Recycle Utah

Nonprofit Summit County, Utah Recycling Center

#recycle utah

Our 52nd Earth Day

by

Our 52nd Earth Day is approaching, and we are reminded to reflect on our relationship with nature and implement practices to respect and appreciate our natural home. How did Earth Day become such an iconic day celebrated for over 50 years by more than a billion people in 192 countries?

The first Earth Day was conceived in 1970 after decades of environmental disasters and unchecked pollutants ran rampant across the country. Eight years earlier, in 1962, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring mobilized a modern environmental movement by describing the connection between environmental health and public health and spurred environmental legislation in America. In 1969, the Santa Barbara Oil Spill polluted California’s pristine beaches and ignited Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson to rally a group of college activists to assist in creating the first Earth Day.

On April 22nd, 1970, the first Earth Day became the largest demonstration by that time with over 20 million people organizing to advocate against environmental ignorance. Months later, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanography Atmospheric Association were created, setting off a wave of environmental protection policy and reform.

So, how can we celebrate the 52nd Earth Day with a modern perspective of environmental justice and the climate emergency? (1.) Educate yourself on environmental issues and the communities that are most impacted by them. (2.) Donate and get involved with organizations focused on environmental justice. (3.) Write to your legislators and vote to enact environmental and social change. (4.) Implement sustainability into your everyday lifestyle!

By Addison Marr

Growing Food at Home

by

Spring is officially here! It’s time to pull out your gardening equipment and prep those planters. Growing your own produce is a great way to obtain natural, fresh fruits and vegetables, while also avoiding the food miles accompanying most grocery store produce. 8% of an average American’s carbon footprint is from food, with more than a quarter of that coming from the transportation of food. An ambitious gardener that replaces 20% of store-bought food with produce from their garden can reduce their carbon footprint by about 68 lbs of CO2 per year!

Another sustainable gardening practice includes planting pollinator-friendly plants, like cornflower, milkweed, and daisies. Pollinators are vital for the creation and maintenance of the habitats many animals rely on for food and shelter, including us! Approximately 35% of the food and fiber grown throughout the world depends on pollinators. By introducing pollinator-friendly plants into your garden, you can create a thriving, diverse environment.

Support the health of pollinators and yourself by cutting out toxic synthetic fertilizers. These fertilizers contribute very little to the ecosystem and structure of your soil, causing more harm than good. There are high levels of nitrates and nitrites in synthetic fertilizer that contaminate surface water through runoff, as well as decrease the fertility of your soil. Opt for organic fertilizers that are more sustainable and enrich your soil. Consider the health of the environment when gardening to create an area that is beneficial for you and the surrounding ecosystem!

By Anna Duffy

What to Do With Dog Poo?

by

A man’s best friend or an infinite poop-producing machine? As much as we love our canine best friends, they can create a lot of waste. There is not a lot of information or even talk about what to do with their endless waste. Do you put it in the trash bin? You could, but it’s unsustainable and creates an unpleasant smell that no one wants. Can you compost it? Well, it depends.

One solution that has grown popular is Biodegradable poop bags. But one of the major problems with this solution is that these bio bags are meant to be composted, not landfilled, yet that’s where they usually end up. While meant to be better for the environment, sending compostable bags can be worse than sending regular plastic bags. According to a San Francisco zero-waste coordinator, “Anything that goes into the landfill and degrades is worse than something that goes in and doesn’t.” Once they start degrading, they produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Compostable bags should be composted(1).

But, where can you compost dog poop? Can you put it in the yard scraps bin? Not necessarily, many municipal composting facilities don’t want dog poop. There is an option of composting the poop yourself, but it’s much more complicated than regular composting. Animal waste contains pathogens that can be harmful to humans, so avoid mixing it with your food scraps. One website will show you step-by-step how you can create your own dog poo composter(2), or buy a pre-made dog poo composter(3). 

Another option is to offer flushable poop bags, but that means facilities would have to flush large amounts of poop down the toilet, overwhelming septic systems, and putting a drain on water when there is already a drought. The other alternative would be for the dog owner to take the poop bag home, which is highly unlikely. Poop also has the potential to become a source of energy. It can be anaerobically digested, where it is broken down into organic materials, producing biogas that can be used for energy and a residue that can be used as compost on plants. Wasatch Resource Recovery, in North Salt Lake, has an anaerobic digester they use to turn organics into energy, but they don’t allow dog poop just yet. 

There is still uncertainty around what is the best solution to deal with dog poop. There are working options, but many require expensive facilities. In Salt Lake City, there are dog poo services that will pick up your dog poop for you, but they ultimately end up dumping their pickings in garbage cans. 

So what is the best method for disposing of dog poo? First, the poop must be picked up. Poop does not just “eventually go away.” It harbors lots of viruses, bacteria, and parasites, many of which are harmful to human health. The best solution for disposal, while not desirable, is to send it to the landfill, a case of catch-22. 

If you decide to use biodegradable bags, you must make sure the bags have undergone rigorous testing to prove their claims. A good sign is if they make a representation of what conditions their products were tested under. Paper bags are also a more sustainable option compared to plastic, but no matter what bag you choose, we, unfortunately, have to throw them in the trash for now. 

In conclusion, I reached out to the sustainability departments in Portland, OR, and Santa Cruz, and my research was confirmed. Both cities also currently have no option for animal waste except to landfill it. For now, it is a waiting game with the best foreseeable option being a biodigester.

By Anna Duffy

Recycle Utah Intern, 2022

The Secret to a Productive Garden

by

My garden exploded last year and I know exactly why. The spinach, arugula, kale and radishes, especially, were out of control. I promised my fellow plot gardeners that I’d reveal my secret this spring. Ready? Biochar.

This ancient soil addendum, once used by pre-Columbian Amazonians, is a solid material obtained from the carbonization of biomass. Ancient civilizations would dig deep trenches, fill them with food and agricultural waste, burn the waste then cover it with soil. The practice of ‘Pyrolysis’ involved the use of very high heat and low oxygen, today produced in specialized capsules. The result? Biochar: a carbon dense, porous, rich, dark and charcoal filled soil.

Studies are showing that this amazing soil amendment helps to absorb and hold water, nutrients, toxicity, in addition to increasing carbon storage. The soil acts as a carbon sink to help absorb our over-abundance of Carbon Dioxide that we humans emit. Hefty roots, higher plant yields, less water usage water and carbon absorption – amazing!

Best yet, a single application of biochar lasts for many years. Home gardeners need less than 10% in the top six inches of soil, often mixed with compost. This includes pots! Mix it in with your hands or a small rake. Fortunately, farmers are starting to catch on to the secret, too. Where to buy it? Most gardening stores carry it and we’re also fortunate to have GoBiochar (www.gobiochar.org) in the area. My secret has been revealed and I can’t wait for the next summer 2022 explosion. 

By Mary Closser

Energy Efficient Cooking

by

While we should consider the waste we create while cooking, we must look at the energy we consume as well. Energy efficiency is key when it comes to our appliances, for the sake of our bill, health, and environment. Gas stoves release methane, a harmful Greenhouse gas, affecting the air quality within your house. The EPA recommends using an exhaust fan when cooking with a gas stove or switching to an electric stove that has the Energy Star seal of approval.

However, we also must think of our own actions when cooking. There are many steps we can take before and during cooking that will reduce the amount of energy we use and the emissions we release. This includes preparing your food before cooking, so it’s ready when the heat is on. Also be sure to use proper cooking tools for the amount of food you’re cooking. Smaller appliances, like toasters and electric kettles, may be more applicable. Your cookware is just as important. Copper bottomed pans heat up faster and glass/ceramic pans allow you to decrease your oven’s temperature by 25°F. Put a lid on your pot. It lets you set a lower temperature, decreasing energy use by up to 66%. Don’t peek at those cookies – opening the oven door can drop the temperature 25°F every time.

Sustainability in cooking is not as difficult as we think. Making simple changes can make a dramatic difference in your energy bill, as well as the health of yourself and the environment.

By Anna Duffy