Phoenix hopes to boost recycling

PHOENIX — According to a 2011 city report, Phoenix dumped about 900,000 tons of waste in the State Route 85 landfill. Of those, 600,000 tons were generated from homes.

In Phoenix, 13 percent of residential waste is recycled, while the national average is 34 percent.

The Public Works Department wants to raise the recycling rate to 40 percent by 2020.

City employees plan to work with ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability to come up with programs, projects and initiatives to increase recycling, composting and reuse.