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“Every year, Americans throw out 265.3 million metric tons of trash — an average of 1,788 pounds per person …directly to landfills, incinerators, or other countries polluting our earth, air

and water.” (Trash in America)

Ever wondered what your personal impact equates to on the trash to landfill scale? I did, so I decided to experiment for a year to see how much I could NOT throw away. Here are a few things I learned:

• Food scraps need to find their way into a local compost or a Zero Food Waste Bin.
• “Single-use” plastic food containers make great organizers.
• Doritos and Takis bags are super fun to use in art as shiny stars, for crafting kaleidoscopes, etc.
• Trash has COLOR in it – for use in collage crafts, and various other types of art mediums.
• I switched to The World’s Best Cat Litter, which boasts a septic-safe flushable alternative. (It’s made from corn, so when the world gets on board with composting, I’ll be ready).
• Frozen meat comes in varying amounts of foam vs. plastic single-use waste. I saved the leftover trays and used them as art pallets, or for large amounts of paint when using a rolling brush.
• Soft plastic makes fluffy, 3D clouds!
• Just say NO to single-use utensils. Your junk drawer can thank me later. If you forget, or your local favorite eatery just gives it to you without asking, use them in crafts to make puppets.
• Recycle Utah partners with some very responsible companies that help take back plastic toothpaste tubes, single-use batteries, and many other unique items.
• FullFilled Lifestyle Co., a local refill store located at Junction Commons, offers refill options for varying soaps, toothpaste, floss, sans the plastic container, and many other sustainable items to help alleviate the single-use hygiene items that are not recyclable.
• If I don’t have a trash bin in my home, then I will take responsibility for what I bring into my home because I know I won’t be throwing it away.

When, exactly, did we decide that it’s normal to have a trash bin in the house, on every street

corner, and that every place of business needs a gigantic trash for all its unsellable items? Take OUT the trash!

Inspired to make trash art? Good, me too. Let’s make cool art together.

By Indigo Love

Have you ever wondered about what happens to the little stickers on your apples, bananas, and avocados? Those produce stickers contain important information for pricing and identifying fruits and vegetables, but they create an unexpected waste problem.

Most produce stickers are made from non-biodegradable plastic with a synthetic adhesive. They are not compostable in either backyard compost piles or commercial composting facilities. If left on produce scraps, they contaminate compost and can eventually break down into microplastics polluting soil and waterways. Produce stickers should not be put down the garbage disposal. The stickers are also not edible, so it’s always best to remove them before eating.  

The simplest solution is to peel the sticker off before washing or composting your produce. Because they’re made from plastic and adhesive, they should be put in the trash, or stickers can be recycled with soft plastics at Recycle Utah.

Produce stickers may seem like a tiny piece of waste, but removing produce stickers helps keep compost clean and keeps plastic stickers out of the environment. 

It is also farmers’ market season! The Park City Farmers Market is held on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Park City Mountain Resort. Shopping at the farmers market whenever possible is an environmental bonus because the produce does not have stickers, the fruits and vegetables are in season, and there are significantly fewer food miles—the distance food travels from where it is grown to where it is consumed. There are many advantages to supporting the farmers’ market, but the greatest may be the sense of community.

By Stella Dustman

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