Recycle Utah

Nonprofit Summit County, Utah Recycling Center

Water

Utah’s Water Crisis

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Utah is the second driest state in the U.S., with a rare closed water system where northern Utah’s water recycles through the Great Salt Lake (GSL) instead of flowing to the ocean. This water cycle, along with our unique basin geography, is what gives Utah “The Greatest Snow on Earth”.

Much of Utah’s water comes from mountain snowmelt. In Salt Lake City, about 45% of snowmelt runoff is diverted into the water system—80% of which goes to agriculture, and almost half used solely for growing alfalfa. Alfalfa, a crop fed to cows and other livestock, grows quickly and has high yields, but it also uses a lot of water. This water diversion is the major contributor to the GSL shrinking more with each passing year.

As the lake dries, toxic metals like arsenic and mercury from the lakebed become airborne, threatening the health of people up to 500 miles away. If trends continue, the GSL could dry up within a decade.

In the past, the state government has offered few incentives for farmers to switch to water-saving farming methods. However, in 2020, the Department of Agriculture introduced the Water Optimization Program, which has distributed $65 million in grants for farmers to implement water-saving measures. The program is in its early stages, and most scientists agree that immediate, more drastic measures must be taken to stop the shrinking of the GSL and reduce Utah’s drought risk. However, with public support and increased funding, the program could make a huge difference.

To learn how to save water at home, visit the Utah DNR Water Conservation Website. For info on GSL advocacy, go to GrowTheFlowUtah.org or SaveOurGreatSaltLake.org.

Data sourced from the Utah Department of Natural Resources.

By Mia Moore

Summer Produce Preservation

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Summer produce is magic: Corn, tomatoes, peaches! Greens, turnips, sugar snap peas! Summer squash, beans – and more tomatoes! 

Whether you’re growing it, eating it, or both, the season’s bounty is glorious. What do you do when there’s too much of one thing – or items start to turn? Here are a few of Summit Community Gardens and EATS’s favorite tips to minimize food waste and use all the harvest:

  • Greens wilting? Bring a pot of water to a boil, blanch for 2 minutes, and drain. Chop and freeze to put in winter soups & stews or saute with onions & garlic.
  • Are your cherry tomatoes getting soft or split? Roast them on a pan of parchment paper with a little salt and oil at 400. Their sweet tang is perfect on a sandwich, folded into eggs, or as part of a vegetable saute.
  • Peaches or any stone fruit soft or bruised? Roast on a pan with parchment and eat with yogurt or ice cream.
  • These things should be stored in the fridge: apples, beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, chard, citrus fruits, collards, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, okra, peppers, radishes, turnips, zucchini, and all kinds of greens.
  • Melons, pears, and tomatoes can ripen on the counter, then be stored in the fridge.
  • Store greens in the fridge with a damp towel so they can last longer!
  • Make sure to store onions away from potatoes.
  • Store root vegetables in a sealed container with a dry towel.
  • And of course, pickle just about anything!

    By Helen Nadel

Laundry

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Laundry is something we all do habitually. Our washers and dryers are two of our household’s highest energy-consuming appliances, consistently running in our homes. A dose of creativity and change can not only save electricity, but also gas, waste and money. Read on for tips!

  1. Wash on cold. Heating water is responsible for more than 70% of a washer’s energy consumption. Ironically, some stains like sweat or blood can actually ingrain further into fabric in hot water vs cold water. Cold water washing also reduces wrinkles, fading and shrinkage.
  2. Upgrade to Energy Star. You can also look into heat pump dual washer/dryer options or a heat pump dryer. Efficiency is affected by design, age, and settings used. Run machines during ‘off-peak’ hours if possible, after 10 pm or mid-day.
  3. Ditch fabric softeners. They are an extra expense and can leave residue in the wash. Try old, faithful, and inexpensive white vinegar instead. Similarly, ditch dryer sheets and replace them with natural wool dryer balls to reduce static and drying time. Don’t forget to regularly clean the lint filter to maximize dryer efficiency!
  4. Reduce plastic waste by transitioning from large plastic jugs (often laden with chemicals) to washing sheets, tablets, pods, or eggs. After experimentation, my family settled on an egg in combination with homemade powder detergent.
  5. Re-wear clothes if possible before filling the washer load and use drying racks or clotheslines! Utah air dries clothes in no time and preserves quality.

Finally, how do we reduce microplastics (often from nylon, polyester, and acrylic clothing) from entering our laundry? The best options are to wash less, use full loads and cold water, use less detergent in front-loading washers, hang dry, use a microplastic filter bag or attachment filter, and buy more clothing made from natural materials.

Change is challenging. But like seasons, relationships, technology, or weather, change surrounds us. The time has come to step out of our habitual boxes and shake things up to grow with the times, for our planet, pocketbook, and health. Good luck and have fun!

By Mary Closser

PFAS: The Forever Chemicals in Dental Flosses

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Here in our ski community, we were alarmed when we learned that toxic chemicals called PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) were detected in our drinking water. Researchers have found them nearly everywhere. When it was verified that PFAS are ingredients in some alpine and Nordic ski waxes, Park City took action. Recycle Utah alerted ski shops and consumers to bring any fluoro-waxes they were using to the center for safe disposal and to choose safer alternatives. PFAS waxes were banned at all FIS ski and snowboard events starting in the 23-24 season.

PFAS break down in the environment over hundreds of years or not at all; thus, their description as “forever chemicals.” Because they accumulate in the environment over time and have been found to be toxic in notably low concentrations, scientists are increasingly interested in finding out how different PFAS affect animal and human health. And now, they have been able to link PFAS to altered immune and thyroid function, liver disease, lipid and insulin dysregulation, kidney disease, and adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes such as low infant birth weight and cancer. It turns out that PFAS are used in the manufacture of a wide range of industrial and consumer products, including some dental flosses, especially those marketed as “Teflon” strands, and those with non-stick coatings that “glide” easily between teeth.

Since 2023, 12 states have implemented laws that restrict or ban all PFAS. In 2019 an important study at Harvard was published to get a clearer idea of how people absorb PFAS. Researchers in the study found that a large group of female subjects who daily used Oral B Glide Dental Floss, known to contain a specific PFAS, had higher levels of it in their blood than those who did not. In discussing findings, a Harvard reviewer noted, “Although conventional non-stick pans have a larger surface, “we don’t chew on them like dental floss.” (P. Grandjean, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Buzzfeed, Jan. 2019).

There are alternatives to dental floss coated with “forever chemicals”. Some options include unwaxed floss; silk, bamboo, and plant-waxed floss; Tom’s of Maine floss; and Listerine Ultraclean Waxed Mint Dental Floss. Researchers advise not buying floss marketed by Colgate, Crest, CVS, Oral-B, and Signature.

By Bev Harrison

Chemicals and Hazardous Waste

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Water quality should be a focus as much as water quantity in Utah and beyond. As we slowly plasticize our world, we need to have more concern about the chemicals that surround us. How can we better select our food, cleaners, body products, house décor, and clothing? Our society is immersed in chemicals; most of us carry microplastics in our blood.

One organization that enhances awareness around chemicals is The Environmental Working Group (EWG at ewg.org). This reputable organization researches the safety and efficacy of chemicals in our food and health products. EWG provides guides to healthy foods, body products, and cleaners, in addition to specific information on pesticides, bees, cancer, and more, are superb. Simply type in your product and see how it ranks!

  1. SUNSCREEN: Most conventional sunscreens have several chemicals of concern with Oxybenzone, a hormone disruptor, being the primary one. Know your sunscreen.
  • CLEANING MATERIALS: Comet, tub and tile cleaner, 409… the list goes on. Nix them all for vinegar and baking soda; research natural recipes online. What about Drano? Use a snake for the toilet and special device found at local hardware stores for smaller drains.
  • FOOD: EWG’s “Dirty Dozen” list ranks produce with the highest quantity of pesticides to the lowest. Not everybody can afford to buy everything organic. For example, strawberries and spinach should be organic, but avocadoes and onions are not as important. Learn the list.

When toxic materials like mercury, lead, and pesticides end up in the landfill they leach into the ground, our water supply and possibly into your drinking water. Hazardous Waste includes items like paints, solvents, chemicals, fertilizers, oil, herbicides and more. To protect our water and local environment, it’s very important that these items are properly disposed of. Do not pour hazardous items down the drain or into the toilet, and remember if you don’t want to drink it.. don’t dump it! Click here to learn more about proper disposal of Household Hazardous Waste.

Intrinsically, think about what you’d like to be in your drinking water. Can you eliminate chemical-laden products from your household? If not, then at least dispose of them properly, which does not mean in the trash, sink, or toilet. When household hazardous wastes, such as pesticides or paints, are disposed of in the landfill, they can leach into our precious ground water.

Protect our water system by thinking before you buy and before you toss. Together, we can sustain our water system for generations to come.

By Mary Closser

The Great Salt Lake

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Utah is an other-worldly place. Our snow-covered mountains, our lush rolling hills, and our stunning red rocks are only some of the plethora of natural phenomena that can be found in Utah. In Park City, we are blessed with having the mountains on our doorstep, and with the recreation and scenery that that brings. However, just next door, the Great Salt Lake is drying up, and if current progress occurs, it will mean terrible consequences for all of us. The Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, but it has already shrunk to two-thirds of its original size. Some of the consequences can already be seen; with the water content decreasing, the lake’s salt percentage has increased, destabilizing the natural balance that provides the conditions in which algae and brine shrimp live. If this continues there will be no more food supply for the migratory birds in the area, causing us to see more and more wildlife decline. 

The most immediate threat is that if the Great Salt Lake is to dry up completely, the lakebed will be exposed. The lakebed contains arsenic and other heavy metals, either naturally occurring or from mining efforts in the surrounding area. Experts have warned that wind can carry these toxic particles into Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas. These toxic dust clouds would pollute the air we breathe and cause a massive health concern. The Wasatch Front has grown exponentially in the past few years and is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. This means that more water is needed for consumption and other utilities, as well as Utah’s booming agricultural businesses, all resulting in less overall water flowing from rivers into the Great Salt Lake. Not only does population growth increase the threats, but so does climate change. Rising temperatures mean more water is evaporating and less water is flowing down to the Great Salt Lake. Additionally, without water, snowfall will also decrease rapidly in the mountains, taking away one of our favorite activities: skiing. 

The problem is undeniable; the Great Salt Lake is drying up and unless Utahns try to conserve it, we will face a terrifying public health and resource disaster. Environmental activists have made efforts to raise more attention to the problem and ignite action. On September 6th, 2023, a lawsuit was filed against the state of Utah, demanding that they act. However, there is much more Utahns can do to save our home. Utah needs to greatly lower its water usage to make an impact. History has shown that when humans unite to achieve a common goal, we can create positive change and address even the most challenging obstacles.

By Grayson Rae, Sophomore at Park City High School