Circular Arizona members help shape Arizona's new Solid Waste & Materials Management Plan
Phoenix, Arizona — Circular Arizona is proud to recognize the significant contributions of its current and former members and board leaders to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality's (ADEQ) development of the state's new Integrated Solid Waste & Materials Management Plan (ISWMMP).
With support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant, ADEQ is undertaking a significant, much-needed update to Arizona's 1981 Solid Waste Management Plan. The revised ISWMMP will reflect the state's changing solid waste landscape and set a path toward a more sustainable, circular economy through strategies that emphasize waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and composting.
"Circular Arizona members are at the forefront of driving policy and practice changes that support a circular economy," said Ryan Gurr, Circular Arizona Coordinator. "It's encouraging to see their expertise directly contributing to the vision and framework of this plan, which will guide Arizona's materials management system for years to come."
Contributions from Circular Arizona Members
Several current and past members of Circular Arizona, including representatives from municipalities, industry, consulting, and nonprofit sectors, have been active in advisory roles, working groups, and early stakeholder sessions facilitated by ADEQ. Half of the project chairs have Circular Arizona affiliation, including:
Lauren Click (Let's Go Compost, two years on Circular Arizona board)
Tyler Eglen (Arizona State University, two years on Circular Arizona board)
Roberto Shapiro Heredia (ADEQ, two years on Circular Arizona board)
Karen Jayne (Stardust, five years on Circular Arizona board)
Angela Johnson (FABRIC Incubator)
Amanda Jordan (City of Phoenix)
Christina Polsgrove (City of Tucson, four years on Circular Arizona board)
J.B. Shaw (ADEQ, five years on Circular Arizona board)
Alexis Yaple (City of Phoenix, four years on Circular Arizona board)
Their collective knowledge has helped elevate the plan's emphasis on material recovery infrastructure, equitable access, and economic development opportunities within the circular economy.
How to Get Involved
ADEQ is committed to a transparent and inclusive public engagement process and invites all Arizonans, especially those with local knowledge or experience in waste, recycling, and materials management, to participate. Public involvement opportunities include:
Workshops with industry and economic development leaders
Draft plan reviews and comment periods
ADEQ has completed its first round of public meetings and is currently holding the first round of industry expert workshops. A second round of public meetings, focused on reviewing and gathering feedback on the draft Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan, is expected in early 2026, followed by a final plan presentation in summer 2026. Meeting dates will be announced on the ADEQ website and shared through Circular Arizona's channels.
"Whether you are a business owner, local official, tribal representative, or concerned resident, your voice matters in shaping how Arizona handles waste in the coming decades," said Roberto Shapiro Heredia, Circular Arizona board member and Environmental Science Specialist for Pollution Prevention and Recycling at ADEQ.
Circular Arizona envisions an equitable circular economy for a sustainable Arizona. Learn more about our mission at https://circulararizona.org/.
Learn more about the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and its Solid Waste & Materials Management Plan: https://azdeq.gov/SWIFR.
Media Contacts:
Ryan Gurr
Circular Arizona
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
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