Municipal, Financial

Balcones receives recycling contract from city of Phoenix

The city of Phoenix has awarded Balcones Resources, based in Austin, Texas, with a materials processing contract. Under the terms of the contract, Balcones will operate two facilities in Phoenix—the North Gateway facility and the 27th Avenue facility, marking its sixth and seventh facilities.

Balcones also operates facilities in Austin; Taylor, Texas; Dallas; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Sarasota, Florida. Additionally, the company has an eighth facility that is expected to open in 2024 in San Antonio.

According to Balcones, Phoenix City Council approved an ordinance Oct. 12 to reward a five-year contract to Balcones, with the contracted period starting in mid-2023. Balcones tells Recycling Today the contract also includes up to five one-year extensions.

“The city of Phoenix has always been a leader in sustainability, and they have high expectations for their recycling program,” Balcones CEO Adam Vehik says. “Recycling is our life’s work, so we are very excited to partner with the city to help them achieve their goals.”

According to Balcones, the Phoenix facilities will process a combined total of at least 130,000 tons of material each year with the contract prioritizing the creation of local loops and keeping recycled materials within the local economy whenever possible. Balcones says it also has identified multiple local end markets as potential outlets for Phoenix’s recyclables.

Balcones says its mission focuses on industry stewardship, operational expertise and a commitment to maintaining material recovery facilities (MRFs) at their optimum productivity and efficiency.

“We are thrilled to form a new partnership with the city of Phoenix, a city that shares Balcones’ commitment to circularity and innovation,” says Natalie Betts, director of partnerships and municipal relations at Balcones Resources. “We bid on this opportunity because our company goals were aligned with the city’s goals for this contract and for their recycling program, which is critical to a successful relationship between a MRF operator and a community.”