet China’s new import standards, it suddenly became near impossible for American municipalities to continue exporting their material to China, without making significant changes. These circumstances caused a significant global market shift that communities must respond to in order to maintain their recycling services and continue to provide healthy, eco-conscious solid waste management systems for their residents.

The City of Glendale has partnered with ASU to conduct a review of community responses to this global market change and determine potential courses of action for the City and its 250,000 residents. Students in ERM 432/532 Sustainable Solid Waste Management spent the Fall 2019 semester conducting literature reviews on community responses, holding interviews with industry professionals and identifying the most feasible recommendations for the City to implement within its recycling program.

In the Spring 2020 semester, 7 undergraduate and graduate students in 2 classes took on the challenge of developing tangible ways for Peoria to maximize its water conservation efforts, as a continuation of the Water Conservation project was initiated in the Fall 2019 semester for Peoria’s partnership with ASU Project Cities. Both projects incorporated extensive research and interviews, as well as consultation with city staff on Peoria’s needs and current efforts.

Six students from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and Polytechnic School ERM 494/598: Water Resource Management class worked with Peoria’s Water Services. Students split into two groups to tackle their main objectives. Group 1 analyzed Peoria’s existing water sources to determine key points to implement the City’s Drought Management Plan. Group 2 focused on outlining actionable water conservation tactics to assist Peoria in minimizing its risks of drought. Both groups conducted their research in a forward-thinking manner, creating plans and solutions that would retain value and stay implementable as Peoria continues to grow and develop. Students conducted case studies of similar arid communities in Arizona and Texas to help determine relevant water conservation actions, including suggestions of tax credits, expanded greywater use, xeriscaping plans, and stormwater management.

Water conservation, especially in arid regions, is an ongoing issue. To be effective, conservation methods and protocols should be reevaluated and updated often. The student research displayed in the following summary report and recommendations aims to assist Peoria in this necessary process. By studying Peoria’s existing protocols and messaging, students have compiled feasible suggestions to assist the city in its continual efforts to conserve water as part of securing a sustainable future for the city’s residents and visitors.

Students in the ERM 432/532 Sustainable Solid Waste Management course assisted in providing key recommendations for the development of a recycling program to divert expanded polystyrene (EPS) and textiles from landfills, both of which are notoriously difficult to recycle.

Students split into two teams, each focusing on a material type that is technically recyclable, but that is infrequently diverted from landfills: clothing textiles and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), more commonly known as Styrofoam. Each team started by researching and describing the process of collecting, donating, sorting, and reselling of their material. The student research summarizes their efforts, focusing on answering the six questions posed by the City of Peoria. Based on their research, the student teams provide key recommendations for the City of Peoria, focusing on building relationships with businesses and other cities and identifying financial assistance. The research and recommendations presented in this report aim to support Peoria’s proactive approach to landfill diversion, which demonstrates the City’s commitment to sustainability and the Superior Public Services livability initiative.

Electronic waste, or e-waste, has become the forefront of sustainable waste management in an increasingly technological age. Used and discarded electronics often end up in landfills where they can leach toxic chemicals into the environment. However, e-waste materials can be refurbished and reused for additional electronic products through material recovery practices. Due to the hazardous and expensive nature of recycling, e-waste is not typically offered as part of municipal waste programs provided to residents. The City of Peoria is interested in expanding its solid waste collection services to accommodate e-waste. Peoria is also seeking alternative fuel technologies to divert waste from third-party landfills, including biogas and syngas technologies.

Students in Al Brown’sERM 432/532 Sustainable Solid WasteManagementcourse split into two groups to investigate the feasibility of an e-waste recycling program and a biomass gasification program. Students conducted a literature review of the two materials and identified potential municipal and private partners to expand its solid waste programs.

While e-waste and biomass gasification are two very different materials, the findings indicate that Peoria should consider partnering with other municipal and private entities to provide additional solid waste services to its residents. Additionally, students identified the need for community engagement in designing these services through public education and events that emphasize the importance of sustainably recycling these materials. The student research and recommendations provide the City of Peoria with baseline information to further investigate waste management practices for Peoria’s more challenging materials.

The City of Peoria serves as a leader in adopting new methods and technologies to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability. The City aims to identify strategies to effectively manage glass fines. This project was undertaken by a graduate student from the Environmental Resource Management program
to research novel applications of fine glass residue in partnership with the City of Peoria and ASU Project Cities.

This report presents research about the novel applications of glass fines, peer community survey, cost-benefit analysis, and the life cycle assessment (LCA) of the glass production process. The literature review reveals crucial information behind the application of fine glass. Many researchers have tried to incorporate glass fines in concrete in various proportions and have been successful in finding appropriate weight percentages for the highest mechanical strength. This application helps address another menacing issue, a reduction in the amount of cement used in making concrete, thereby reducing CO2 emissions. Other applications of glass fines are involved in manufacturing foam concrete, ceramic pavers, and decorative objects like lampshades and stoneware. Following the literature review, a cost-benefit analysis was performed to review existing recycling practices used by the City. Currently, Peoria
sends its recyclables to the City of Phoenix’s North Gateway Transfer Station and Waste Management Northwest Regional Landfill for further sorting and processing. As per the analysis, this contract is beneficial to Peoria as it has started receiving revenue for its recyclables beginning in October 2021.

The next step in this project involved surveying adjacent municipalities to explore how nearby cities manage glass waste. These cities tend to rely on contracting with other municipalities to dispose of or recycle the waste. Most adjacent cities do not own a MRF, and some have removed the glass from their recycling programs. This step was followed by searching for vendors that recycle glass fines in Arizona. Additionally, the LCA of glass bottle production from recycled glass versus virgin glass was modeled. It was found that the recycled glass bottle production process generates almost half of the environmental impacts as compared to the virgin glass bottle production process.

Key recommendations in this project include exploring the construction sector to reuse glass fines, continuing to contract with the City of Phoenix to process recyclables, contacting GlassKing Recovery & Recycling to provide a testing sample, and reaching out to other active recyclers for premiere management of glass fines.

As of 2017, Apache Junction does not require residents to subscribe to weekly solid waste collection. Instead, it allows them to choose whether or not to contract with a solid waste pickup service, of which there are three available. The Apache Junction landfill is also located within city jurisdiction, has low rates, and offers city residents four weeks each year to dispose of one truckload of waste for free. However, this landfill is slated to close in 2035, and the next closest is more than 30 miles away. Further, while the city’s solid waste ordinance prohibits illegal dumping and storage of solid waste on residential properties, Apache Junction’shands-off approach still results in a significant number of complaints about the solid waste that has been abandoned or stored on residential properties. City officials are concerned about safety issues related to these occurrences, compliance with regulations, and ensuring a desirable quality of life for all residents.

While the city is looking forward to more sustainable solid waste management, it is unclear how it should proceed due to its unique seasonal demographics and existing system. In the fall of 2017, two courses—ERM 432/532 Sustainable Solid Waste Management and PAF 509 Public Affairs Capstone enlisted in Arizona State University’s Project Cities program to provide Apache Junction with insight on issues related to its current solid waste management and present potential pathways for sustainable alternatives. To do so, ERM 432/532 students analyzed complaints received by Apache Junction and Pinal County about solid waste, researched related environmental health aspects, and assessed the city’s online complaint filing system.

Students in this course focused on understanding the current and potential impacts of Apache Junction’s existing solid waste management. To get a wider perspective, students broke into two teams. The first analyzed complaints filed with Apache Junction and PinalCounty regarding solid waste, looking for trends and insights. This team also reviewed the city’s online complaint filing system and compared it with similar municipal websites to determine how this system could better serve residents and city management. Results showed that FreeDump Week did not interrupt the flow of complaints received, and certain neighborhoods would benefit from increased educational campaigns regarding solid waste ordinances and bulk pickup services. The second team reviewed literature related to environmental and health aspects of improperly stored or disposed solid waste. Their findings highlighted issues related to odors, vector control, air pollution, soil contamination, water pollution, injury control, and aesthetics.