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Sustainability Outreach & recycling TEAM (SORT)
Learn about waste, connect with your community, and be part of the waste solution in Summit County!
Sustainability Outreach & Recycling TEAM (SORT)
If you’re the person in your office who pulls soda cans out of the trash can to recycle them or the friend who brings the glass to Recycle Utah after a dinner party, we need you! Recycle Utah is launching a new Sustainability Outreach & Recycling Team (SORT). SORT will serve as waste ambassadors in our community at events, at our center, or out in the communities you’re already a part of.
SORT brings together community members who want to learn more about recycling and waste reduction, share knowledge with others, and help build a Zero Waste culture in Summit County. You don’t need to be a recycling expert or have previous volunteer experience. Recycle Utah will provide the training, resources, and opportunities to help you make a difference.
Learn How Waste Works in Our Community
Where does our recycling go? What happens to food waste? How does curbside recycling work? What can we do to keep more materials out of the landfill?
SORT volunteers get an inside look at our local waste systems, learn about sustainability initiatives happening throughout Summit County, and share this information with the community.
Through training, facility tours, and hands-on volunteering, you’ll build the knowledge and confidence to answer questions, share resources, and help others take action.
Ways to Get Involved
There are dozens of opportunities throughout the year to put your knowledge into action. Find the activities that interest you and volunteer as your schedule allows.
Zero Waste Events
Help local events reduce waste by guiding attendees as they sort their trash, recycling, and compost. Support event organizers in making sustainability a bigger part of community gatherings.
Advocacy & Systems Change
Learn about local waste challenges and help advance solutions. Opportunities may include engaging with local and state leaders and supporting policies that improve waste reduction and recycling, or working on reuse and reduction programs in preparation for the 2034 Olympics.
Community Outreach & Education
Share reliable recycling information, answer questions, and help residents understand what happens to their materials. Support Recycle Utah’s outreach efforts and connect people with practical resources. This could include presenting to your HOA or PTO about waste, or distributing stickers for people to put on their curbside recycling bins.
Recycle Utah Events & Programs
Get involved in Recycle Utah’s community programs, including Hazardous Waste Day, Dumpster Days, tabling, and other volunteer events.
HOw it works: Become a sort volunteer!
1. Attend onboarding training
Join us for a two-hour, in-person training covering how waste management and recycling work in Summit County. Learn about local waste systems, Recycle Utah’s programs, and ways to make an impact in our community.
The first onboarding training is planned for January 2027.
2. Explore local waste facilities
Complete at least two facility tours to see firsthand what happens to our waste and recycling. Tours include:
- Summit County Landfill
- Momentum glass recycling facility
- WM Materials Recovery Facility
- Wasatch Resource Recovery anaerobic digester
- Other waste treatment facilities
3. Volunteer in the community
Complete at least eight hours of volunteer service each year after onboarding. Choose from a variety of opportunities throughout the year, from Zero Waste events to community outreach and Recycle Utah programs.
Once you’ve completed the training, at least two facility tours, and your volunteer hours, you’ll be a certified SORT volunteer!
Every conversation can help someone recycle correctly. Every zero-waste event can prevent valuable material from entering the landfill. Every community member who gets involved helps move us toward a more sustainable future.
SORT goes past just recycling; we are working to better understand the systems behind our waste, connect people with solutions, and create lasting change in Summit County.
Interested in joining us? Fill out the interest form above, and Recycle Utah will contact you with more information about onboarding and upcoming opportunities!
