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. Today Apache 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. PAF 509 students researchedApache Junction and the solid waste management practices of similar entities, then presented solutions for how the city can move forward.
Individual students in this course each produced a capstone report for their master’s degree that was focused on Apache Junction’scurrent solid waste management system. Each chose different investigative approaches, such as surveying residents or comparing practices of peer cities. Based on their research methods, the students generated their own findings and recommendations. Among these were:1) discontinuing Free Dump Week, 2) joining another city in contracting a solid waste provider for mandatory weekly pickup, and 3) implementing pay-as-you-throw solid waste service. An additional element that was prioritized was recycling.