The Town of Gilbert is interested in how other cities have engaged in models for regional collaboration related to environmental services, especially solid waste services. The Solid Waste & Recycling Services Division is collaborating with Master of Sustainability Leadership (MSL) capstone students to explore how the Town of Gilbert might create opportunities for regional collaboration on providing solid waste services. The following goals guided the student research :

• Assess how other cities have engaged in models for regional collaboration related to environmental services.
• Determine which regional collaboration best practices Gilbert can learn from, especially related environmental services, solid waste services, and combining resources to better prepare for the fast-growing solid waste and recycling economy.
• Assess which types of collaboration models better facilitate idea sharing, especially those that can be used to better prepare for the fast-growing solid waste and recycling economy.
• Design a roadmap for collaboration, identifying next steps and key stakeholders. 

The students identified several key strategies for regional collaboration, including establishing circular economy hubs for shared knowledge and resources, introducing incentive programs for circular economy practices, creating a Collaboration Task Force to address specific waste management challenges, developing a digital platform for enhanced communication and data sharing, and engaging the Maricopa County Association of Governments (MAG) Solid Waste Advisory Committee for leadership in collaborative efforts. These strategies can foster a unified, resilient framework for solid waste management, promoting sustainability and overcoming barriers to collaboration with local businesses. The Town’s comprehensive approach aims to build a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable community, adapting to growth and aligning with global sustainability trends.

Neighborhood and community parks serve a diverse population through green spaces, recreational activities, and sports facilities. The City’s community parks, including Tumbleweed and Desert Breeze, serve as community hubs for recreation and play; while its neighborhood parks serve the local neighborhood. With a goal of at least one neighborhood park per square mile of residential development, when possible; the City is interested in evaluating its park usage to determine best how to continue providing high-quality recreation resources. 

Undergraduate students from the School of Sustainability collaborated with the Chandler Community Services Department to evaluate five Chandler neighborhood and community parks. The students used an evaluation tool, the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) framework, to assess park usage and equity and provide recommendations on improvements for the City. Students conducted field observations of park usage at their assigned park over the course of six weeks, culminating in an analysis of park user demographics, physical activity, and environmental factors. 

Park usage and observations indicate that the selected neighborhood parks experience a consistent amount of park usage throughout the week, particularly in the playground areas and walking paths. The community parks experience an increase in usage on the weekends, mostly for organized sports and other recreational activities. The parks are currently well-maintained, while the shade and playground infrastructures can be improved through routine maintenance and improved shade coverage. The City can further invest in its parks by establishing park-specific community groups, such as “Friends Of” organizations, for regular park users and community members to collaborate and co-develop special projects for park improvements. Additionally, the City can develop educational and interactive programming and signage to highlight the City’s commitment to the environment and sustainability.

By ensuring that all community members have access to safe, accessible park spaces, the City of Chandler can continue to serve its residents by providing connectivity, improved quality of life, and neighborhood vitality. The City’s parks serve as critical physical and social spaces for leisure and recreation, highlighting the importance of community investment and engagement in ensuring an equitable future as the community continues to grow and innovate.

Of the waste collected through the municipal public cleaning system, only a small fraction is recycled or composted, most of the waste being deposited in a sanitary landfill located 32 km from the municipal seat, generating high environmental, social, and economic costs to the municipality of Cordoba and its surroundings. The municipality identifies a need for a comprehensive municipal solid waste management program that outlines strategies for waste reduction in housing and commerce, as well as low-cost and highly adaptable mechanisms that optimize the collection, composting and recovery of such waste.

18 courses from 9 bachelor programs are involved in the design of innovative proposals to inform a municipal integrated waste management and reduction strategy. This project is operated in collaboration with the Municipality of Cordoba and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Mexico.

With an influx of visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the watershed is affected by E. coli due to several pollutants, mostly caused by human activities. As visitors continue to visit the Canyon, they often leave behind trash, namely diapers, which can then infiltrate and contaminate the watershed. After facilitating a series of community workshops and meetings regarding the issue of E. coli contamination in Oak Creek Canyon, key stakeholders, including the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality – Water Quality Division (ADEQ) and the City of Sedona, decided to partner with Leave No Trace to develop an educational communication campaign targeted at recreational users visiting Oak Creek Canyon. The campaign is targeted toward visitors and includes simple but effective messaging for visitors to reduce their environmental impact. 

A graduate student from the School of Sustainability evaluated the campaign’s effectiveness and visitor’s awareness of issues in the Canyon in partnership with ASU Project Cities, starting with a pilot survey during the summer 2022 recreation season. Following the initial analysis of the campaign, undergraduate students participating in the Sustainability Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) applied research program continued the study through fall 2022 and spring 2023. The students continued data collection with a revised survey and interviewed key community stakeholders to inform strategies and recommendations for managing E. coli contamination throughout Oak Creek Canyon. 

While the students found that people recreating near water sources are relatively aware of the Canyon’s water contamination risk, most recreation users do not identify E.coli as the source of water impairment. Generally, people on trails are less concerned about water quality issues, although all traces left while recreating in the watershed can potentially enter Oak Creek. Overall, the students found high awareness about the main causes of water contamination related to recreational activities, except for diapers, and the good practices for improving water quality. 

Visitors indicated the need for more education and infrastructure, such as garbage cans, pet stations, and restrooms. Based on the interviews with key stakeholders, students identified a critical need for more structured cooperation and communication among stakeholders to address water quality concerns in Oak Creek Canyon. Through greater collaboration, stakeholders can take a targeted approach to addressing issues in the Canyon through educational messaging and improved infrastructure.