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Recycle Utah

Recycle Utah

Nonprofit Summit County, Utah Recycling Center

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Transportation

Sustainable Summer Travel

May 21, 2025 by director@recycleutah.org

As the leaves start to bloom across Park City, we are all getting excited about summer fun! Whether you’re camping, going for a trip domestically or internationally, or even just relaxing at home, we all must maintain sustainable habits during the summer months. Summer is a time or travel, and while most of us will not take our overseas voyages by sailboat like Greta Thunberg, there are still plenty of ways to make our travel a little more eco-friendly.

These choices include (but are not limited to) the following:
● Walk and bike! In the warm parts of the year, walking and biking is an excellent method
of travel short distances, while providing much-needed endorphins!
● While camping or hiking, make sure you abide by the rules of the park or area by being
vigilant when making and extinguishing fires, and staying on the trails so you don’t tread
on growing vegetation.
● Use public transportation whenever possible.
● Carpool with friends and family to your destinations!
● If available, take the train! Trains, in most cases, are more sustainable than planes and
buses.
● If you’re traveling abroad, fly with airlines that are actively reducing their emissions through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), such as Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines.

Separately, we must also remember to maintain basic sustainable habits during the summer, such as sorting our trash into recycling and composting, limiting the use of single-use items (use reusable containers instead), thrift summer clothes, and reducing meat and water consumption.

By Grayson Rae

Filed Under: Transportation Tagged With: #greentips, #recycle utah, #recycling, #sustainability, #zero waste, #zerowaste

Turn the Key: Break the Habit of Idling!

September 25, 2024 by director@recycleutah.org

Habits. Many are ingrained in our daily lives, from brushing our teeth to drinking coffee.
Breaking habits is challenging, but sometimes the break can benefit our health, environment,
and others around us. A habit we all need to break is idling. People idle in ATM lines, drive-
thrus, school zones, post offices, and even the Recycle Utah line.


Park City and Summit County have one-minute idling ordinances. Listed exceptions include
waiting in traffic, authorized emergency vehicles, auxiliary power for law enforcement or fire and water equipment, refrigeration, drilling, lifts, farming, and battery charging. Other exclusions are inspection or repair of a vehicle, health or safety of a person or service animal, safe driving conditions, and efficient operations of a turbo-charged heavy-duty vehicle. There are no exceptions for hot and cold days.

Decades ago, cars with carburetors needed a warm-up in cold weather. However, today’s
engines with electronic fuel injectors don’t need to reach operating temperature before they can be driven. In fact, warming up your car by idling can damage it long-term. The faster a car
reaches operating temperature, the better it is for keeping the engine’s moving parts in good
condition with lubricated oil.

On freezing mornings, scrape then slowly drive away. Idling also equates to driving miles and
carbon dioxide release. Please check out our community’s idling ordinances and don’t be shy
about educating others when they’re idling! Start with a wave, smile, eye contact, and a gesture of turning the key. Be polite, with a “Would you mind turning off your engine?” Justify your ask with a reason. It could be that you’re trying to educate others about our local ordinances or that you or a family member has bad asthma. Always say thank you and give a thumbs up if they flip the key.


It’s time to break this unnecessary and harmful habit. Can we go idle-free while we wait, talk,
text, or eat? Let’s model by example and respectfully educate the new families in our community on how we do it here.

By Mary Closser

Filed Under: Transportation Tagged With: #greentips, #recycle utah, #recycling, #sustainability, #zero waste, #zerowaste

Change Your Driving Habits as the Seasons Change

September 18, 2024 by director@recycleutah.org

As the seasons are about to change, Utah’s mountains become a popular destination for
residents eager to witness the vibrant autumn colors. The diverse landscape here in Utah offers some of the most breathtaking fall colors and foliage, making it an ideal time and place for many outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, photography, and scenic drives. Some of the best places to visit are the Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons and Guardsman Pass, which all offer amazing views.

But how are you getting to these destinations? Every Utah resident is familiar with the frustration of dealing with traffic driving in and out of the canyons. Sitting in your car for hours is not something anyone wants to do especially when heading to and from events such as Snowbird’s Oktoberfest.

So what are simple, environmentally-friendly alternatives to driving? Carpooling and public
transportation are a great start! According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
driving/transportation is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Other
modes of transportation that result in direct emissions are trucks, ships, trains, and planes. A
study shows, “in 2022, direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions from transportation
accounted for 29% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions” (EPA).

So instead of driving up the canyons by yourself, carpool with your friends and family! It’s an
easy way to reduce your carbon footprint while also saving money on gas and parking. If driving does not work for you, you can always check out public transportation through the Utah Transit Authority (UTA). They provide a few apps you can download on your mobile device to track the public transit and the locations they stop at to reach your destination.
The next time you venture into Utah’s stunning mountains, consider switching to eco-friendly
transportation options. Not only will you lower your carbon footprint, but you’ll make the
journey more enjoyable. So, let’s embrace the changing seasons and create a cleaner
environment!

Filed Under: Transportation Tagged With: #energy efficiency, #greentips, #recycle utah, #recycling, #sustainability, #zero waste, #zerowaste

Blue Sky Blocks

May 29, 2024 by outreach@recycleutah.org

The Blue Sky Energy program has been around for over 20 years. Participants in the Blue Sky program can invest their dollars and support a renewable energy future. When signing up for Blue Sky by purchasing ‘blocks’, a business or resident is creating demand for renewables in our region. To date, Blue Sky has supported more than 9.2 million megawatt-hours of renewable energy across the western region. This equates to energy for around 938,000 homes for one year! 

The opt-in Blue Sky program requires no upfront costs or contract; customers choose their level of support. Funds are used to purchase Green-e Energy Certified Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from renewable energy resources. Their dollars also go towards funding small and medium-scale community based renewable projects (189+ to date), such as rooftop solar installed at homeless shelters, fire stations, schools and more. Blocks are the equivalent of 100kWh of energy and cost $1.95/block. Find a list of some Blue Sky projects installed from block payments here: https://www.rockymountainpower.net/community/blue-sky-projects.html. To learn more or enroll, go to rockymountainpower.net/bluesky.

Another opportunity to support the local transition to renewables is through the Utah Renewable Communities Program, created in 2021 after HB411 (Utah Community Renewable Energy Act) was passed in 2019. This coalition of 18 cities, counties and towns is committed to providing clean energy for Utah, starting as early as 2025. This program differs from Blue Sky in that it drives large-scale renewable energy development, accessible to all Rocky Mountain Power customers. Blue Sky is a certificate-based program that helps support our utility to acquire and retire RECs, while the URC Program will deliver electricity directly to our grid. The goal of the URC Program is to bring enough renewable energy from solar and wind to eventually supply net-100% electricity for Rocky Mountain Power customers, including Park City, Summit County, Francis, Oakley and Coalville. Once the program gains approval from the Utah Public Service Commission and is ready to launch, the current coalition will make choices about what new renewable energy project to bring online. Support the URC Program by subscribing to updates at https://www.utahrenewablecommunities.org/.

It’s promising that renewables have developed enough in Utah to provide choices for us as consumers. Both programs are critical and we should be grateful that Blue Sky opened their program doors when they did. The more we can do as individuals to support our clean energy future, the better.

By Mary Closser

Filed Under: Transportation Tagged With: #greentips, #recycle utah, #sustainability, #zero waste, #zerowaste

The Environmental Toll of Tire Emissions

May 22, 2024 by chelsea@recycleutah.org

Alarm surrounding the air quality and climate effects of tailpipe emissions have led to a recent focus on electrifying our transportation. However, recent research has revealed that tailpipe emissions may be little cause for concern when compared to the emissions that come from our tires. After noticing an increase in salmon fatalities during rainfall, researchers discovered the culprit: a chemical compound known as 6PPD, which is added to tires to prevent cracking. This compound, along with the 400 other chemicals and compounds in tires, has devastating effects on our environment.

Tires are full of heavy metals, chemicals, and synthetic and natural rubber materials. It is estimated that over ¾ of microplastics in the ocean are microrubbers from tires. With billions of tires sold every year, it makes sense that the fragments shed with each rotation of a tire would create a large impact on the environment. It is estimated that tires generate up to 6 million tons of microrubbers a year worldwide. And because of their heavier weight, electric vehicles – although they don’t contribute tailpipe emissions – produce 20% more tire emissions than fossil-fuel powered vehicles.

Some microrubbers – small enough to be classified as nanorubbers – are so tiny that they can cross our brain-blood barrier when inhaled or ingested. The effects of nanorubbers on our bodies is still being researched, but some evidence shows that nanorubbers can cause developmental, heart, lung, and reproductive problems. In oceans, the ingestion of microrubbers by marine life can also have severe consequences.

Environmental groups, indigenous communities, and even the California Environmental Protection Agency are speaking up about the danger of tire emissions. Some companies are looking into more natural alternatives to the chemical compounds in tires, including rubber from dandelions or soy oil. A potential solution for mitigating tire pollution is rain gardens; studies have shown that rain gardens can capture almost all rubber fragments from stormwater.

So what can you do? It may seem hopeless, with the fight to lower tailpipe emissions just taking off, and this new emissions culprit just being discovered. We can start by driving less; taking the bus or carpooling, and walking or biking whenever possible to decrease your mileage. You can also get involved by spreading the word about tire emissions, as many people are unaware of the dangers they cause to us and our environment. Just like the fight to reduce our tailpipe emissions, we need to spread awareness in order to make change and create a better, safer world. This Green Tip sourced information from “Road Hazard: Evidence Mounts on Toxic Pollution from Tires” from Yale Environment 360.

https://e360.yale.edu/features/tire-pollution-toxic-chemicals#:~:text=Recent%20studies%20show%20that%20the,have%20significantly%20reduced%20those%20emissions

By Chelsea Hafer

Filed Under: Transportation Tagged With: #greentips, #recycle utah, #sustainability, #zero waste, #zerowaste

Transportation and Climate Change

November 29, 2023 by zerowaste@recycleutah.org

How are you getting to where you need to go? In Park City, transportation is a commonly debated subject, and a great opportunity to be more sustainable. During the winter, thousands of skiers flock to the mountain resorts and, as locals know, this causes major inconveniences such as traffic and parking space. Ski transportation is not only a logistical problem, but also a catalyst in contributing to global warming.

Transportation is the largest contributor to carbon emissions compared to any other emitter in the U.S. The U.S. Department of Transportation says, “The average passenger car in the United States produces just under one pound of carbon dioxide per mile traveled.” Meanwhile, similar statistics show that per passenger mile, bus transit produces 33% less greenhouse gas emissions. It may be a slight inconvenience to drive to a Park-n-Ride, or to take Park City transit, but overall it can be a more convenient option, especially when the parking lots are all full within a mile radius of the ski resorts. Having a more open mindset about public transportation can make getting to the mountain a less stressful process and can decrease your carbon footprint. Carpooling is also an excellent option!

Additionally, mountain biking culture here in Park City offers wonderful opportunities to reduce your carbon footprint. Shoutout to all bikers (competitive or just recreational), who choose to bike to their destinations. Although it may not be as fast, biking is a great way to get exercise while getting to your destination. Depending on where you live in Park City, it can be an even quicker form of transportation while avoiding all the car traffic. 

So overall what can you do to travel more sustainably?

  • Carpool!
  • Use public transportation.
  • Bike or walk.
  • If you’re considering purchasing a new vehicle, try getting a low-emission one. Visit epa.gov/greenvehicles.

By Grayson Rae, Sophomore at Park City High School

Filed Under: Transportation Tagged With: #greentips, #recycling, #sustainability, #vehicles, bike, cars, transportation

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Copyright © 2025

  • About
    ▼
    • Our Impact
    • Our Team
    • Job Opportunities
    • Financial Statements
  • Services
    ▼
    • Materials Accepted
    • Remote Glass Recycling Bins
    • Thrift Store
    • Rain Barrels
    • Moving Materials for Sale
    • Self Serve Paper Shredder
    • Recycling Bin Rentals
    • CSA Pick Up
    • Community Trash Cleanups
    • Composting
    • Curbside Recycling
    • Household Hazardous Waste
      ▼
      • Medicine Disposal
  • Education
    ▼
    • Elementary & Adult Education
    • Green Business Program
    • Latinx Outreach
    • Blog
  • Support
    ▼
    • Donate Now
    • Support Recycle Utah’s Plans for the Future
    • Sponsor a Bin
    • Volunteer
    • Shop and Donate
    • Donate Your Car
    • 2024 Supporters
  • Events