Recycle Utah

Nonprofit Summit County, Utah Recycling Center

#recycle utah

Remodeling Reclamation

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Recycling is important– it keeps materials out of landfills and saves natural resources by creating new items from old. What’s far better than recycling though are the first two R’s: Reduce and Reuse. Buy something that already exists versus something newly created from natural resources; usually oil, ore, plants, or sand are the natural resources items are made from. Thrift stores are optimal by offering used clothing, kitchenware, books, shoes, and more. Then, there are keen kitchen gadgets popping up to replace plastic wrap or aluminum foil to cover bowls and cans, washable/durable sponges, washable/reusable paper towels, and more. It’s wonderful to see what the market offers these days.

Another area many don’t think about with Reduce and Reuse is home remodeling projects. I recently added a small bathroom to my condo to entice my son to return home from college more. The Reuse challenge was super fun. Ultimately, I was able to use leftover floor tile from Modern Tile in SLC, and the sink, toilet, door, shelving, light fixture, and trim mainly from Recycle Utah’s Warehouse Thrift Store. It looks terrific and slightly eclectic. Extended dedication would have involved leftover drywall and wood, light switches, paint, and towel racks, while insulation and the shower would have been more challenging. The point is that options are available if we have time to hunt, and we can’t forget about the saved money and resources.

Between local building thrifts like Recycle Utah and Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, not to mention numerous others in the Salt Lake Valley, the sky is the limit. Everything comes from a natural resource, and many are non-renewable. Let’s get savvy about how we proceed with our purchases from clothes and furniture to cars and home remodels. Can we Reduce or Reuse before we Recycle?

By Mary Closser

Decluttering with Purpose: A Post-Christmas Clean-out Guide

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As the holiday season fades into fond memories, the arrival of new gifts often brings with it a bit of post-holiday clutter. Now, as we start a new year, let’s use the spirit of fresh beginnings to make a positive impact through a purposeful post-Christmas clean-out.

When it comes to decluttering, Recycle Utah is your all-in-one destination. Whether you’re dealing with household goods, furniture, or old electronics, this organization specializes in recycling and repurposing. Bring in your holiday boxes and packaging materials for recycling, ensuring a cleaner environment. Don’t forget to drop off old electronics, ensuring that hazardous materials are disposed of responsibly while valuable components get a second life. By choosing Recycle Utah, you not only free your space from unwanted items but also contribute to a circular economy, reducing the burden on landfills.

If your closet is bursting with the aftermath of holiday shopping, consider decluttering with purpose. The Christian Center welcomes clothing donations, particularly winter wear. Your gently used clothing can make a significant impact on the lives of those in need, providing warmth and comfort during the colder months. If you find yourself retiring old skis or snowboards, Recycle Utah is the perfect place to ensure they are recycled responsibly.

As children grow and interests change, toys and clothes tend to accumulate. Rather than letting these items gather dust, consider donating gently used items to Kid-to-Kid. This organization offers a unique opportunity for your family to trade used toys and clothes for cash or store credit, keeping smiles on new faces and gently used items out of landfills.

As we carefully pack away the holiday decorations, let’s use this post-Christmas period for a purposeful and responsible clean-out. By donating used items to Recycle Utah, clothes to the Christian Center, and toys to Kid-to-Kid, you extend the joy of the season to those in need and contribute to a healthier environment. Let’s usher in the new year with a fresh, organized living space and a positive impact on the world around us. Happy cleaning!

By Chelsea Hafer

How to Drive and Maintain Roads Sustainably in the Winter

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As temperatures are dropping and the roads start to get icy, Park City citizens are starting to prepare for winter driving. Throughout the winter, it’s common practice to pour road salt on streets and driveways, which is by far effective in creating less icy driving conditions. “By lowering the freezing temperature of water, salt prevents snow from turning to ice and melts ice that is already there,” says Jenny Gross with the New York Times. However, recent speculation by scientists has shown that road salts have very harmful environmental effects. Salt is carried with water runoff in the Spring into rivers, lakes, and the reservoirs we drink from. High concentrations of salt have been found to negatively impact plants it encounters. It may seem small, but regardless, road salts do have harmful effects on wildlife and ecosystems. So, what can we do to fix this problem? Jenny Gross with the New York Times states, “One method involves treating roads before storms with a salt brine solution, which can lead to a 75 percent reduction in the amount of salt used while keeping roads just as safe.” Balancing environmental concerns with road safety is a difficult task, but by raising awareness and finding reasonable solutions, we can find a compromise that makes our community and our world a better place. 

Other winter road and driving-related facts to keep in mind:

  • It only takes about 30 seconds to heat up to the ideal driving temperature, even in the winter conditions we have in Park City. Idling and waiting for your car to heat up is not cost-effective and is bad for the environment.

The EPA released that on average, snow blowers release one pound of carbon monoxide every hour that it’s used. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a harmful gas molecule that when inhaled can cause slowed delivery of oxygen to vital organs in the body. Gasoline-powered home-use machines, such as snow blowers, are useful and fast, but shoveling your snow is much more sustainable. Some might even say it’s more fulfilling! 

By Grayson Rae, Sophomore at Park City High School

Making Alternative Milk

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Every holiday I buy myself a gift, practical or for pleasure. This year I got to thinking about the numerous cartons of alternative milks I purchase for my family, not to mention the cost and how much waste I could reduce if I made my own. Alternative milks are rising in popularity due to health, animal welfare and our environment, but do we get the necessary nutrients from plant-based milks? Are they affordable?

One option is to purchase a machine: a nut-milk maker. The initial cost can be high (approximately $100 to $300), but the product is fresh and can be customized. Another option is to make your own by soaking soy, oats, or almonds followed by draining, blending, and straining. It may be time-consuming, but it’s worth the wait to know the source of the products. 

If you’re thinking about making the switch to dairy-free, it’s essential to evaluate your overall diet if you decide to limit or avoid dairy to make sure you’re supplementing nutrients from other foods. Dairy-free milk can be protein-rich and fortified with calcium, D, B2, B12, or more with a bit of research. Whatever the desire – rice, soy, quinoa, oat, almond, coconut, cashew, flaxseed, or pea – it’s worth a try to nix the grocery purchases, except for the bulk nuts or grains. Access to composting is important too as residue will result.

That being said, dairy contains important nutrients for bone and muscle health. If making the switch to dairy-free is not something you’re interested in now, we are lucky to have a lot of local dairy farmers in Utah that do container refills and home delivery. You can still reduce your carbon footprint from milk and continue to consume dairy by supporting local agriculture! Maybe it’s time to start mixing up habitual routines in consideration of our planet as local agriculture and milk alternatives are improving every day.

By Mary Closser

Have an Earth-Giving Holiday

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The season of “Peace on Earth Good Will to All” is upon us. This season is followed by the official date for us to make next year’s resolutions, making this a good sequence of events as far as we on an ever-warming planet are concerned. There are so many things we can resolve to do to not only to live more sustainably, but to help assure that others, including those in business and government, do too.

If your elementary-age child attends school in Park City, or in some North and South Summit locations, know that Recycle Utah educators are teaching them about our impact on the environment and how-to live-in ways that protect it. Enlist their help in choosing what things your family can do—joyfully.

Peace fosters the positive economic, political, and social factors that create sustainable development. It’s important that we work to elect people who have made public their actions to create and implement peace-building policies.

Wish for others a life of sustainable prosperity—one in which they prosper in ways that withstand shocks, ensure a good and healthy quality of life, and do not require polluting and overusing earth’s decreasing natural resources.

Let the spirit of the holiday season guide you to make earth-friendly 2024 resolutions. Vow to buy less, launder less, donate, consign, and recycle; send gifts of experiences, shop locally, avoid single use plastic, conserve water at the faucet, turn off lights, turn off your car, turn down the heat; compost, use your disposal, take a bus. Learn more about how you can help slow down climate change.

By Bev Harrison

Unwrapping a Greener Holiday: Sustainable Tips for a Merry Christmas

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Watching the snow build on the mountains has many of us getting excited for ski season, as well as the holidays! However, it’s crucial to be mindful of the environmental impact that often accompanies the festivities. Household waste surges by 25% in the four weeks leading up to Christmas, contributing to a staggering 100 million tons of extra trash in landfills each week. This year let’s collectively celebrate an eco-friendlier holiday season.

Consider your Christmas tree source! An artificial tree produces less waste, but it takes about 10 Christmases for the carbon footprint of your fake tree to be lower than real trees due to the chemicals used in their manufacturing. If you’re buying a fresh tree, plan to compost it after the holidays. Trees can be dropped at the base of PC Hill through the end of January or in various locations around Summit County.

Minimize holiday waste by choosing recycled and recyclable Christmas cards or opting for e-cards to reduce paper waste. Get creative with sustainable wrapping alternatives like brown craft paper, old maps, scarves, or reusable cloth bags. Dispose of old electronic devices responsibly by bringing them to Recycle Utah. When making room for this year’s gifts, donate used items to the Christian Center or Recycle Utah to keep them out of the landfill.

When gifting, consider zero waste options like concert tickets, museum visits, or gift cards. Craft handmade gifts to add a personal touch and reduce reliance on mass-produced items. Prioritize fair trade products made with recycled or renewable materials, supporting ethical business practices. Shop locally to support community businesses, and if shopping online, choose retailers specializing in sustainable and handcrafted items to reduce the carbon footprint.

This holiday season let’s give our community the gift of sustainability and make choices that positively impact our environment. By adopting these tips, we can celebrate a joyous and eco-friendly Christmas, creating traditions that prioritize both the well-being of our planet and the happiness of our loved ones. Celebrate the season responsibly and leave a legacy of sustainable practices for future generations.

By Chelsea Hafer