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Saving water at home is most effective when combining two things: smart daily habits and the right technology. With a few thoughtful changes, residents can significantly reduce their water use while supporting a healthier local environment.

Upgrade to efficient technology

• Install highefficiency toilets that use 1.6 gallons per flush or less.
• Use drip irrigation or highefficiency spray nozzles in your landscape.
• Consider a smart irrigation controller that adjusts watering based on weather and soil conditions.

Build smart water habits

• Check toilets regularly to make sure they aren’t running or leaking.
• Monitor your irrigation system between watering cycles to ensure there’s no continuous flow.
• Choose plants suited to the local climate – here in the Park City area, lowwater, fireresistant plants are ideal. Collaborating with a landscaper can help ensure the right selections for your yard. Learn more for Park City, UT.

Take advantage of local rebates

Many state and local water providers offer rebates for highefficiency toilets, smart irrigation controllers, and waterwise landscaping. Residents can visit Utah Water Savers to view current programs or check directly with their water provider. Park City Municipal, Mountain Regional, and Summit Water Distribution Company all offer incentives to support conservation efforts. Learn more about Park City Municipal’s Landscape Incentive Program.

With the right tools and a few simple habits, every household can play a part in managing our community’s water wisely. Small steps today help protect this essential resource for future generations.

You may add Water Manager to your title, because that is what we are all doing, managing the water that we use, efficiently.

By Susan Cordone, Park City Water Department Conservation Coordinator

Okay, maybe calling it my emotional support water bottle is a stretch. But I don’t go anywhere without it.

These days, carrying a reusable water bottle seems completely normal. Yet when I was growing up in the 80s, nobody traveled with their own water. If you got thirsty, you found a public drinking fountain. If you were outside playing, there was always the garden hose. Somehow, we survived.

Then came the rise of single-use bottled water. Convenience became king, and before long, plastic water bottles were everywhere—in our cars, offices, schools, parks, and eventually our oceans and landfills. (Not to mention the microplastics in our body.)

That’s one reason I’ve become so attached to my reusable water bottle. It’s a half-gallon stainless steel beast that’s impossible to ignore. When I take a sip, everyone notices. (The size and sound is ridiculous). It’s heavy enough that I joke it could double as self- defense equipment if needed.

What I love most isn’t its size—it’s the stickers. I love that it’s become cool for grownups to sticker their belongings! Every sticker tells a story. Local nonprofits I support. Community organizations I believe in. Causes that matter to me. It’s become a little snapshot of who I am and what I value. And unlike disposable water bottles, this one doesn’t become trash after a single use.

While research continues into the long-term impacts of microplastics, many people are choosing reusable bottles as a way to reduce both plastic waste and their reliance on single-use products.

For me, it’s one small habit that feels easy to maintain. The best part? I only had to buy it once.

I’ve carried this bottle for years. It’s traveled with me on road trips, to work, the baseball field, and through countless errands. Every refill is one less disposable bottle that needed to be manufactured, transported, purchased, and thrown away.

Sustainability doesn’t always require a dramatic lifestyle change. Sometimes it’s as simple as finding a reusable item you genuinely love and using it every day.

So here’s this week’s green tip: Find your emotional support water bottle. Cover it in stickers. Take it everywhere.

By Kimberly Flores, Founder of fulFILLed Lifestyle Co.

Every year, people look forward to celebrating the 4th of July with festive fireworks displays and flashy sparklers. However, there are a few important factors to consider before lighting the fuse. 

So far this year, roughly 80% of the wildfires statewide have been human-caused. Given the ongoing hot, dry conditions and elevated fire danger, Summit County fire officials have issued Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. This prohibits smoking outside, open campfires, and, among other activities, discharging fireworks of any kind.

Although fireworks are banned in Utah until July 5th, it is important to know how to properly dispose of them for future holidays and celebrations. After use, fireworks and sparklers should be placed in a bucket of water and soaked until they are completely cool. Even dud fireworks should be soaked, as they can still retain heat. Once cooled, be sure to store used fireworks away from your house to prevent accidental ignition and spread.

Used and unused fireworks are considered hazardous waste and should be disposed of accordingly. Fireworks contain pyrotechnic chemicals that make them burst. Often, they contain carbon, sulfur, potassium nitrate, and salts, which, when combined, ignite, explode, and create that iconic array of colors, shapes, and sounds. These chemical compounds can easily ignite in trash cans and landfills, and therefore, do not belong in your curbside trash bin. Instead, you can take your fireworks to the Summit County Landfill at Three Mile Canyon, where they have a free hazardous waste drop-off for county residents. Additionally, Recycle Utah runs two Hazardous Waste Collection Days each year, and the next one will be the last Saturday in September.

By Jillian Perry

As more and more companies strive to create increasingly sustainable products with reduced environmental impacts, we see a lot more packaging promoting “carbon neutral,” or “carbon negative,” products. What does it mean for a product to be “carbon neutral,” and what steps do companies have to take to make those claims? 

There is no government standard in the United States to certify a company or a product as carbon neutral. For a company to claim carbon neutrality on its products, they typically go through a three-step process. First, companies have to evaluate the complete carbon lifecycle of the product. This means everything from the natural resources the product is derived from, to the end-waste product it will turn into. The carbon cost must be calculated for every stage of the lifecycle and added up to produce an estimated total carbon footprint for the product. 

Next, companies must find points in the manufacturing, design, or distribution process where they can cut emissions by improving efficiency or sustainability practices. This is typically done with the help of a sustainability consultant and can result in huge energy and waste savings. 

Finally, companies reevaluate their products’ total carbon footprint (after making improvements) and purchase carbon offsets for the remaining carbon of the product. Carbon offsets are projects, programs, or technological advancements that companies can invest in to reduce or remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere. Several major corporations that provide carbon offset investments to manufacturers also partner with international environmental certifications, such as 1% for the Planet and the Climate Neutral Project. 

Because there is no government standard, different companies can achieve “carbon neutrality” for a product in different ways. However, the US Federal Trade Commission can legally penalize companies that claim carbon neutrality without scientific proof. While greenwashing–the practice of claiming something to be environmentally friendly without evidence or truth–is still a common issue in today’s economic market, regulations and standard improvements allow consumers to feel more assured about common environmental claims such as “carbon neutral”. 

Claiming a product as “carbon neutral” rarely means it was produced or distributed with zero-carbon emissions. Purchasing carbon offsets is an easy way for companies to help reduce their environmental impact and implement positive change; however, the primary focus should always be shifting to more efficient and more sustainable manufacturing practices on the corporate end. On the consumer side, purchasing “carbon neutral” products over other products is a great way to make sure you are supporting businesses who prioritize sustainability; however, a reduction in the amount of consumables and waste you personally create is always the best way to make a difference. Next time you purchase a product that claims to be “carbon neutral,” visit the company’s website to find out more about the claim and their environmental practices.

By Mia Moore

Recycling is a pretty new process in the United States; televisions became mainstream in American households before recycling. For decades, cardboard, paper, metals, and glass were the only materials that could truly be recycled on a large scale. However, with the tsunami of plastics and mixed materials in recent years, industries have had to become more innovative to find solutions for new kinds of waste. 

Typically, mixed materials like Capri Sun pouches or potato chip bags that combine plastic with metal have been unrecyclable; the plastic and metal are too difficult to separate and are generally considered trash. Companies like Terracycle are changing this, though. Terracycle specializes in recycling mixed materials and hard-to-recycle products, making it possible for Recycle Utah to collect everything from toothbrushes to snack wrappers.

Certain companies, like Colgate or GoGosqueeZ, sponsor product recycling, allowing Terracycle to offer free send-back programs for select materials. But what really happens when these products get recycled? 

All items get sent directly to Terracycle recycling facilities. Contamination–material that is not accepted for recycling–is sorted out and removed from the material stream.  Material is then sorted manually or with a variety of processes, including fans, magnets, or infrared sensors, into different categories of waste based on composition. From here, metals get melted, glass gets crushed into cullet, and plastics get shredded and melted into pellets or flakes. These materials are then ready to be sold to manufacturing companies and turned into new products. The materials accepted through Terracycle can have a second life as park benches, bricks, watering cans, athletic fields, and so much more.

Terracycle recycles 98.3% of accepted material that enters their facility, and is regularly audited by third parties. They do not send any accepted material to incineration or waste-to-energy; all materials are recycled into new products. You can even buy new products from Terracycle-recycled material on their website. 

Recycle Utah now accepts razors, Swiffer brand products, GoGo squeeZ and other squeezable snack pouches, Capri Sun and other drink pouches, and air fresheners and pods through Terracycle. Learn more about Terracycle’s recycling programs at terracycle.com.

By Chelsea Hafer

Many people are concerned about the risks of wildfire this summer, given the lack of snow during our not-so-exciting winter. Although it is impossible to exactly predict what the upcoming fire season will bring, local fire officials have been working to reduce wildfire risks. Through various treatment methods, officials are reducing forest fuels and forest density to lower fire intensity and make potential fires more manageable. These treatments include thinning and piling, and prescribed burns.

That being said, there are many actions that residents can take to mitigate the risks of wildfire around their homes. For those with yards, creating a “defensive space” or tiered buffer zone around your home can slow or stop oncoming fire. It is recommended that the first five feet directly outside of your home is non-combustible, which includes replacing mulch with gravel or stone, and removing branches, dried leaves, and other fuels. The goal of the next 5-30 feet of yard space is to reduce flammable materials. This includes keeping lawn grass 4 inches tall, ensuring all grass and plants are watered regularly, and keeping tree limbs at least 6 feet from the ground. All other space should be kept clear of dried leaves and debris, and trees should be adequately spaced apart.

It is also recommended to go through this yearly checklist to both reduce outdoor fuels and prevent embers from entering your home: 1) Regularly clear out dead leaves, pine needles and debris from gutters and rooftops 2) Replace missing or loose shingles from your roofs 3) Check for stability of all vents and screens 4) Cover attic vents with wire mesh no larger than ⅛ inch 5) Repair damaged screens and windows 5) Keep flammable materials away from exterior walls 6) Remove anything stored underneath decks and porches 7) Remove or thin any vegetation within 100 feet of your home or other structures.

By Jillian Perry