Salt River Landfill

The Salt River Landfill, an Enterprise of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, is committed to providing state-of-the-art solid waste disposal and recycling facilities, which are fiscally sound and operated in accordance with all rules and regulations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in order to protect the environment from degradation, promote good public health, and conserve natural resources.

The Salt River Landfill is a comprehensive solid waste management facility, that serves the Cities of Mesa and Scottsdale and the Town of Gilbert as well as the Salt River Pima-Maricopa and Fort McDowell Indian Communities. All profits from the landfill enterprise are directed to the Community's General Fund where they are used for the various services the Community provides. The landfill also has been a great source of employment opportunities for Community members.The facility consists of 200 acres of land of which approximately 144 acres are for landfill disposal. The remaining acreage is used for the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) where recyclables are sorted and baled; the facility's administrative, maintenance and scale house buildings; stormwater drainage and retention; and landfill gas collection and flare station.

 The Material Recovery Facility (MRF) owned and operated by River Recycling opened in January 2001 and continues to increase diversion of waste from the landfill to be recycled. The amount of recyclables received at the MRF has grown to over 85,000 tons annually. The landfill also diverts green waste (tree trimmings, yard wastes and untreated wood) and appliances for recycling.

Recent strides have been made to bring the landfill's goals to fruition. In January 2008, the construction of the gas pipeline connecting our facility's landfill gas collection system to the Tri-Cities Generating Plant was completed. This allows the landfill gas to be beneficially converted into power, and greatly reduce or eliminate the need to burn off the gas. In addition on March 19, 2009, the landfill received EPA approval of its Research Development and Demonstration Project to operate the landfill's Phase VI as a Bioreactor. This process speeds up the decomposition of waste thereby reducing the time period the landfill generates gas and leachate. It will also allow for additional waste placement. As the existing waste decomposes, it will reduce in volume freeing up space.

Recycling

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community has an agreement with River Recycling LLC who owns and operates the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) that is located on the Salt River Landfill property. Recyclables are delivered to the MRF by the Cities of Mesa and Scottsdale, the Town of Gilbert, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and other haulers for processing. All recyclables are accepted into the main bay area, and then loaded onto a series of conveyor belts. The commingled materials then travel through the plant where they are sorted with air classifiers, shaker screens, and manually, then each type of material is baled. Once baled, the materials are shipped to market where they are turned back into useable products.

The MRF opened in January 2001, and continues to increase diversion of recyclable materials from the landfill. The amount of recyclables received at the MRF has grown to over 85,000 tons annually. In addition, the MRF has allowed the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to develop its own curbside recycling program. 

Electronics Recycling

The Salt River Landfill has added an E-Waste recycling program to its operation. A drop-off location for electronics is located in the convenience area.  There is no charge if a customer brings in ONLY electronics with the exception of televisions and computer monitors. Televisions and monitors have a $10.00 per unit recycling fee.  However, if they have a mixed load, tipping fees will be charged at the current gate rate. 

Green Waste

The Salt River Landfill accepts Yard or Green Waste which includes leaves, tree branches, untreated and unpainted lumber, grass and plant clippings.  Regardless of whether your green waste is picked up curbside or you bring it to the landfill for disposal, it should NOT be bagged.  Yard and green waste is recycled and made into mulch or further processed and made into compost.