Recycle Utah

Nonprofit Summit County, Utah Recycling Center

chelsea@recycleutah.org

Mastering Curbside Recycling

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When Recycle Utah goes into schools to teach Summit County students, we always start with the same introduction. We review various materials and where they can be recycled, and always tell students to go home and share what they learned with their families. If we’ve visited your student’s classroom, hopefully, you’ve heard it before! But if you haven’t, here’s a comprehensive guide to mastering curbside recycling.

It’s essential to know what can go in your curbside recycling bin and to recycle correctly. If contamination rates are too high, the entire bin could be discarded. The rule of thumb is “When in doubt, throw it out”. It’s better to throw one thing in the landfill than to risk contaminating your entire bin! We have seen much lower curbside recycling contamination rates in recent years; a decade ago, our county’s recycling contamination was about 35%, compared to today’s 20% contamination. The best way to ensure that your waste is truly being recycled is to make sure your recycling isn’t contaminated.

Curbside recycling accepts metal cans, hard plastics (like bottles and containers), paper (newspapers, magazines, office paper), and cardboard (corrugated boxes). It’s crucial to stick to these categories to avoid contamination. Glass items cannot go into mixed stream curbside bins. Glass contaminates other recyclables and can cause entire batches to be rejected. Instead, use local glass recycling drop-off bins. Food waste should never go into curbside recycling bins. Even small amounts of food residue can contaminate recyclables and render them non-recyclable.

All recyclables should be placed loose in the recycling bin. Avoid placing them in plastic bags, as they can jam recycling machinery. If recyclables are in a plastic bag, they will likely be mistaken for trash and end up in a landfill. Ensure that recyclables are at least 90% clean and dry before placing them in the bin. Rinse out food containers, remove any food residue, and let them dry completely.

Our landfill is filling up quickly, and the only way we can extend its lifetime is by creating less trash. Proper curbside recycling reduces waste, conserves natural resources, and minimizes environmental impact. By following these guidelines, you help ensure that your efforts are effective and contribute to sustainable practices in our community. Mastering curbside recycling is not just about following rules—it’s about making a meaningful impact on our planet!

By Chelsea Hafer

Living in Harmony: Responsibly Exploring Park City’s Open Space

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Park City, and the mountains and meadows of the Wasatch Back, are home to a variety of flora and fauna that are both unique to the Rocky Mountains and beautiful. With miles of trails and thousands of acres of open space, we can explore, experience, and enjoy these plants and creatures in their natural habitat. Wildflowers, trees, grasses, fungus, deer, elk, moose, mountain lions, bears, coyotes, bobcats, and eagles all lived here long before us. We must treat them with respect while recreating outdoors… or when they show up to our backyard BBQ.

Wildlife is wild. At the trailhead, always check the posted signs and warnings. Unusual wildlife activity is often noted with instructions or information about what to do and where the animal was last seen. As more recreationists hit our world-class trails, animals are experiencing an increased number of encounters and human (and dog) induced stressors. If you happen to come upon an animal, always keep your distance and give it a clear escape route (especially if offspring are present). Never crowd a wild animal; doing so could make the animal feel threatened, stressed, and become unpredictable. Always carry a leash, and when crossing paths with wildlife, be sure to keep your dog(s) close by and under control. If it’s impossible to go around and provide a wide berth, it may be time to head home and hike/bike another day.

As blooms, ‘shrooms, hops, and berries begin to pop up, we encourage people to always stay on marked trails to minimize impact. When foraging, abide by the principles of the Honorable Harvest, a practice discussed in Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book, Braiding Sweetgrass:

Ask permission of the ones whose lives you seek. Abide by the answer.
Never take the first. Never take the last.
Harvest in a way that minimizes harm.
Take only what you need and leave some for others.
Use everything that you take.
Take only that which is given to you.
Share it, as the Earth has shared with you.
Be grateful.
Reciprocate the gift.
Sustain the ones who sustain you, and the Earth will last forever.

As responsible neighbors, stewards, and kin of plants and animals, we can peacefully coexist with nature and the beings that call the Wasatch Back home. If you’d like to learn more about our connection to the natural world, join Summit Land Conservancy this summer as we hunt for hops and “bathe” in open space. Visit wesaveland.org/happenings to learn more.

By Caitlin Willard, Summit Land Conservancy

Perils of Plastic: Why Refusing Single-Use Plastics is Crucial for Our Future

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Plastic was groundbreaking when it was invented a century ago. I remember my mother having Tupperware parties in the 1960s to show off and sell the new cutting-edge reusable food storage system. Now, less than 100 years later, we are seeing the repercussions. Some of the following information comes from Eve Schaub’s book Year of No Garbage (www.eveschaub.com).

The recycling industry does not make money on plastics – we lose it. We recycle plastic because it’s the right thing to do, to keep the material that never biodegrades from filling our landfills and polluting our soil, water, and air. Five ocean garbage patches, or ‘gyres,’ exist in our seas. These patches are primarily composed of plastics that photodegrade into small pieces that appeal to fish and birds as food. When plastics end up in our landscape, their synthetic composition cannot be digested by nature, including wildlife. This includes our bodies. Many of us humans contain microplastics in our lungs, liver, tissue, urine, and more, which enter our bodies through ingestion, inhalation, and skin exposure. The plastics come from food and cosmetics, drinking water, air, beverage containers, toys and more.

The fossil fuel industry is making single-use plastics our primary option. 380 million tons of plastic are manufactured every year, and that number is increasing – plastic production is expected to double in the next 17 years. The plastics industry knows it’s a challenge to recycle the product. It’s easier and cheaper to make new material. Markets are limited for recycled plastics, while metals, glass, cardboard, and paper are consistent and occasionally even profitable. Corporations focus on ‘not littering’ and ‘recycling,’ trying to divert attention away from packaging being the central issue.

Countries and states are slowly banning bags, styrofoam, and single-use plastics. But more needs to occur globally. A mandatory cap on plastic production, restrictions on single-use plastics, and regulation of plastic chemicals are all critical steps. Companies need to be accountable for any waste they generate from cradle to grave, and we as individuals need to adjust our shopping habits to incorporate a “reduce, reuse54 and rethink” mentality. Let’s open our eyes to the myriad of plastics in our daily routine and get creative as to how we can avoid them or find an alternative. Humans can adapt quickly with a healthy dose of awareness.

By Mary Closser

Reducing Food Waste At Home

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Food waste has a large impact on climate. In the US, about 40% of food goes uneaten.  According to the Park City Community Foundation, “Roughly 80% of the solid waste that reaches our local landfill could be diverted, with up to 60% of that being food waste.”  At the current rate of use, the landfill in Park City has about 30 years left, making food waste reduction an important action for everyone.  Park City set a goal of having zero food waste in our landfill by 2030 – and it starts with you! Here are five ways you can reduce food waste at home.

  • Before grocery shopping, look through your fridge and have a plan.  Buy what is needed and keep it in mind when you plan to eat it.  Keep those quickly perishable items in a convenient spot in the fridge.
  • Store food strategically. Produce like tomatoes, bananas, apples, and avocados release ethylene gas that can cause other vegetables to spoil sooner, so they should be stored away from other produce. Treat herbs like flowers store them in a glass of water, and wash vegetables right before eating to avoid introducing moisture.
  • Purchase “ugly” food like a tomato with a soft spot or produce with a cosmetic imperfection. When food has blemishes, it will end up in the trash, but many are still perfectly good to eat. Cook “ugly” food right away, use it in smoothies, or freeze it to extend freshness.
  • Understand food dates. “Best by” dates indicate when the quality of the food starts to dip, but is likely still safe to eat.  Use your senses!  If it smells fine and looks fine, chances are it’s fine. 

Keep nutrients in the food cycle by composting. A worm bin is a great way to compost at home!  Vermicompost is a low-maintenance, mostly odorless option for recycling your vegetable waste.  Plus you get an extremely high-quality fertilizer for your garden.  If you live in Park City (84060 or 84098), you can sign up for curbside food waste pickup through Momentum Recycling, free for the first 1000 people who sign up through Park City Community Foundation’s Zero Waste program https://parkcitycf.org/zerofoodwaste/

By Brightie Huddleston, Summit Community Gardens – EATS

Sustaining Environmental Excellence: The Costs Behind Recycle Utah

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In the heart of Park City, nestled among the mountains, lies Recycle Utah, your local nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental conservation through recycling and education. Recycle Utah accepts and processes over 45 different types of materials, from plastics and metals to electronics and hazardous waste. Behind the scenes of this important community resource lies a complex web of costs and financial challenges crucial for its continued operation.

Recycling is wonderful and is hugely beneficial to the community in both economic and environmental terms.  But it isn’t free.  Recycle Utah spends over $750,000 annually to run its facility, manage its recycling programs, and educate the community on sustainability. To cover these costs, it relies on several revenue streams. Annually, Recycle Utah receives approximately $185,000 in grants from local governments and foundations.  It also receives revenue from the sale of recyclable materials, which in 2023 generated revenue of about $55,000. Interestingly, although Recycle Utah can sell many of the materials it collects, in most cases the shipping costs it incurs are more than the revenue it receives from material sales. For instance, shipping costs exceeded revenue from glass recycling by $28,000 in 2023.   Recycle Utah also receives revenue from its Warehouse, which last year contributed an additional $90,000 through sales of used items.  The balance of its revenue, and the backbone of Recycle Utah’s financial sustainability, is the community itself.  Through donations and fundraising events, the organization secures approximately $420,000 annually. 

As Recycle Utah continues its mission to promote sustainability and environmental responsibility, the need for ongoing community support remains paramount. By donating, participating in fundraising events, or simply spreading awareness about the organization’s initiatives, individuals and businesses alike can contribute to the long-term viability of this community resource. Recycle Utah is an example of our community’s dedication to sustainability and the beauty of our natural environment. Through a blend of public support, community partnerships, and dedicated leadership, Recycle Utah not only facilitates recycling but also fosters a culture of sustainability that resonates deeply within Park City and beyond. Consider supporting Recycle Utah in its mission to create a cleaner, greener future for generations to come by donating next time you visit the center, or visit recycleutah.com/donate.

By Chelsea Hafer

Heat Pumps

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A recent U.S. Department of Energy report states that space heating (and cooling) is the number one use of energy in our homes, resulting in high bills and consequential pollution. No doubt a ‘heat pump’ has entered your mind as an option to replace your fading furnace, but you’re worried about its cost and capacity to perform in cold weather. In reality, heat pumps are a cost-effective and energy efficient replacement for old heating and cooling systems.

Heat pumps use less energy to heat (or cool) homes and save money on bills (up to $1,000/year), in addition to reducing CO2 emissions from natural gas. They are dual functioning, meaning they heat in the winter and cool in the summer, so no need for a separate AC. They use electricity to transfer heat into and out of your home. Even if electricity is drawn from coal (still 60% of the U.S.A.), the emissions are less than a gas furnace, similar to an electric car being powered by coal instead of gas.

Cost varies depending on heat pump type, house size and local climate. It could cost up to $14,000 including installation, though the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers rebates up to $8,000 and tax credits up to $2,000. New technologies have drastically improved allowing heat pumps to work in cold temperatures below -10 degrees F. Finally, if you decide a heat pump isn’t right for you, other systems are available, like mini heat pumps, mini-splits, or hybrid dual-fuel heat pump systems. Tax credits and rebates from the IRA bill are also available for certain systems.

Gas furnaces typically last 10-30 years, depending on quality and maintenance. If you’re within that range, it’s time to consider electric heating options. Summit County is on track to be powered by renewables by 2030 through the Utah Renewable Communities program established by HB 411 in 2019. As heat pump technologies change, users also should adapt. Now is a great time to start researching trained contractors and the appropriate electric heating and cooling system best suited for your home – next stop is your water heater! Utah Clean

Energy (utahcleanenergy.org) is a wonderful resource for the energy-curious consumer.

By Mary Closser