Home to the Grand Canyon and a number of other natural treasures, Arizona has been famous for its Western sense of conservation, its focus on natural beauty and preserving our wild heritage. A desert state, Arizona has faced particular concerns with water conservation, but recycling of all types—not the least of which is auto recycling and salvage—and other environmental projects have found a home even in this conservative state. Here’s the latest recycling and environmental news for Arizona.

Chandler Fights and Recycles Illegal Signs

One common and unsightly form of pollution is the tacky paper signs posted on a wooden stake advertising various work from home schemes and other iffy products. Wind, bad weather and other conditions turn these already ugly ads into even uglier litter. Officials in Chandler have followed the lead of cities around the country in banning these signs—"litter on a stick" they call them—without a permit.

Having recently passed the law, code enforcers have been busy removing the potential litter and recycling it responsibly. Observers have noticed a significant decline in the number of such signs, giving Chandler residents hope for a less polluted future.

Mining Company Tests for Toxins, Expects Major Clean Ups

Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc. (FMI), one of Arizona’s largest mining outfits, is testing soil at homes, parks and schools around the city of Bisbee, concerned about high levels of toxic heavy metals. Levels of lead, arsenic, manganese and various other metallic chemicals regulated by the state were shown in a number of cases to have far outstripped safe levels established by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

FMI has been offering free soil tests to homeowners in the Bisbee area, and has set up information booths around the city to inform residents of the program. At least 500 sites have been identified for clean up by the mining firm, with many more expected to follow. The pollution is a legacy of mining’s heyday in the area, when mine waste was used in a number of construction projects. FMI has made a voluntary commitment to replace contaminated soil, properly dispose of it and restore landscaping in areas affected by the clean up.

Nogales Wastewater Plant Project Steaming Ahead

In a state where water is a precious resource, wastewater efforts tend to be innovative and extensive. On the United States border with Mexico, Nogales sits on the long polluted Santa Cruz River, marked by discolored water and a foul odor. All of that is changing now, thanks to a $65 million upgrade to the local wastewater plant. Residents are noticing that the River now looks more appealing for recreational purposes, and the color and smell have noticeably improved.

The plant sits on the Mexico side of the border, but the water involved feeds into an aquifer used on the U.S. side, making international cooperation essential. Officials who brought the complex project in under budget and on time are being celebrated not just by environmentalists, but by business and community leaders as well.