He goes with our Zero Waste Team to remind people how easy it is to recycle right. His name is meant to remind people of our goal of becoming a zero waste city by 2050.
Zero the Recycling Raptor
Zero the Recycling Raptor is the mascot and special ambassador for our Zero Waste Team. He made his first public appearance in 2021 and has been getting kids excited about recycling ever since.
Zero Around Town
Zero is the most colorful member of the Zero Waste Team, which operates within the Public Works Department. You may have seen him at sustainability events, parades, or even zipping through downtown Phoenix on his zero-emission electric scooter.
Height: 6'6"
Top speed: 20 mph
Special ability: Tossing plastic water bottles into blue bins with insane accuracy
Mascots Through the Years
Recyclesaurus
Zero's appearance pays homage to Recyclesaurus -- his predecessor and the original recycling mascot in Phoenix. From the moment he hatched from his egg at the City's landfill in the 1980s (when the concept of recycling was brand new), Recyclesaurus has been an important educational tool in valley schools. Recyclesaurus is still a recycling ambassador and the mascot of Keep Phoenix Beautiful to this day.
Binny
In 2005,, the City of Phoenix welcomed Binny. The happy, blue recycle bin helped Phoenicians understand what items should go in the curbside recycling bin and what items should not. He could often be seen with a bright blue garbage truck that gave examples of proper recycling habits.
Captain Toxic
Captain Toxic served Phoenix well in the 1990s. His was a unique challenge -- facing off against hazardous materials that can start fires inside garbage trucks, at the transfer station, or at the landfill. His black bandit mask reminded residents that dangerous things like paints, oils, pool chemicals, and batteries are the bad guys for curbside bins. Captain Toxic is now retired, but the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection program still provides customers a way to have their hazardous items collected from their doorstep without putting solid waste employees in danger.
- Recyclesaurus
- Binny
- Captain Toxic
Wild Bill Pickup
Wild Bill Pickup started as a cartoon cactus who encouraged Phoenicians to bag their trash. Rather than an actual mascot, he was a friendly character who appeared on stickers, pamphlets, and educational material.
Eventually, the visual concept of Wild Bill Pickup changed to a cartoon cowboy with a very large mustache. He printed catchy stickers with helpful reminders about how to use curbside bins properly.
Finally, Wild Bill morphed fully into a living, breathing mascot when one of the Phoenix solid waste equipment operators dressed up as a cowboy and started going to public events. While Phoenix Public Works showed off garbage trucks and other machinery, Wild Bill was teaching good trash habits to kids and adults alike.
Souveniers and Collectibles
Mingling With Mascots
Recycling is a slam dunk with Zero and Go the Gorilla at the Footprint Center!
Recyclesaurus also has some pretty famous friends! He's been known to hang out with Big Red and Sparky at public events.
Binny and Recyclesaurus have also gotten together with Smoky Bear, GCU's Thunder the Antelope, and other local mascots to promote recycling right.
- Zero and The Suns Gorilla
- Recyclesaurus with Big Red and Sparky
- Recyclesaurus with local mascots