Arizona's Waste Diversion Challenge
Arizona diverts approximately 25% of municipal solid waste from landfills — below the national average of around 32%. Maricopa County, which includes Tempe, processes millions of tons of solid waste annually at facilities like the Butterfield Station Landfill in Eloy, and the Surprise Regional Landfill.
Responsible junk removal companies play a meaningful role in improving these numbers by sorting loads and routing usable materials to donation centers, scrap metal recyclers, e-waste processors, and material recovery facilities — rather than sending everything to a landfill.
What Happens to Your Junk After Pickup
Scrap Metal Recycling
Appliances, metal bed frames, exercise equipment, and other metals are delivered to local scrap yards. Steel, aluminum, and copper are melted down and reused in manufacturing. Metal recycling diverts some of the heaviest items from landfills.
Donation to Local Charities
Furniture, clothing, kitchenware, books, and working electronics in good condition are delivered to organizations like A New Leaf, St. Vincent de Paul, and Goodwill — all of which have locations in or near Tempe. These organizations resell items or distribute them to families in need.
E-Waste Recycling
Televisions, computers, monitors, and other electronics are routed to certified e-waste processors. Arizona e-waste recyclers recover valuable metals like gold, silver, palladium, and copper while safely managing hazardous components like lead and mercury.
Yard Waste Composting
Organic yard waste — grass clippings, branches, leaves, and trimmings — can be diverted to composting facilities. Maricopa County and the City of Tempe have programs supporting organic waste diversion, including drop-off locations for green waste.
Construction Material Recovery
Clean lumber, drywall, concrete, and roofing materials from renovation projects can often be diverted to material recovery facilities or habitat for humanity ReStores. Concrete is frequently crushed and recycled into road base aggregate.
How to Make Your Cleanout More Eco-Friendly
- Sort items before pickup: separate donatable goods from true garbage
- Choose a hauler with a documented diversion or recycling program
- Drop off electronics at certified e-waste locations rather than putting them in the truck
- Schedule yard waste separately from household junk to enable composting
- Sell or donate usable furniture on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or Craigslist before calling a hauler
- Use Maricopa County's HHW events for paints, chemicals, and batteries
Tempe's Recycling and Waste Diversion Resources
- → City of Tempe Curbside Recycling: Single-stream recycling collected every other week
- → Bulky Waste Collection: Furniture and large items picked up curbside by appointment
- → Maricopa County HHW Events: Free drop-off for paints, chemicals, and batteries
- → Best Buy Electronics Recycling: Free drop-off for most consumer electronics at Tempe locations
- → A New Leaf: Accepts furniture, appliances, and household goods for donation