• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Recycle Utah

Recycle Utah

Nonprofit Summit County, Utah Recycling Center

  • 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

The Blog

Mastering Curbside Recycling

July 31, 2024

When Recycle Utah goes into schools to teach Summit County students, we always start with the same introduction. We review various materials and where they can be recycled, and always tell students to go home and share what they learned with their families. If we’ve visited your student’s classroom, hopefully, you’ve heard it before! But if you haven’t, here’s a comprehensive guide to mastering curbside recycling.

It’s essential to know what can go in your curbside recycling bin and to recycle correctly. If contamination rates are too high, the entire bin could be discarded. The rule of thumb is “When in doubt, throw it out”. It’s better to throw one thing in the landfill than to risk contaminating your entire bin! We have seen much lower curbside recycling contamination rates in recent years; a decade ago, our county’s recycling contamination was about 35%, compared to today’s 20% contamination. The best way to ensure that your waste is truly being recycled is to make sure your recycling isn’t contaminated.

Curbside recycling accepts metal cans, hard plastics (like bottles and containers), paper (newspapers, magazines, office paper), and cardboard (corrugated boxes). It’s crucial to stick to these categories to avoid contamination. Glass items cannot go into mixed stream curbside bins. Glass contaminates other recyclables and can cause entire batches to be rejected. Instead, use local glass recycling drop-off bins. Food waste should never go into curbside recycling bins. Even small amounts of food residue can contaminate recyclables and render them non-recyclable.

All recyclables should be placed loose in the recycling bin. Avoid placing them in plastic bags, as they can jam recycling machinery. If recyclables are in a plastic bag, they will likely be mistaken for trash and end up in a landfill. Ensure that recyclables are at least 90% clean and dry before placing them in the bin. Rinse out food containers, remove any food residue, and let them dry completely.

Our landfill is filling up quickly, and the only way we can extend its lifetime is by creating less trash. Proper curbside recycling reduces waste, conserves natural resources, and minimizes environmental impact. By following these guidelines, you help ensure that your efforts are effective and contribute to sustainable practices in our community. Mastering curbside recycling is not just about following rules—it’s about making a meaningful impact on our planet!

By Chelsea Hafer


Footer

FOLLOW US

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter


SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

CONTACT US

(435) 649-9698
1951 Woodbine Way
PO Box 682998
Park City, UT 84068

HOURS

Mon-Sat: 8:00am – 5:30pm

Code of Conduct for Facility Use


Closed on the Following Holidays

New Year’s Day
Easter Sunday
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve
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