The City of Apache Junction lies on the picturesque border where metropolitan Phoenix meets the Arizona wilderness. This convenient location with easy access to nature continues to draw new residents and reoccurring winter visitors to this young city, incorporated in 1978. TodayApache Junction has a population of nearly 40,000 residents, reflecting an 11.8% increase between 2010 and 2016. In the winter, this population nearly doubles. While growth and consistent tourism are boons, they also reveal growing pains. One issue is Apache Junction’s current solid waste management system.
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.