Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Maricopa County Home Shows is taking upcycling to a new level by transforming past event billboards into reusable bags, keeping hundreds of pounds of vinyl out of our landfills 👏 👏

Each year, they repurpose approximately ✨ 2,500 POUNDS ✨ of vinyl from their five annual shows into unique, handcrafted items such as shopping totes, toiletry bags, and duffel bags.

Some of these products also feature protective liners made from recycled water bottles! You can buy one at their shows or online ➡️ maricopacountyhomeshows.com

ADEQ presented with a Voluntary Environmental Stewardship Program Award for their amazing efforts to reduce waste.

As comes to a close, we’re sending a massive thank you to the Perryville Fire Crew. Your skill and dedication as an all-female crew set a powerful example for us all. 👩‍🚒💪

Our gratitude extends to every firefighter across the state. Whether you're on the front lines or supporting from the station, thank you for your bravery and for keeping our communities safe year-round.

The month is ending, but the mission continues. Let’s all stay fire-ready and keep supporting those who run toward the smoke. 🚒✨

📸 Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management

Our work wouldn't be possible without collaboration. 🤝

ADEQ is working alongside the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation to support their vision for land revitalization. By utilizing an ADEQ Brownfields assessment grant, the Chapter is conducting environmental evaluations on a former landfill site. These necessary first steps will help determine the best and safest future use for the land to benefit the community.

Learn more about Brownfields Grants at azdeq.gov/brownfields

: ADEQ expands Arizona’s Fish Consumption Advisory Program to include PFOS 🎣

Read the news: azdeq.gov/pr/fca-pfos

We are getting ready to integrate perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) into our fish consumption advisory system after expanded tissue testing found elevated levels in certain locations.

What is PFOS? It's part of a larger class of forever chemicals known as PFAS.

These advisories will focus on eating fish. Recreational activities like swimming, wading, and catch-and-release fishing pose little risk!

🏆 FIRST PLACE WINNERS! 🏆

We are thrilled to announce that ADEQ took home First Place at the National Association of Government Communicators 2026 Blue Pencil and Gold Screen Awards! 🥇

Our PocketLab air quality video lesson won the top honor in the Educational or Promotional – K-12 Educational Program category. Our interactive PocketLab lesson empowers Arizona students to visualize air quality through real-time monitoring, including kicking up dust and even singing!!

This win was a team effort, but we want to give some special, well-deserved shoutouts:

ADEQ Communications Program Manager, Trevor D. created the AMAZING animated educational video that brought home the award! The video helps explain the program to teachers and students. He traveled to Palm Springs to accept the award 🎉

We also want to shout out ADEQ Principal Scientist Meghan S. who created the program with local teacher Maggie M., Shea S. our Air Quality PIO who helps keep communities informed and Joaquin M. who developed the lesson bilingually to reach border communities!

Check out the award-winning video: bit.ly/43nQdd7

WE ARE ! 📢 ADEQ is looking for an Environmental Technician to join our Air Quality team 🌵

If you love technical hands-on work and want to make a real impact on public health and the environment, this is the role for you. What you’ll do:

🌍 Perform field tests to monitor air quality and investigate pollution sources
🛠️ Set up, calibrate, test, and troubleshoot complex air monitoring instruments
📊 Collect ambient air samples and more

This position is available for full-time remote work within the state of Arizona when you aren't in the field.

Ready to help protect Arizona's air? Apply today: bit.ly/JobID_540783

🚨 PSA: DO NOT THROW AWAY NEEDLES 🚨

Needles don't belong in your trash can OR recycling bin. They can put workers in serious danger!

They need to be properly disposed of. We have options for disposal here: azdeq.gov/medical-sharps-disposal

Memorial Day water-goers 🚤

If you plan on spending your holiday on the water, be on the lookout for .

Scummy, discolored water is a sign of algae and a potential harmful algal blooms (HABs) that could make you and your pets sick. Look out for water that:

👃 Smells bad
👀 Looks discolored
🤔 Has foam, scum, algal mats, or paint-like streaks on the surface
🦴 Has dead fish or other animals washed up on its shore or beach

Learn how to spot HABs ➡️ azdeq.gov/AZHAB