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ARIZONA RECYCLING COALITION
PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 860706711 · Form 990 · FY2020 · NTEE C03 · Environment · Micro (<$100K) · arizonarecyclingcoalition.org
revenue
$50K
expenses
$12K
net assets
$194K
employees
0
volunteers
8
program ratio
52%
mission · from form 990

THE ARIZONA RECYCLING COALITION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION OF PROFESSIONALS AND CITIZENS PLEDGED TO PROMOTING RECYCLING EFFORTS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT ARIZONA. IT PROVIDES STRONG LEADERSHIP ON WASTE REDUCTION ISSUES AND PROMOTES THE REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE ETHIC THROUGH EDUCATION AND MEMBERSHIP INVOLVEMENT IN THE STATE.

profile · synthesized from sources

Circular Arizona fosters an equitable circular economy in Arizona through innovation, education, and collaboration. The organization connects professionals across municipal, nonprofit, academic, and for-profit sectors to advance place-based solutions in waste reduction, reuse, and sustainability. It operates as a statewide network offering events, grants, scholarships, and advocacy to support systemic change.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2020

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $1K
    MAINTENANCE OF A WEBSITE TO PROMOTE "REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE" ETHIC FOR OUR MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.
  2. #2 $500
    GRANTS TO OTHER 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND GOVERNMENTAL UNITS PROMOTE THE REDUCTION, REUSE AND RECYCLING OF MATERIALS. GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST COLLEGE-LEVEL STUDENTS WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO STUDY IN THE AREAS OF SUSTAINABILITY, PARTICULARLY AS APPLIED TO WASTE REDUCTION, WASTE DIVERSION, WISE USE OF RESOURCES, AND RE-USE AND RECYCLING. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, MOST GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED IN 2020 WERE PAID OUT IN 2021.
named programs · 6 · from sources

what they call their work

Circular Arizona Awards
Annual recognition program celebrating leaders and organizations advancing circular economy practices in Arizona
Circular Arizona Grants
Competitive grant program funding on-the-ground circular economy projects; funded by named sponsors
Circular Arizona Scholarships
Named scholarships supporting emerging leaders, particularly students and early-career professionals, in the circular economy
Circular Arizona Webinars
Statewide educational webinars on circular economy topics, supported by sponsorships and open to members and the public
Circular Economy Symposium
Flagship annual event convening leaders across Arizona to advance circular economy solutions through networking, education, and recognition
Northern and Southern Connection Events
Regional convenings that engage local leaders in Northern and Southern Arizona on circular economy initiatives
activities · 3 groups

what they do

  • Grants and Awards for Circular Economy 9 activities
    • Administer scholarships for Arizona students in sustainability
      Awards two $2,500 scholarships annually to Arizona students pursuing careers in environmental sustainability, with recent recipients recognized for leadership in sustainability policy, recycling outreach, and circular economy advocacy.
    • Award grants to support circular economy projects
      Provides grant funding, including up to $5,000 per recipient, to organizations and initiatives advancing circular economy practices in Arizona; has awarded nearly $300,000 since the 1990s to increase recycling and divert waste from landfills.
    • Awarding Grants and Scholarships
      Awards grants and scholarships annually to support circular economy innovation, initiatives, and professional development, including two $2,500 scholarships to Arizona students pursuing environmental sustainability careers. Since the 1990s, nearly $300,000 has been awarded to increase recycling and divert waste from landfills, with recent grants of $5,000 each to Knead Technologies, Inc. and Keep Phoenix Beautiful in 2025.
    • Awarding Grants and Scholarships
      Awards grants and scholarships annually to individuals and organizations in Arizona to support circular economy initiatives, waste diversion, and environmental sustainability education, with individual grants up to $5,000 and scholarships of $2,500.
    • Awarding Grants and Scholarships for Circular Economy Initiatives
      Awards grants and scholarships annually to individuals and organizations in Arizona to support circular economy innovation, projects, and professional development, including specific scholarships for students pursuing environmental sustainability careers and grants for waste diversion and food waste management projects.
    • Recognize leadership in circular economy through annual awards
      Administers an annual awards program honoring individuals and organizations for achievements in sustainability and circular economy practices, with awards made from recycled plastics.
    • Recognizing Achievements in Sustainability
      Administers an annual awards program recognizing individuals and organizations contributing to the circular economy in Arizona. In 2025, awards crafted from locally collected and recycled plastics were presented for achievements in sustainability and circular economy practices.
    • Recognizing Circular Economy Contributions
      Administers an annual awards program to recognize individuals and organizations for their achievements in sustainability and circular economy practices in Arizona, with awards crafted from locally collected and recycled plastics.
    • Recognizing Contributions to the Circular Economy
      Administers an annual awards program to recognize individuals and organizations for their achievements in sustainability and circular economy practices in Arizona.
  • Stakeholder Convening & Knowledge Sharing 9 activities
    • Fostering Collaboration and Education in Circular Economy
      Connects diverse stakeholders including industry leaders, academics, students, nonprofits, Tribal Nations, businesses, and local governments to foster learning, innovation, and collaboration on equitable circular solutions through events, newsletters, and digital content, and offers membership options for organizations and student groups.
    • Fostering Collaboration and Networking
      Fosters an equitable circular economy by connecting Arizonans, including industry leaders, academics, students, nonprofits, Tribal Nations, businesses, and local governments, through innovation, education, and collaboration. This includes engaging over 600 professionals across various sectors through events, newsletters, and digital content.
    • Fostering Collaboration and Networking
      Connects professionals, industry leaders, academics, students, nonprofits, Tribal Nations, businesses, and local governments across Arizona to foster learning, innovation, and collaboration on equitable circular solutions through events, newsletters, and digital content.
    • Host circular economy webinars and research forums
      Produces a webinar series titled "Researched by Grads" focused on circular economy topics in Arizona, providing a platform for academic and applied research dissemination.
    • Hosting Educational Webinars
      Hosts a webinar series titled "Researched by Grads" focused on circular economy topics relevant to Arizona.
    • Hosting Educational Webinars
      Hosts a webinar series titled "Researched by Grads" focused on circular economy topics in Arizona.
    • Hosting Research-Focused Webinars
      Hosts a webinar series titled "Researched by Grads" focused on circular economy topics in Arizona, disseminating research findings to a broader audience.
    • Provide membership and networking for circular economy stakeholders
      Offers tiered organizational and student group memberships, connects professionals across sectors, and shares resources through monthly newsletters to foster collaboration, innovation, and education in Arizona’s circular economy.
    • Providing Member Resources and Engagement
      Offers tiered organization memberships, including options for student-led sustainability groups, to support participation in circular economy initiatives. Members receive exclusive monthly newsletters featuring grant and award opportunities.
  • Recycling & Reuse Education and Advocacy 4 activities
    • Advocate for improved recycling systems and circular design
      Promotes recycling through advocacy for better waste collection and processing infrastructure, public awareness campaigns, and supports circular economy principles such as product redesign, material reuse, refurbishment, and remanufacturing.
    • Advocating for Circular Economy Practices
      Promotes and advocates for a circular economy by encouraging product redesign, material reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing initiatives, and improved waste collection and processing systems in Arizona.
    • Advocating for Circular Economy and Recycling
      Actively promotes recycling by advocating for improved waste collection systems, better processing facilities, and increased public awareness. The organization also fosters a circular economy by encouraging product redesign for longer lifespans, facilitating material reuse and refurbishment, and supporting remanufacturing initiatives.
    • Promoting and Advocating for Circular Economy Practices
      Actively promotes recycling by advocating for improved waste collection systems, better processing facilities, and increased public awareness, and fosters a circular economy by encouraging product redesign, material reuse, refurbishment, and remanufacturing initiatives.
financials · form 990 · fy2020
revenue
Total revenue$50K
Contributions & grants$50K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$200%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$12K
Program expenses52%
Admin / overhead30%
Fundraising17%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$500
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$194K
Cash$194K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$194K
Liquid reserves197.7 mo
1 years on record · 2020–2020
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2020

who runs it

board members · 8
  • ARIEL LEBARRON — DIRECTOR
  • CLARK LANDRUM — TREASURER
  • DANIEL VELEZ — DIRECTOR
  • DEB COY — DIRECTOR SINCE 2-2020
  • DYLAN LENZEN — CHAIR
  • JB SHAW — SECRETARY
  • TERRY GELLENBECK — VICE CHAIR
  • TODD BLAIR — DIRECTOR SINCE 2-2020
relationships · 16

who they work with

  • ASU Circular Living Lab’s Plastics Microfactory Partner — Crafted physical awards from locally collected and recycled plastics.
  • Amentum Corporation Partner — Awarded Large Business of the Year in 2025 for implementing waste diversion initiatives and innovative recycling programs.
  • Arizona State University Partner — Student recipient of Circular Arizona scholarship from this institution.
  • Charity Navigator Network — Rated by Charity Navigator, indicating participation in its evaluation network.
  • Circular Arizona Network — ARIZONA RECYCLING COALITION operates as part of the Circular Arizona network.
  • Circular Arizona Network — Arizona Recycling Coalition operates as Circular Arizona, a network convening municipal, government, nonprofit, academic, student, and for-profit organizations.
  • City of Tucson Partner — Awarded Municipality of the Year in 2025 for leadership in waste diversion, composting programs, and educational outreach.
  • Keep Phoenix Beautiful Partner — Received a $5,000 grant in 2025 to launch a HomeBiogas project.
  • Knead Technologies, Inc. Partner — Received a $5,000 grant in 2025 to expand its food waste management pilot in Phoenix.
  • Let’s Go Compost Partner — Named Circular Arizona’s 2024 Nonprofit of the Year.
  • Originate Natural Building Materials Partner — Awarded Small Business of the Year in 2025 for promoting environmentally responsible building and reducing construction waste.
  • Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary Partner — Awarded Nonprofit of the Year in 2025 for outstanding food waste reduction and composting initiatives.
  • Rover Elementary School Partner — Awarded School of the Year in 2025 for its Rover Vine school garden initiative, integrating composting and sustainability education.
  • The Desert Refillery Partner — Named Circular Arizona’s Small Business of the Year 2024
  • Town of Queen Creek Partner — Received a grant in 2024 to expand its smart public space recycling program.
  • University of Arizona Partner — Student recipient of Circular Arizona scholarship from this institution.