Join Keep Tempe Beautiful at Tempe Zero Waste Day event for one of five shifts from 6:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 29, at Kiwanis Park, 6111 S. All American Way, Tempe AZ 85282.

Zero Waste Day helps you recycle those items that cannot go into the blue recycling container. Clean out your attics, basements, closets, and garages of unwanted items and properly dispose of Household Hazardous Waste.

 

There are Volunteer Opportunities for One of Five Shifts During the Day:

 

6:45 – 8:15 a.m.

8:00 – 9:30 a.m.

9:15 – 10:45 a.m.

10:30 – 12:00 p.m.

11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.

 

Parking will be along All America Way bordering the event or near the tennis courts or batting cages across the street.

 

Must be a City of Tempe or Guadalupe resident to drop off your zero waste (not to volunteer). No need to sign up to drop off your zero waste, just come on the date and during the times to drop off your stuff!

 

Food donations

Non-perishable, unopened food items including peanut butter, canned meats and soups, dried and canned beans, 100 percent fruit juices, boxed meals, canned vegetables and fruit, granola bars, whole wheat pasta, multi-grain cereals, oatmeal, and macaroni and cheese.

Food donations for most of the Zero Waste Day events will be collected by the Tempe Community Action Agency (TCAA), a local nonprofit that houses Tempe’s largest food pantry and works to alleviate homelessness, hunger, and poverty. Another nonprofit in the Valley will collect non-perishable food at the November event. 

 

Yard signs, banners, and foam boards

CDs/CD cases, photographs, bottle caps, and misc.

 

Paper for shredding

Office paper, mail, other personal paper documents, and books are in poor condition.

Documents are securely shredded and recycled offsite by ASDD Document Destruction, a branch of the Tempe nonprofit, the Centers for Habilitation, which provides support and opportunities for people with physical and developmental disabilities. 

 

Building materials

Must be in good condition with no major repairs required. Kitchen and bath cabinets, doors, windows, shutters, toilets, sinks, vanities, garbage disposals, countertops, bricks, block, lumber (no nails/screws), grills, fountains, pool equipment, light fixtures, hardware items (hinges, lock sets, miscellaneous), and unpainted and undamaged drywall in at least two-foot by two-foot strips.

Materials are recycled and reused by Stardust Building Supplies, a nonprofit organization that operates two Valley thrift stores that sell salvaged and gently-used building materials.

 

Styrofoam

Styrofoam^TM packaging blocks only. Unable to take egg cartons, cups, plates, trays, or peanuts.

The material is recycled by a local company in Maricopa County.

 

Clothing, furniture, and household items

Items should be in good condition. Clothing, shoes, purses, belts, bedding, towels, toys, stuffed animals, books, cooking accessories, furniture, home décor, housewares, jewelry, tools, musical instruments, and sports equipment.

All items are sold for reuse and recycled by Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona except large pieces of furniture (sofas, dining room tables, etc.), which are collected by Stardust Building Supplies.

 

Electronics and appliances

Working or non-working items are accepted. PCs, laptops, monitors, power cords, printers, cabling, mice, keyboards, hard drives, tablets, cell phones, DVDs, printer cartridges, calculators, stereos, VCRs, TVs, power strips, microwaves, washers/dryers, refrigerators, and freezers. Lawn mowers and other gas-powered items are okay as long as the gas is removed.

All electronic items are recycled by eGreen IT Solutions in Phoenix.

All appliances are collected by the City of Tempe Solid Waste Section and recycled at a local scrap metal company.

Some usable electronics and appliances are recycled by Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona.

 

Bikes, repair stands, and bike parts

 

Automobile tires