Sustainable Materials

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

When thinking about climate change, it sometimes feels like many of the solutions are out of the hands of individuals and rest solely in the hands of governments and large corporations. However, many of the actions we must take to curb climate change start in our homes – and our yards. Gas-powered leaf blowers, for example, have emerged as a symbol of environmental degradation and public health risks, and some people have begun to speak up.

Each fall, Park City lights up with red, orange, and yellow as the leaves change on our oaks and aspens. And each fall, as these leaves float to the ground, people bring out their gas-powered leaf blowers. The noise from these dystopian gas guzzlers disrupt the tranquility of fall, but their impact extends far past noise pollution. Unlike modern cars, most leaf blowers still have two-stroke engines, which spew unburned fuel into the air. Some leaf blowers can emit more pollutants in half an hour than a cross-country trip in a gas-guzzling truck.

The noise pollution from leaf blowers is equally concerning. People and animals are disturbed by the low-frequency roar of leaf blowers. Prolonged exposure to the noise and emissions from these machines can lead to hearing loss, asthma, and heart disease. Not surprisingly, this disproportionately affects low-wage workers who spend more time operating leaf blowers.

Some progress is underway. Across the country, over 100 US cities have banned gas-powered leaf blowers. Salt Lake City is offering residents up to $500 for switching their gas-powered lawn equipment, including leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and weed whackers, to electric alternatives. This is a critical step in improving air quality in the valley. Winter Park commissioners have also proposed a voter referendum for a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers.

Still, in Park City the action lies in the hands of residents and landscapers. Developments continue to be made in battery technologies, offering viable alternatives to gas-powered leaf blowers. The initial cost of these electric leaf blowers may be higher, but when considering the benefits to air quality and improved public health, these costs make the decision straightforward.

Gas-powered leaf blowers may seem trivial in the grand scheme of global climate change, but their impact is profound. By regulating and ultimately banning them from our neighborhoods, we can foster a quieter, healthier environment while making meaningful strides in the fight against climate change.

By Chelsea Hafer

You may have heard scary reports about large-scale farming and the negative impacts of mass food production. But don’t despair! Here in Park City, we have lots of trust-worthy local farms; but what’s more, we have the fun option to grow our own food! In an era riddled with environmental concerns, home gardening has emerged as a sustainable and rewarding practice.

Home gardening has a smaller carbon footprint than store bought food, which requires energy from transportation and machinery. By growing food, you’ll also reduce your plastic and paper consumption from packaging. Additionally, large food industries take up millions of acres of space for the sprawl of farmland, often depleting the soil of nutrients through overuse. Home grown food typically requires a lot less space, and it can promote soil health and bring in beneficial insects and worms. Growing food at home also means that you can ensure your food is grown the way you want it to be, organically grown without pesticides or chemicals. Your food will be rich in nutrients and fresh.

This all sounds great in theory, but in reality, with Park City’s dry climate and high altitude, it can be difficult to grow food. Here are some practices that can help you maximize efficiency and garden sustainably:

1. Water Conservation: Save water by utilizing a mulch base and water with old rainwater. You can also use drip irrigation to save water.
2. Soil Management: Improve soil fertility and water retention by using organic matter, such as compost. Consider container gardening to help with rocky and shallow areas.
3. Crop Selection: Choose hardy crops that can survive in dry environments. Examples include tomatoes, peppers, kale, carrots, rosemary, and some berries.
4. Microclimate Consideration: Take advantage of microclimates within your garden space, such as south-facing slopes for warmth and protection from wind, or shaded areas for delicate plants during hot summer months.
5. Maximize each season: Consider utilizing greenhouses and other insulation/cooling methods to prolong your growing season.

Home-growing food provides benefits to the gardener and the planet. Gardening is a fun and peaceful pastime that can help us connect with nature and learn the gratification of hard work with a tasty result!

By Grayson Rae

With the snow melting, now is a great time to start thinking about starting your own backyard compost pile! While composting can seem daunting, it is actually a straightforward process that can help save landfill space, keep harmful methane emissions out of our climate, and help your soil by providing essential nutrients. Composting, at its essence, is the process of combining carbon-based materials with nitrogen-based materials, along with water and oxygen, to support microbial decomposition. This breakdown produces a nutrient-rich compost that strengthens soil and supports thriving gardens. The beauty of composting lies in its ability to provide natural recycling, converting kitchen scraps and yard waste into valuable resources for sustainable gardening.

To start composting, you’ll need a few supplies: a containment structure (such as wire fencing or pallets), a mix of carbon and nitrogen materials, water for moisture regulation, a compost thermometer for temperature monitoring, and basic tools like a shovel and pitchfork. With these tools, you’ll be ready to create a compost pile in your backyard, contributing to healthier soil and more abundant harvests. Your structure should be about 3 feet in diameter and height. Start by layering a brown carbon-rich layer – things like yard waste, newspaper, and grass clippings. Then you can start layering in green layers, nitrogen-rich materials like food waste. Avoid putting citrus, dairy, onions and garlic, meat, oil, and animal waste in your compost. You’ll want to maintain a ratio of about 2 parts brown material to one part green material. You can also add in a layer of existing compost when starting your pile to kickstart the microbial decomposition.

To maintain your compost pile, you’ll just need to make sure the compost has enough oxygen and moisture. Two to four days after starting your compost, it should reach the ideal temperature of 100-140 degrees Fahrenheit – you can check the temperature with a thermometer. You should turn your compost pile with a rake after a few days. The more often you turn your compost pile, the faster it will break down. Try to maintain that ideal temperature and moisture. You can squeeze a handful of compost to check the moisture content. It shouldn’t be soggy, but if it’s too dry, you can add a bit of water. Your pile can break down in as soon as 18 days if you maintain it regularly by turning it. Once you have a rich, dark brown, fully processed compost material, you can add it to your garden!

If you’re interested in learning more about composting and going zero waste, Recycle Utah and Summit Community Gardens/EATS are hosting a Zero Waste and Composting workshop on May 30 at 5:30 pm at Summit Community Gardens. The event is free and will cover how to compost, recycling education, and zero waste tips.

By Chelsea Hafer