Republic Services representatives updated the Apache Junction City Council on Aug. 5 about collection programs, free-dump weeks, recycling partnerships and operational matters at the company’s landfill that affect city residents.

Charlotte Thomas, general manager for Republic Services’ East Phoenix business unit, and Emma Reyes, municipal sales manager, made a presentation describing community-engagement activities and service details, including quarterly free-dump weeks for Apache Junction residents and guidance for bulk pickups and household hazardous-waste events.

Program details and participation
Reyes said the company has run free-dump weeks each quarter; for 2025 she listed the first-quarter dates as Feb. 3–8, the second-quarter dates as May 5–10, and the current free-dump week as Aug. 4–9, with a future session planned Nov. 3–8. Participation totals Reyes cited were 713 total free hauls for Q1 and 677 for Q2.

Reyes emphasized bulk-service logistics for residents: set bulk piles out the night before service (collection begins at 6 a.m.), avoid loose yard waste and keep household hazardous waste out of bulk piles. The company lists Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day as the three holidays when collections do not operate; when a holiday falls on a weekday, collection for the remainder of that week is delayed by one day.

Recycling and polymer processing
Charlotte Thomas said Republic Services is delivering material to an existing polymer recycling center and that a related plant is planned in Buckeye. Thomas also said the Vegas Polymer Center is already accepting material and that the company is working to move recycled plastic into repurposing streams.

Landfill fires, hazardous materials and special events
Council members asked about a small fire at the landfill earlier in the month. Thomas said landfill fires can be hard to trace to a single cause but that July is a particularly risky month because of fireworks, pool chemicals and lithium batteries. She said the landfill team contains fires by smothering them with dirt and that crews are trained for such incidents.

On appliances and refrigerants, Thomas said Republic Services can accept appliances that do not contain hazardous components and can coordinate household-hazardous-waste events with environmental-service partners; the company has acquired ACT Enviro, which offers hazardous-waste hauling and disposal services.

City manager Bryant Powell noted the reopenings and community services tied to the partnership. Powell told the council the city’s animal-control facility has been restored to its original building and will reopen for service about a week after the meeting; he credited Republic Services with donating roll-off containers to assist recent animal-control renovations. Powell also reminded residents that applications for city boards and commissions are due Sept. 15.

Questions from council members and residents highlighted operational details about handling oversized cacti and the timing of site reclamation work at the landfill’s north slope. Republic Services said handling of unique bulky items like large cacti requires special procedures and that final landscaping of working areas will be planned when active disposal there is complete.

Ending: Republic Services and city staff said they will keep working together on household-hazardous-waste events and resident education about bulk piles, recycling options and safe disposal of hazardous materials. The city will share future event dates and opportunities for residents to use the free-dump weeks and hazardous-waste collection events.