Sustainable Materials

“You are what you eat.” Most of my generation has heard this phrase at some point, usually as a warning against fast food, added sugars, and preservatives. But this same adage applies to another growing issue: the rise of microplastics in our food and environment.

Microplastics are plastic fragments five millimeters or smaller, broken down from larger plastic waste. Their concentration has increased sixfold since the 1990s due to our growing dependence on plastic and inadequate waste disposal systems. Microplastics contaminate air, water, and soil, harming the organisms that ingest them and increasing in concentrations as they make their way up the food chain through biological magnification.

The pressing concern for humans, however, is that we digest organisms and we drink the water filled with plastic. We are connected to the environment, and that environment is filling with plastic; statistics show that the average person consumes five grams of microplastics per week, and more and more research is proving the harmful effects that this has on our physiology.

Microplastics have direct effects on the human circulatory, respiratory, immune, and endocrine systems. In the short term, they can cause oxidative stress, weakened immunity, organ dysfunction, and respiratory issues. Long-term exposure can disrupt essential bodily functions and even increase cancer risk.

Now you may be thinking, “That’s terrible, but what am I supposed to do about it?” Here are a few actions you can take to prevent microplastic consumption:

• Reduce the amount of plastic you use and purchase. Instead of using one-time-use
  items, invest in reusable bags, Tupperware, silverware, etc.
• Reduce your consumption of processed foods.
• Filter your tap water.
• Avoid containers that have a plastic lining.

These simple actions reduce your risk of ingesting microplastics while also benefiting the environment by cutting plastic waste. In today’s world, we are constantly reminded of environmental challenges—but small, conscious choices can make a real impact. By choosing less plastic in our daily lives, we take one small but meaningful step toward a cleaner, healthier future.

By Grayson Rae

In 2017, Vail Resorts announced “Commitment to Zero”, a goal across resorts to achieve a net-zero operating footprint by 2030. At Park City Mountain (PCM), efforts have been centered on reducing landfill waste, a particularly relevant focus given the community’s ongoing discussions about improving waste diversion. I chatted with Erin Fulmore, PCM’s Sustainability Coordinator, to learn more about what the mountain is doing to meet its sustainability goals.

PCM is taking steps to reduce landfill waste by expanding recycling efforts, cutting down on disposables, and improving waste sorting. Currently, 66% of the resort’s waste is diverted from landfills, thanks to a variety of initiatives aimed at reducing waste. Beyond traditional recycling streams like cardboard, mixed recyclables, and metals, PCM has introduced specialized recycling programs for rubber gloves, soft plastics, ski passes, employee uniforms, and my personal favorite, snack wrappers. Granola bar wrappers and chip bags are recycled into outdoor patio furniture which can be seen at the on-mountain dining facilities Summit House and Sun Lodge.A more recent addition to the resort’s waste diversion efforts is wood and pallet recycling, with scrap wood now being composted locally. PCM is also prioritizing food waste reduction, collecting food scraps from kitchens and lodges to be composted. Inside the lodges, a shift toward reusable cups, plates, and utensils has further minimized waste, while compostable Eco-Products cups are used for hot beverages.

With all these different waste streams, sorting waste can be confusing. That’s why PCM has back-of-house waste management. Employees sort waste into different streams to minimize contamination and ensure materials go into their proper bins. Many of the waste streams aren’t public-facing, because streams like snack wrappers and compost need virtually no contamination to be recycled. If you’re at PCM, the best thing you can do is bring your plates
and trays to the sorting stations to be sorted by trained staff. Make sure all beverage cups make it to a sorting station, because if your cup goes in the trash or recycling bins it can’t be composted. Last May, PCM transitioned to 100% renewable electricity through the Elektron Solar Project.With climate change threatening snowfall and winter sports, PCM is working to cut emissions and waste for the long-term sustainability of skiing. By prioritizing waste reduction, recycling, and renewable energy, the resort is working to minimize its footprint and preserve outdoor recreation for future generations.

By Chelsea Hafer

Recycling plastic is a great way to reduce environmental impact. Plastic is one of the most commonly used materials, yet when it ends up in the landfill, it can take up to 500 years to break down, never truly biodegrading. Some plastics are recyclable in your curbside bin, and the other, harder-to-recycle plastics can be dropped off at Recycle Utah to be recycled.

Recyclable plastics will have a recycling symbol and a number printed on them. In general, plastics #1 and #2 are always recyclable in your curbside bin. If the plastic is firm or hard, such as a plastic water bottle or detergent bottle, it can typically go in your curbside bin. However,soft plastics you can crinkle in your hand need to be taken to Recycle Utah or another certified drop-off center, such as Smith’s or Walmart. Soft plastics include plastic bags, plastic wrap, Ziploc bags, etc. Soft plastics are never allowed in curbside bins because they jam the machine and slow down the recycling process. The best solution for plastic bags is to reduce use or avoid buying them.

Most of the time, if the symbol on your packaging says it is recyclable, it is. The most frequent exception to this rule is non-refrigerated Tetra Paks. Shelf-stable liquids, such as alternative milk and broth, packaged in a Tetra Pak is not recyclable in the state of Utah. These items can cause curbside bins to be contaminated and landfilled, so be very careful not to put them in your recycling bins. Refrigerated milk cartons can be included in your curbside recycling bin in

Summit County, as they are lined with plastic instead of metal. So, what happens to plastics after you recycle them? Plastics in your curbside bin get sent to one of several sorting facilities in Utah. Plastics are then sorted by type, shredded, and melted into pellets to be remade into new plastic materials. The process is far less environmentally harmful than creating virgin plastics. Supporting products with reduced or non-plastic packaging, or being able to reuse products as much as possible before recycling them, is a great way to mitigate the problem of plastic pollution.

By Mia Moore

We’ve all heard that plastics are bad for the environment, but do we truly understand why?

Every day, we unknowingly consume microplastics, while animals on land and in water are
ingesting, choking on, and becoming entangled in plastic waste. As a result, habitats are being
destroyed, and species are dying at alarming rates. While these issues are visible, there’s much more beneath the surface.

Virtually all plastic is made from petrochemicals derived from crude oil and natural gas. While
manufacturing plastics, enormous amounts of energy are spent, while unwelcome GHG
(greenhouse gas) is discharged into the air. If our plastic consumption continues unchecked and production expands as planned by the fossil fuel industry, the consequences for our planet and our health will be devastating. By 2030, emissions from plastic production could surpass 40 times the total emissions generated by all fossil fuel vehicles in the U.S. in 2022.

Beyond pollution and emissions, plastics expose us to toxic chemicals throughout their life
cycle—during production, use, and disposal. More than 2,000 chemicals used in plastic
manufacturing are now recognized as hazardous to human health. Even more alarming, nano-
plastics—microscopic particles from plastics—can enter our bodies through food, water, and
even the air we breathe. Researchers are only beginning to understand how much nano-plastics and toxic chemicals accumulate in our organs—and the damage they may cause to our health.

Although it will be hard, if not impossible, for humans to live without plastics, there is a class of plastics that we can absolutely live without. Single use plastics amplify the detriments caused by plastics while encouraging the use-once-then-toss culture.

Our climate is already experiencing the severe consequences of poor environmental
stewardship. The future of our children, and the life of the once plentiful and healthy planetary ecosystem we depend on, is at stake. But there’s good news: by changing our habits and demanding action from corporations, we can shift the trajectory away from environmental disaster and toward a sustainable future.

By Kathryn Kim

Coffee – that special liquid that coaxes us from slumber through its aroma and taste every
morning. Have you ever thought about the associated waste with this daily ritual? While our
consumption differs, my general calculation reveals one 10-ounce bag of java per week for two coffee drinkers in a home.

Imagine 52 of these bags in the landfill, just from your household! Sadly, the packaging requires an aluminum barrier to protect the coffee properly, and that thin layer of aluminum is adhered to polyester film, making the packaging unrecyclable as a mixed material.

What can we do about this? Stop drinking coffee and switch to compostable tea bags, packaged in paper? Perhaps. The good news is that there are sustainable options, though they require some work, creativity, and new habits.

1. Buy coffee beans in bulk and refill them in your own glass, tin, or plastic container. I use
   two tin cans and alternate refilling them with bulk coffee from The Market. Not all stores
   offer this, so you’ll need to call around. Check out Hello Bulk in SLC for many other bulk
   products. Or, you can directly purchase from a shop or manufacturer that roasts on-site.
   If they currently bag coffee, request a more environmental alternative.
2. Find alternatives to using pods for single-use coffee machines, at home or work.
   Reusable coffee filters are available to wash and reuse instead of sending them to the
   landfill.
3. Speak up to your favorite coffee manufacturer or local café. Consider changing to a
   different manufacturer that is more sustainable (and let the old one know why you
   changed). Make positive suggestions.
   
   Coffee is an industry riddled with single-use satisfaction, with the numerous to-go cups, lids, K-cups, and coffee bags landing in landfills. Don’t forget your reusable mug. Ditch the K-cups. Buy beans in bulk. Compost beans and compostable filters. Finally, buy light or medium roast to save energy and enhance caffeine intake!

By Mary Closser