Tempe turning organic storm debris into useable resource

Tempe's Public Works Department will go from neighborhood to neighborhood next week, collecting debris from Monday's storm to repurpose and recycle.

BY COOPER RUMMELL

Sep 3, 2015, 6:00 AM Updated: 12:15 pm

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A downed palm tree blocks the way for traffic on a residential street early on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015 in Phoenix, after monsoon storms hit the Phoenix area Monday night knocking out power to thousands, delaying air travel, and stranding motorists in flash floods. The storms began moving through the area around sundown with high winds, lightning and heavy rain. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

PHOENIX — The City of Tempe has found a silver lining in the clouds of this week’s monsoon storm damage.

Although downed trees, branches and bushes now litter the yards of Tempe homes, the city will soon put that material to good use.

Tempe’s Public Works Department will go to certain neighborhoods in the area between Priest Drive, Rio Salado Parkway and Broadway and Rural roads, collecting the green waste next week.

“We can divert that material from the landfill and bring it our yard, grind it, process it, and let nature do its thing in terms of turning that material into compost,” Tempe Deputy Public Works Director John Osgood said.

When the organic material is turned into compost in several months it will be used throughout the city in public parks, community gardens and even residences.

“We are taking the negative of the storm damage and we are turning it into a positive by using the material that would otherwise be thrown away and turning it into a usable product for our residents,” Osgood said.

Residents with green waste must call ahead to Tempe 311 by Monday and have the material out by Tuesday for pickup at the curb next Thursday morning.