Recycle Utah

Nonprofit Summit County, Utah Recycling Center

Thriving Community & Equity

Proper Disposal of Pharmaceutical Waste

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Unused prescription drugs can lead to possible substance abuse at home. It’s important to get rid of medication you no longer need but where and how do you properly dispose it? Improper disposal of pharmaceutical waste can create an environmental disaster – contaminating groundwater, drinking water, aquatic environments, and more.

The two ways the typical person disposes of their pharmaceuticals are to either flush them down the drain or landfill them. Both options, however, are detrimental to the environment. Medicine flushed down the drain makes its way to sewage facilities not equipped to degrade medicinal substances. These pharmaceuticals can pass through sewage and water treatment plants, leading to contaminated water that will go back into our watershed.

When one throws out their pharmaceutical waste, it will ultimately end up at a landfill and seep into groundwater. From here, these medicines can contaminate lakes and streams, hurting surrounding fish and other aquatic wildlife. These environmental terrors demonstrate the importance of properly disposing of prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Old, out-of-date, or unused prescription medicines and vitamins can be dropped off at the following Summit County locations: Redstone Center Health Pharmacy, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Kamas Police Department, or Park City Police Department. For Wasatch County, you can drop off medications at the Heber City Police Department or Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office. To prevent possible abuse of prescription drugs, it’s important to dispose of medication that you no longer need. But be sure to dispose of them responsibly!

By Pearson Ehrich

Yes! Our Green Choices Really Do Matter

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So, you think your individual sustainable choices won’t really have an impact on climate change? Actually, research shows they do. According to Robert Frank, author of “Putting Peer Pressure to Work” (2020), our voluntary environmental actions are significant for two reasons. First, they have the power to shift how the people around us behave. People who see you using reusable shopping bags may consider doing the same. Second, and perhaps more importantly, our sustainable choices make us much more likely to vote greener and support large-scale policies needed to slow climate change.

Here are some highly visible green choices you can make, model, and have conversations about:

  1. Recycle well and help others do the same at the curb and the recycling center. Keep in mind recycling errors can contaminate portions of otherwise recyclable material.
  2. Walk and cycle to travel around your community; this may inspire drivers to ditch their cars and do likewise.
  3. Participate in community clean-ups in a group or by yourself. Rent grabbers and supplies from Recycle Utah! Removing litter helps keep storm water clean. Others may notice how nice trash-free roadsides look and participate.
  4. Participate in activities, attend events, and join organizations that advocate for climate change solutions. Go public by wearing their clothing and using their swag.
  5. Keep up with information about our climate crisis. Make some sustainable choices and get passionate!

By Bev Harrison

Our 52nd Earth Day

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Our 52nd Earth Day is approaching, and we are reminded to reflect on our relationship with nature and implement practices to respect and appreciate our natural home. How did Earth Day become such an iconic day celebrated for over 50 years by more than a billion people in 192 countries?

The first Earth Day was conceived in 1970 after decades of environmental disasters and unchecked pollutants ran rampant across the country. Eight years earlier, in 1962, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring mobilized a modern environmental movement by describing the connection between environmental health and public health and spurred environmental legislation in America. In 1969, the Santa Barbara Oil Spill polluted California’s pristine beaches and ignited Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson to rally a group of college activists to assist in creating the first Earth Day.

On April 22nd, 1970, the first Earth Day became the largest demonstration by that time with over 20 million people organizing to advocate against environmental ignorance. Months later, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanography Atmospheric Association were created, setting off a wave of environmental protection policy and reform.

So, how can we celebrate the 52nd Earth Day with a modern perspective of environmental justice and the climate emergency? (1.) Educate yourself on environmental issues and the communities that are most impacted by them. (2.) Donate and get involved with organizations focused on environmental justice. (3.) Write to your legislators and vote to enact environmental and social change. (4.) Implement sustainability into your everyday lifestyle!

By Addison Marr

Growing Food at Home

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Spring is officially here! It’s time to pull out your gardening equipment and prep those planters. Growing your own produce is a great way to obtain natural, fresh fruits and vegetables, while also avoiding the food miles accompanying most grocery store produce. 8% of an average American’s carbon footprint is from food, with more than a quarter of that coming from the transportation of food. An ambitious gardener that replaces 20% of store-bought food with produce from their garden can reduce their carbon footprint by about 68 lbs of CO2 per year!

Another sustainable gardening practice includes planting pollinator-friendly plants, like cornflower, milkweed, and daisies. Pollinators are vital for the creation and maintenance of the habitats many animals rely on for food and shelter, including us! Approximately 35% of the food and fiber grown throughout the world depends on pollinators. By introducing pollinator-friendly plants into your garden, you can create a thriving, diverse environment.

Support the health of pollinators and yourself by cutting out toxic synthetic fertilizers. These fertilizers contribute very little to the ecosystem and structure of your soil, causing more harm than good. There are high levels of nitrates and nitrites in synthetic fertilizer that contaminate surface water through runoff, as well as decrease the fertility of your soil. Opt for organic fertilizers that are more sustainable and enrich your soil. Consider the health of the environment when gardening to create an area that is beneficial for you and the surrounding ecosystem!

By Anna Duffy