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City and Community Leaders Unveil the Republic Services Sustainable Garden in Downtown Phoenix

The one-of-a-kind oasis in the heart of Phoenix features 33 native desert species and nearly 4,000 plants for residents and visitors to enjoy

PHOENIX (Feb. 1, 2023) — City of Phoenix officials and Republic Services and community leaders today celebrated the unveiling of the Republic Services Garden at Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix. The one-acre sustainable garden, with 33 native desert species chosen for their ability to thrive in the Phoenix heat and low water requirements, was made possible through a $2 million contribution from the Republic Services Charitable Foundation.

During a ribbon-cutting event, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari, Republic Services President and CEO Jon Vander Ark and officials from the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department and partners Phoenix Community Alliance and the Hance Park Conservancy revealed the sustainable oasis to the community.

“Republic’s vision is to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world, so we are proud to be working through our Charitable Foundation on our largest neighborhood revitalization project yet, right here in our hometown of Phoenix,” said Jon Vander Ark, Republic Services president and CEO. “This one-of-a-kind sustainable garden represents our commitment to creating cleaner, healthier and stronger spaces in the neighborhoods where our team members and customers live and work.”

The one-acre Republic Services Garden includes nearly 60 trees and 4,000 visually striking groundcovers, vines, grasses, perennials, succulents and shrubs. The diverse selection of plants will provide a habitat for pollinators, such as butterflies, bees and hummingbirds, and the garden has a recycled steel canopy to shade walking paths and seating areas.

“As Phoenix welcomes thousands of visitors to Hance Park for Super Bowl LVII in just a few days, this Republic Services Garden will be a must-see experience,” said Mayor Kate Gallego. “Public parks and open spaces are essential to healthy communities, and this sustainable garden is an investment that will pay dividends for those visiting and living in our downtown Phoenix community.”

Charitable Giving is a core element of Republic's ambitious 2030 sustainability goals. Since 2018, the Republic Services Charitable Foundation has positively impacted nearly 7.2 million people and aims to impact 20 million people through its charitable giving initiatives by 2030. Other Phoenix-area projects funded by the Foundation include National Neighborhood Promise^® grants and service projects to revitalize Phoenix schools and neighborhoods.

The Republic Services Garden was initially announced in April 2022 as part of the Margaret T. Hance Park Revitalization Project, a public-private partnership to redesign the 32-acre area and create a vibrant urban park for residents and visitors alike.

About Republic Services, Inc.

Republic Services, Inc. is a leader in the environmental services industry. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides customers with the most complete set of products and services, including recycling, solid waste, special waste, hazardous waste, container rental and field services. Republic's industry-leading commitments to advance circularity, reduce emissions and decarbonize operations are helping deliver on its vision to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world.