Recycle Utah

Nonprofit Summit County, Utah Recycling Center

Transportation

Turn the Key: Break the Habit of Idling!

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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

Change Your Driving Habits as the Seasons Change

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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!

Blue Sky Blocks

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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

The Environmental Toll of Tire Emissions

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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

Transportation and Climate Change

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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

Join the Crowd of Local Free-Fare Transit Travelers

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Transit travelers are decreasing their carbon footprint by approximately 4 pounds of CO2 for each hour of drive time. (EPA). Since its launch in July 2021, Summit County’s High Valley Transit (HVT) ridership has grown to almost 1.5 million. People are taking 1000 daily rides on Micro-transit; they have made 14,000 bus trips between Park City and Heber City since November 2022.

To make transit convenient, learn how to use the HVT and MyStop (Park City) apps or use Google Maps. Click on trip planning and set your pick-up location and destination. In real-time, you’ll see different pick-up times at the nearest stop, the time it will take you to get there; the specific bus or buses you can take; and your arrival time.

Get a comprehensive Ride Guide, go to the bus schedules tab in the HVT app or the Park City Transit website (schedule and routes) to check out the different bus numbers and colors, and their scheduled arrival times at different stops. Understand that these are the times you can expect a bus to arrive at a stop under “normal” weather and traffic conditions, full employment, and a fully operational fleet.

Remember, peak traffic and inclement weather affect vehicle and transit travel alike. And because buses can legally travel in the breakdown lanes on routes 224 and 248, your actual bus travel time could be faster than driving during heavy traffic conditions.

Taking the bus may be comparable in time to driving your vehicle when you consider parking and walking to where you want to be. Try asking someone your transit questions. They just might tell you the information you need to take a ride.