Gilbert Chamber honors local leaders PAGE 12
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF GILBERT) | GilbertSunNews.com
Sunday, June 23, 2019
China’s recycling limits cost Gilbert a cash cow
INSIDE
This Week
BY JIM WALSH AND CECILLA CHAN GSN Staff Writers
NEWS......................................
3
GPS, Higley boards to adopt spending plans
COMMUNITY..................
Gilbert CBD store off to flying start PAGE 17
13
Higley leader in running for award.
I
n a reversal of what has been a small revenue stream for the town, it’s now costing Gilbert money to get rid of its waste since China enacted an import ban on most plastic recyclables and other materials. China once salvaged a sizeable chunk of the world’s trash — and municipalities made money off the tons of recyclables that were shipped to the country. But last year China restricted what waste it will buy, wreaking havoc on the U.S. recycling market. In turn, Gilbert and many other municipalities across the country have lost a cash cow — and gained a financial albatross.
21
Gilbert High QB ready to take charge.
COMMUNITY...................... 12 BUSINESS..............................17 OPINION.............................. 20 SPORTS................................. 21 GETOUT................................24 CLASSIFIED.........................27
spurred China to act. China declared it would accept shipments only with a contamination level of a half percent. That means municipalities are held to the same rate by facilities that accept recycle material, according to Gilbert. Processing costs went up accordingly with the contamination level in the waste. Sustainability Coordinator Kelli Collins said the town’s recycling bales on average contain an 18-percent contamination. “Unfortunately, as curbside recycling programs aged, participants got lax in their recycling efforts and began what we call ‘wishful recycling,’” Collins said.
see RECYCLE page 6
GPS teachers prepare for new science standards
BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
SPORTS...............................
“In previous years we did collect revenue from our recycling material,” said Paul Montes, town Environmental Services manager. “Due to the suffering market, this fiscal year our total costs to the town for unloading our recyclables is expected near $250,000.” This is the first year the town is incurring a cost for unloading its residential recyclables. Previously the town was making money, with last fiscal year the town earning $342,709. In Fiscal Year 2017-18, Gilbert collected 21,173 tons of recyclables, Montes said. For Fiscal Year 2020, the town budgeted $370,000 for recycling disposal fees, but staff hopes not to use the full amount by reducing the contamination rate. The contamination level of recyclables
A
group of middle-school teachers is developing curriculum that will help their peers better understand how to implement newly adopted science standards that begin rolling out this fall. Arizona State Board of Education approved the revised standards in October 2018 with the intention of full implementation for grades K-12 by the 2021-22 school year. The board at the time also ap- Teacher Joan Gallegos, flanked by students Ruth Chege, left, and Elisa Agins, proved new standards for his- is among many science teachers who will be impacted by new state standards. (Kimberly Carrillo/GSN Staff Photographer) tory and social science.
“We are tasked with coming up with units of study for teachers to be used across the state,” said Mick Filloon, a former science teacher and now science coordinator for Gilbert Public Schools. “This will help educators in the state have a better idea on how we implement these standards and what the lessons will look like.” The major change in the standards, last approved in 2004, is how science is being taught in the classroom, according to Filloon.
Assisted Living and Memory Care
For more information call or visit our sales office! WE ARE HERE
Marcia Turner, Ngaio Tracy 480-812-8100 • EternalSpringofGilbert.com
Sales Office: 2335 S Lindsay Rd, Suite #102, Gilbert, AZ 85295
see SCIENCE page 4