Recycle Utah

Nonprofit Summit County, Utah Recycling Center

#energy efficiency

A Greener Way of Getting Around: The Impact of EVs

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Transportation is a critical part of any American’s life, and thanks to the invention of the engine and fossil fuel processing, getting where you want to go has never been easier. Driving a car has become an integral part of American society and culture, as approximately 250 million Americans drive cars. Unfortunately, the climate is in more danger than ever before, and the transportation sector is one of the biggest culprits.

As a reminder, ‘Greenhouse Gases’ such as carbon dioxide, come from the burning of fossil
fuels – a process that occurs in every gas/diesel car. The compounded effect of millions of cars on the road every day adds up to create a layer in the atmosphere that traps heat from escaping and has negative consequences on the earth’s biosphere.


The Energy Information Administration estimates that 31% of all U.S. carbon emissions come
from just gasoline and diesel cars every year. Vehicles with internal combustion engines run on fossil fuels and release tailpipe emissions, which include greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide, as well as very harmful and potentially deadly gases like carbon monoxide.

Additionally, gas and diesel cars with internal combustion engines are unsustainable because
they require fossil fuels, like petroleum and natural gases, which are non-renewable, meaning
they cannot be reused and are very hard to acquire.

Luckily, electric vehicle technology is advancing rapidly and production is higher than ever
before. Keep in mind that EVs are still cars, and the vehicle production has its own
environmental impact. But overall, EVs are 10 times more environmentally friendly than gas-
powered cars. There are two main types of EVs: hybrids, which use special technology for
‘regenerative braking’ (recycling the energy from braking back to the car as energy), and fully
electric, battery-powered vehicles. EVs are powered by electricity rather than straight from fossil fuels. While many Americans still use coal-powered electricity, EVs use a fraction of the fossil fuels to charge compared to gas- powered cars, and if you have solar on your house, your personal transportation is carbon-free.

States now offer many benefits to commercially clean vehicles, such as designated parking
spots and driving lanes. EVs also save drivers hundreds of dollars a year on gas. Developments
in EV battery recycling are taking off across the country. If you’re in a place to purchase a new
vehicle, consider buying an EV; the planet, and your wallet, will thank you!

By Grayson Rae

Retailers Recycle Your Plastic Bags—IF You Do It Right

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Ever wonder what happens to those plastic bags you stuff into the recycling containers at retailers? The ones you sometimes have to hunt for near the store’s entryway? These bins aren’t just for shopping bags—they’re for all sorts of stretchy plastic film, like shopping and home shipping bags, bread bags, frozen food bags, zip-lock bags, sandwich bags, produce bags, kitchen wrap, dry cleaning bags, and bubble wrap. But not everything belongs here—leave out cellophane (it tears and isn’t stretchy) and snack wrappers (they’re often too small or made of mixed materials).

This “plastic film packaging”, made from stretchy polyethylene, is recyclable at many retailers and drop-off centers, including Recycle Utah in Park City. A local retailer explained that collected material is gathered into huge shipping bags, combined with the store’s own plastic packaging waste, and transported to facilities. There, it’s sorted, baled, and processed into plastic pellets. These pellets are used to make new products, including plastic bags and synthetic lumber for fencing, decking, and outdoor furniture.

To ensure your plastic film can be recycled, it must be clean, dry, and meet the location’s guidelines. Contaminants like food, liquids, or non-recyclable items can ruin a load, making it unusable and destined for the landfill. If you’re ever unsure, it’s better to throw it out than risk contamination.

One of the biggest players in recycling this material is Trex, a manufacturer of durable composite lumber. According to Trex, a 500-square-foot deck contains approximately 140,000 recycled plastic bags! Since its founding in 1996, the company has diverted more than 5 billion pounds of plastic bags and film from landfills.

Trex has partnered with retailers and businesses to make plastic film recycling more accessible. To find a nearby drop-off location, visit nextrex.com. Smith’s stores, for example, are Trex recycling partners, making it easy for you to recycle responsibly.

By Bev Harrison

Sustainable Ski Gear 

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Sustainable Ski Gear When we think about skiing or snowboarding, we often picture fun trips with friends or locals hitting the slopes regularly. However, many people overlook the environmental impact of ski and snowboard gear. For example, jackets and pants are often made with “forever chemicals”, also known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These chemicals don’t break down easily and can persist in the environment and human bodies for decades, contaminating water, soil, air, and living organisms.

Although the ski and snowboard industry has taken steps toward eco-friendliness, navigating these options can sometimes be confusing. So, what can you do to help?

Start by supporting eco-conscious brands. Arc’teryx has made significant strides in sustainability, using more sustainable fabrics like “bluesign® certified” materials, which reduce harmful chemicals during production. Brands like K2, Salomon, and Lib Tech are also moving toward greener options.

K2 uses eco-friendly resins in many of its skis and snowboards, reducing the environmental impact compared to traditional petroleum-based resins. Salomon is minimizing waste by switching to 100% recycled paper and cardboard for packaging, reducing their footprint in shipping and retail processes.

Lib Tech is another leader in sustainability, known for using FSC-certified wood in their snowboard and ski cores. This ensures the wood is responsibly sourced without contributing to deforestation.

These brands, along with others, are actively working to reduce their environmental impact. By choosing gear from these eco-conscious companies, you can help support more sustainable practices in the winter sports industry. It’s important to do your research and support brands that prioritize sustainability!

By Uliana Moshina

Sustainable Countertop Cooking

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Considering the environmental impact of your daily habits and the potential for utility savings, you may find it worthwhile to adopt more energy-efficient cooking methods. Using appliances like air fryers, toaster ovens, and crockpots instead of a traditional stove or oven can make a big difference.

Cooking with an air fryer, toaster oven, and crockpot can maximize sustainable home cooking.
All of these countertop appliances require significantly less electricity than an electric stove, and they enable you to cook without using your gas stove. Look for models with energy star ratings for the greatest energy conservation.

Because of its small cooking chamber and super-convection, an air fryer cooks food much
faster than a traditional oven – often in about half the time. Air fryers heat up much faster than
full-size ovens. Food cooked in air fryers becomes crispy and flavorful with little or no added oil, promoting healthy cooking. Roast vegetables, cook meat and fish, make french fries and veggie chips, and crisp up leftovers in your air fryer.

Both an air fryer and toaster oven allow for precision cooking and temperature control, so it’s
easy to avoid overcooking food and unnecessary food waste. Their smaller cooking capacity
encourages portion control and minimizes preparing and wasting excessive amounts of food.
When reheating food, using an air fryer or toaster oven is much more energy efficient than
heating up a large oven. Use a toaster oven to cook a few baked potatoes, small portions of
pastries, and quickly broil vegetables and fish.

A crockpot is an excellent choice for preparing large batches of food in advance, reducing the
need for multiple cooking sessions and saving energy in the process. Because it is designed to
operate cheaply at low temperatures for an extended period of time, using an unattended
crockpot per manufacturer instructions is generally considered safe. Braise tough cuts of meat, and cook stews, soup, and beans in a large crockpot.

By Bev Harrison

Unplug and Save: How to Reduce Standby Power 

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Standby power, often called “phantom load” or “vampire power,” refers to the electricity consumed by electronic devices and appliances even when turned off or in standby mode. Many devices, such as televisions, chargers, printers, and microwaves, draw power continuously to support features like digital clocks, remote-control activation, or instant-on functionality. The amount of energy that a single device in standby mode uses may be minor, cumulatively, with multiple devices in a home, the amount will add up. Recent studies have shown that 10% of a household’s total energy consumption is standby power. This all can contribute to higher electricity bills and increased carbon emissions. 

So how can you reduce this energy usage? Reducing standby power is a simple and effective way to save energy and promote sustainability. One of the easiest ways to reduce standby energy consumption is by simply unplugging devices when they are not in use, such as chargers or kitchen appliances such as a toaster. The use of these appliances is minuscule compared to the amount of energy it will use while still plugged in. Some appliances or devices are harder to unplug consistently, such as TVs, microwaves, or computer monitors. In order to reduce standby power for appliances such as these, using smart power strips or surge protectors equipped with timers or motion sensors can help automatically cut off power to multiple devices when they are inactive. 

Another way to reduce standby consumption is investing in energy-efficient products and appliances. These types of appliances have an Energy Star certification which are designed to use minimal power when idle. This is a very sustainable choice for consumers who are looking to reduce their energy consumption, electric bill, and carbon footprint. 

Enabling energy-saving modes on devices can also help reduce standby power. Many modern devices, such as computers and TVs, have different settings that can put the device in a sleep mode or eco-mode that limits energy when the device is not in use. Lastly, conducting an energy audit of your home can help you identify which devices consume the most standby power. This is a more targeted approach.  

By addressing standby power, households can lower energy costs, reduce their carbon footprint, and help environmental conservation. While your efforts may seem small, the collective impact of reducing standby power usage can help combat climate change and promote a more sustainable future for everyone.

By Elly Swartz

Used Cooking Oils: Don’t Send Them Down the Drain, Recycle!

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Have you ever wondered what to do with leftover cooking oil after frying or sautéing? It’s
tempting to pour it down the drain, but this can cause major plumbing and environmental issues.

Cooking oils can solidify in your pipes over time, which can cause blockages in municipal sewer systems and costly repairs. Additionally, oil in water systems can be harmful to local wildlife. So how should you dispose of your used cooking oils? At Recycle Utah, we encourage
you to drop them off at our center, where it is sent to Beck’s Sanitation and repurposed as
biodiesel. When you drop off your used cooking oil, it is transported to a facility where food
particles and water are filtered out. Once the oil meets strict specifications, it is sold to biodiesel producers. Finally, it is turned into B-99, a fuel that is 99% biodiesel and can be blended into different fuel mixes like B-5 (5% biodiesel) and B-20 (20% biodiesel).

Not only is biodiesel renewable, but it also produces significantly fewer greenhouse gasses
compared to petroleum-based diesel. Biodiesel originates from plants (like soybean and palm) which absorb atmospheric CO2 as they grow. This partially offsets the emissions they create as they are burned for fuel. Additionally, their combustion emits fewer sulfur oxides and particulate matter.

Biodiesel is also biodegradable, breaking down in only a fraction of the time as fossil fuels in the event of a spill. This reduces the risk when it comes to ecosystems and waterways. Though cooking oils can be recycled effectively through this process, we encourage you to be mindful of how much oil you are using, and opt for low-oil cooking options whenever possible. Air fryers can be a great option for reducing your oil usage!

By recycling your used cooking oil, you are not just keeping waste out of landfills; you are
helping to create a renewable fuel that powers vehicles while minimizing environmental impact. Next time you are at Recycle Utah, consider the role you play in supporting a greener future and drop off your oils in the collection barrel located next to the metal dumpster and aluminum can collection station. The collection barrel is open from mid April to mid-November.

By Elsa Kerr